Camillus House Epiphany Catholic School

Camillus House Casserole & Sandwich Collection

Turkey Chili

Casserole Day

Wednesday, September 16, 2026

ECS! Our monthly casserole collection is back. Let's come together to cook homemade casseroles for Camillus House, where each tray becomes a warm meal for 10 people in need.

Sign Up for a Tray Get the Recipe

Two dates to remember

Sign up by Thu, Sept. 10 So we can get you a tray.
Drop off Wed, Sept. 16 At ECS during morning drop-off, frozen.

How to participate

Complete the Google Form by Thursday, Sept. 10 to receive your tray. Prepare this month's Turkey Chili using the provided recipe and freeze for at least 24 hours. Then bring your frozen casserole to ECS on Wednesday, Sept. 16 during morning drop-off.

Recipes

This month we are making Turkey Chili. Sandwich loaves are an optional add-on if you would like to do more.

Epiphany Catholic School  ·  Camillus House Casserole & Sandwich Collection

Turkey ChiliThis month

Makes one casserole tray, which feeds 10 people. This recipe will not completely fill the tin, so please feel free to make a double batch.

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs.Ground turkey
  • 2 cans, 8 oz.Kidney beans, drained
  • 1 can, 8 oz.Diced tomatoes with green chilis
  • 1 jar, 26 oz.Four-cheese tomato sauce
  • 1 can, 8-10 oz.Tomato sauce
  • 1 largeGreen pepper, diced small
  • 1 largeOnion, diced small
  • 4 clovesGarlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp.Chili powder
  • 2 tsp.Salt, or to taste
  • 2 tsp.Ground black pepper
  • As neededOlive oil

Directions

  1. Brown and crumble the ground turkey in a frying pan coated with olive oil until all the pinkness is gone. Drain on a paper towel and set aside.
  2. In a large pot, add a little more olive oil and sauté the onions and peppers until golden. Add the garlic and cook until golden.
  3. Stir in the beans, the diced tomatoes and chilis, the four-cheese tomato sauce, and the can of tomato sauce.
  4. Add the cooked turkey, salt, pepper, and chili powder. Bring to a boil.
  5. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  6. Pour the chili into the casserole tin, leaving half an inch from the top edge for expansion during freezing.
  7. Follow the cooling and freezing directions below.

Cooling, please don't skip this

Food-borne bacteria love food at room temperature, so it is crucial to get the food from hot to cold quickly.

  1. When transferring the cooked contents to the casserole pan, leave half an inch from the top edge for expansion during freezing.
  2. Place the uncovered pan into a larger pan, or a kitchen sink, filled with half ice and half cold water plus two tablespoons of salt.
  3. As soon as the contents are no longer hot, cover the pan with the lid and seal all the way around.
  4. Label and date the lid, then wrap it with plastic wrap three times in both directions to secure the lid.

Freezing

Place the labeled and wrapped casserole in the freezer for at least 24 hours before the scheduled drop-off date, so it is completely frozen when it arrives.

Epiphany Catholic School  ·  Camillus House Casserole & Sandwich Collection

Optional add-on

Sandwich Loaves

Makes one loaf of individually bagged sandwiches.

Ingredients

  • 1 loafBread
  • As neededDeli meat
  • As neededCheese
  • Sandwich sizeZiploc bags

Directions

  1. Using the slices of bread from one loaf, prepare each sandwich with two slices of bread, two slices of deli meat, and one slice of cheese.
  2. Place each completed sandwich in an individual Ziploc bag and seal it securely.
  3. Once all the sandwiches are individually bagged, place them back inside the original bread loaf bag for easy storage, transport, and distribution.

No condiments, and keep them cold

Do not add mayonnaise, mustard, sauces, or any other condiments. Sandwich loaves are refrigerated, not frozen. Keep them in the fridge until drop-off.

Enter to Win a Movie Night Basket

Drop off a casserole and you are entered to win this month's prize, a Movie Night Basket with a $100 movie theater gift card, popcorn, candy, and more.

Mark your calendars

Giving is always in season

Every collection is a Wednesday, with drop-off during morning drop-off at ECS.