This one-pot turkey mac and cheese is like a grownup version of hamburger helper and a much healthier option than that boxed stuff. Filled with spinach, peppers, real cheddar cheese, on the table in just 30 minutes and easily made gluten-free too!
Remember Hamburger Helper and that weird white hand with the red clown nose who bounced around countertops (he totally freaked me out)?
This is what I’m calling the grownup version.
Granted, we never actually had that as kids (along with many other kid friendly/preservative filled foods we were deprived of) but this at least tastes like what I’d expect Hamburger Helper to taste like except with the addition of peppers, spinach and lean turkey.
And minus probably 95% of the ingredients you see here.
That’s kind of sickening isn’t it?
And what’s up with the imitation bacon bits, Betty? Go big or go home when it comes to the good stuff!
Before we get into this turkey skillet mac and cheese though, check out these other delicious and healthy one skillet meals!
Lexi from Lexi’s Clean Kitchen made a Loaded Veggie Taco Skillet
Lindsay from Cotter Crunch made a Mediterranean Marinated Balsamic Pork Loin Skillet
Taylor from Food Faith Fitness made a Mexican Sweet Potato Rice Bake
Brittany from Eating Bird Food made Zucchini Noodle Shrimp Lo Mein
Ok, back to the turkey macaroni and cheese!
This is total, complete, utter, 100%, to the max (insert any other descriptor you can think of here) comfort food, that just happens to be pretty healthy too (kinda like this creamy Greek yogurt mac ‘n cheese with peas and bacon and this creamy white bean pasta).
It’s sit in front of the TV, put your sweats on (I do that a lot if you haven’t noticed), curl up on the couch with a cozy blanket kind of food.
This is food that will win you bonus points with your significant other (especially if they’re mac and cheese fanatics like mine) and definitely have them doing the dishes afterwards while you sit and relax.
In my infinite wisdom, I made this on a night Ulysses wasn’t home though, so I didn’t even get that luxury.
Poor planning on my part.
I usually get really annoyed by mac and cheese recipes out there that have me making a roux, using multiple pots, dirty whisks all over the place, starting on the stove top, moving to the oven…
It’s all just way too complicated for freakin mac and cheese, you know?
I want one pot, cornstarch exists for a reason and don’t make me decide which of my 5 different whisks I need to use.
The only recipe I’ll make a roux for is this creamy sausage macaroni and cheese. For some reason, it doesn’t bother me in that recipe. Probably because it uses just one cheese and is as streamlined as possible.
Problem solved.
This turkey skillet mac and cheese fits all those requirements and still tastes like you spent hours in a dirty pot filled kitchen with flour and whisks strewn about.
Score.
Anytime you’re cooking ground turkey it’s worth checking out this guide on how long to cook ground turkey to ensure you don’t overcook or undercook the meat.
Looking for some other turkey dishes that aren’t as decadent? Try this turkey sweet potato skillet or this buffalo turkey cauliflower skillet.
Or, swap out ground turkey for the ground pork in this cauliflower gnocchi bake recipe – another easy 30 minute comfort food kinda meal!
This ground beef pasta recipe is also really similar to the original hamburger helper if you prefer beef.
Love this Turkey Skillet Mac and Cheese recipe?
Try Sweet Potato Mac and Cheese with Spinach, Super Creamy Spicy Sausage Mac and Cheese, and Creamy Greek Yogurt Mac ‘n Cheese with Peas and Bacon.
Turkey Skillet Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground turkey
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch, or tapioca/arrowroot powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- salt & pepper
- 2 cups milk, (1% or 2% regular milk – or use unsweetened nut milk)
- 1 cup water
- 8 ounces elbow pasta, (use whole wheat or gluten free pasta if desired)
- 2 cups packed baby spinach, roughly chopped
- 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Place olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Once hot, add turkey and cook until browned, breaking up with a spatula as it cooks. Drain excess liquid from the pot and return to the stove.
- Add the onions and cook with the turkey until softened, about 2-3 minutes. Add the garlic to the pot and cook an additional minute until fragrant.
- Add the peppers to the pot and cook another 3 minutes until slightly softened.
- Add cornstarch and spices and stir until the meat mixture is thoroughly coated.
- Add the milk, water and pasta, bring to a boil then reduce to a medium simmer, cover and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring a couple of times while cooking.
- Uncover the pot, turn off the heat, add the spinach and cheese and stir until spinach is wilted and cheese is melted. Adjust seasonings to taste and serve.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
Just made this and it is great. I didn’t have the red bell pepper but everything else. Used extra sharp cheese. Love this dish !
:)
Made this last night & it was DELISH. My very, very picky fiancé went back for seconds. The only thing we did differently was add extra red pepper flakes. Will make again!
Yay! So glad to hear it!
This literally sounds SO amazing!!!!
My mom used to make hamburger helper for us all the time. This looks so much better!!
SO much better than the boxed stuff! In love with this healthier version and can’t wait to make it for dinner!
totally gonna make this cause i bet it’s 10x better than what i grew up on! the box version. GENIUS my friend!
Just made this for my family, and my four year old is currently gobbling it up! I think I’ll probably try using a sharper cheddar next time, mild was all I had on hand, but this was so easy, healthy, and tastes great, so thank you for sharing! Good amount of portions, too, I was surprised how much it made. I’m looking forward to the verdict from my husband when he gets home from work… he’s had a long day and will be exhausted and very hungry, and he is yet another hubby who loves the scary boxed hamburger helper, lol. But he has a heart condition, so I’m always trying to find ways to force him to eat healthier, less salty, options. Hopefully this will be a hit with him! Thanks again! :)
that’s awesome, so glad everyone liked it!
I love this recipe! Smoked paprika is a hit! Added a little salt, perfect.
I am used to boiling noodles separate….can you please clarify? Do you just add the dry noodles into the turkey veggie mix plus the milk and water and let the noodles cook that way? Sorry for the stupid question, just want to make sure it turns out right.
Ooops, didn’t mean to leave that comment link??? Sorry about that.
Yep, just add the dry pasta to the mix, it will cook with everything else in there, it absorbs all the liquid. Hope you like it!
Made this tonight. Didn’t change a thing. Everyone loved it including the 6 year old and the 22 month old. Delicious!
So glad you all liked it!