Leftover turkey gets transformed into a bubbling, cheesy pasta casserole with just enough kick from pickled jalapenos.
| Level: | Easy |
| Total: | 1 hr |
| Active: | 30 min |
| Yield: | 6 to 8 servings |
Ingredients
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for buttering the pan
- 8 ounces spaghetti
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 4 scallions, sliced (green and white parts kept separate)
- 3 cloves garlic, chopped
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- 2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese
- 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 4 cups shredded cooked turkey
- 1 to 2 tablespoons sliced pickled jalapenos, chopped, plus 1 tablespoon brine
- 1 medium tomato, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
- Cook the spaghetti according to the package instructions. Drain and then rinse. Shake off any excess water and transfer to the prepared baking dish.
- Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the cumin, scallion whites and garlic and cook, stirring, until soft, about 4 minutes. Sprinkle in the flour and cook, stirring, until completely absorbed, about 1 minute. Add the milk, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper and cook, stirring, until the sauce is heated through, steaming and thickened slightly, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and add small handfuls of half of each cheese, stirring to melt after each addition.
- Stir in the turkey, pickled jalapenos, brine and tomatoes. Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Pour the sauce over the cooked spaghetti, using a wooden spoon or rubber spatula to evenly distribute the turkey into the pasta. Sprinkle the top with the remaining cheeses. Bake, uncovered, until melted and bubbly, 25 to 30 minutes. Sprinkle with the scallion greens.
Nutrition Facts
| Serving Size | 1 of 8 servings |
| Calories | 532 |
| Total Fat | 28 g |
| Saturated Fat | 16 g |
| Carbohydrates | 29 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 5 g |
| Protein | 41 g |
| Cholesterol | 144 mg |
| Sodium | 590 mg |