Moist Maker Pasta Casserole (Printable)

Baked pasta layered with turkey, cheese, and a rich gravy for unmatched moisture and taste.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 14 oz penne or rigatoni
02 - Salt for boiling water

→ Gravy Layer

03 - 1¼ cups turkey or chicken gravy, homemade or store-bought
04 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

→ Turkey & Cheese

05 - 14 oz cooked turkey breast, shredded or chopped
06 - 7 oz mozzarella cheese, shredded
07 - 3.5 oz sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
08 - ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated

→ Vegetables & Aromatics

09 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
10 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
11 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
12 - 1 cup frozen peas (optional)
13 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
14 - ½ teaspoon black pepper
15 - ½ teaspoon salt, adjust to taste

→ Sauce

16 - 1 cup whole milk
17 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish.
02 - Boil salted water and cook pasta until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
03 - Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook chopped onion until soft, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, thyme, salt, and black pepper; cook another minute.
04 - Sprinkle flour over onions and stir for 1 minute. Gradually whisk in milk and cook until thickened, about 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in butter until melted and remove from heat.
05 - In a large bowl, mix cooked pasta, onion sauce, turkey, peas if using, half the mozzarella, cheddar, and Parmesan cheeses.
06 - Spread half of the pasta mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish.
07 - Evenly pour or spoon the gravy over the pasta layer, allowing moisture to soak in.
08 - Top with the remaining pasta mixture, then sprinkle remaining mozzarella, cheddar, and Parmesan cheeses evenly over the top.
09 - Bake uncovered for 30 to 35 minutes until the top is golden and bubbling.
10 - Allow the casserole to rest for 10 minutes before serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The gravy soaked into the middle layer stays there, keeping every bite moist instead of drying out like regular pasta bakes.
  • It's the kind of dish you can throw together while watching someone else's kids or thinking about tomorrow.
  • One casserole feeds a real family with real appetites and actually tastes better the next day.
02 -
  • Don't skip the resting time after baking—those 10 minutes let everything set so it doesn't fall apart when you serve it.
  • The gravy layer is the whole reason this works, so don't be shy about it or try to spread it thin, let it pool and sink.
03 -
  • If your gravy is cold from the fridge, warm it slightly before pouring so it soaks in instead of sitting on top like a barrier.
  • Don't overbake—the moment it's bubbling at the edges and golden on top is the moment to pull it out, not five minutes later.
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