Baked Ranch Turkey Chili Mac (Printable)

Creamy turkey and bean macaroni casserole with ranch seasoning, baked until golden and bubbly.

# What You'll Need:

→ Meats

01 - 1 lb ground turkey

→ Vegetables & Beans

02 - 1 small yellow onion, diced
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
05 - 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
06 - 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes with juice

→ Pasta

07 - 8 oz elbow macaroni, uncooked

→ Dairy

08 - 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
09 - 1 cup whole milk

→ Liquids

10 - 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth

→ Seasonings

11 - 1 packet (1 oz) dry ranch seasoning mix
12 - 2 tablespoons chili powder
13 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
14 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
15 - 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
16 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Garnishes

17 - Fresh cilantro or green onion, chopped
18 - Sour cream

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F.
02 - In a large oven-safe pot or Dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat. Add ground turkey and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon, about 5 minutes.
03 - Add diced onion and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
04 - Sprinkle chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper over the mixture. Stir to combine and cook for 1 minute to release flavors.
05 - Add kidney beans, black beans, diced tomatoes with juice, uncooked macaroni, ranch seasoning mix, chicken broth, and milk. Stir thoroughly until well combined.
06 - Bring to a gentle simmer, then cover and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is just tender.
07 - Stir in 1 cup cheddar cheese until fully melted and incorporated.
08 - Sprinkle remaining 1 cup cheddar cheese evenly over the surface.
09 - Transfer pot to preheated oven and bake uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes, or until cheese is golden and bubbly.
10 - Remove from oven and let rest 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh cilantro or green onion and a dollop of sour cream if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in one pot, which means less cleanup when you're tired and hungry.
  • Ground turkey keeps it lighter than beef, but the cheese and beans make it feel completely satisfying.
  • Ranch seasoning is the unexpected secret that makes people ask for the recipe before they even taste it.
02 -
  • Use uncooked pasta or it becomes mushy; the dry pasta cooks perfectly in the liquid during baking, something I learned by making this twice before understanding why the first version fell apart.
  • Don't skip the resting time because five minutes lets everything set and makes a real difference in how it holds together on the plate.
03 -
  • Use an oven-safe Dutch oven or heavy pot so you can brown the meat, simmer on the stovetop, and finish in the oven all in the same vessel—less to wash and better heat distribution.
  • Don't stir the pasta once it starts simmering, because gentle disturbance helps it cook evenly instead of clumping in one corner of the pot.
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