What is in Turkey Tetrazzini? A Guide to This Delicious Baked Pasta Casserole

This Turkey Tetrazzini recipe is the perfect way to enjoy leftover turkey. Tender turkey chunks, mushrooms and pasta are smothered in a rich and creamy sauce and topped with cheese. Everything is baked until hot and bubbly for a dish hearty enough to satisfy a crowd and tasty enough to get everyone excited about leftovers like never before.

Turkey Tetrazzini is one of those recipes that has been around forever and ever and yet another recipe found in my vintage recipe box.

A delicious pasta casserole with turkey in a creamy mushroom sauce is topped with cheese and baked until hot and bubbly.

I use fresh mushrooms in this recipe and you can add in any other veggies you’d lke, carrots, peas, and peppers are some of our favorites.

This easy tetrazzini recipe uses no “cream of” soup but instead gets some extra richness from spreadable cream cheese. While you can certainly use the plain variety, we love to use an herb and garlic or garlic and chive flavor to add a little bit of extra flavor.

This is a great recipe for making use of the leftover turkey around the holidays, but it is equally delicious year round. If you don’t have turkey on hand, you can use rotisserie chicken or cook up a couple of chicken breasts!

This dish reheats well so you can make it ahead of time or serve it another night for a delicious dinner of leftovers! Make sure to cook the pasta al dente so it doesn’t get mushy and if needed, add a little splash of milk when reheating.

Turkey tetrazzini is a classic American baked pasta casserole made with turkey, mushrooms, cheese, and a creamy sauce. It’s a delicious way to use up leftover turkey after the holidays, though you can make it any time with turkey breast or thighs. Let’s take a deeper look at what’s in this comforting one-dish meal.

The Main Ingredients

The star ingredients that make up turkey tetrazzini are

Pasta: Long strands like spaghetti or linguine work best to hold the creamy sauce. Cook the pasta al dente so it doesn’t get too soft during baking.
Turkey: Chopped cooked turkey is added to the casserole. Leftover roast turkey or smoked turkey works great. You can also poach or sauté fresh turkey breast or thighs.
Mushrooms Sliced mushrooms like white or brown provide meaty texture and flavor, You can use fresh or canned
Cheese: Shredded cheddar, Parmesan, or a cheese blend melts into the sauce.
Creamy sauce: A white sauce made with butter, flour, chicken broth, and cream binds everything together.

Supporting Ingredients

In addition to the main ingredients turkey tetrazzini often contains

Onions: Diced onions lend flavor to the sauce.
Celery: Diced celery adds crunch and freshness.
Garlic: Minced garlic provides a punch of flavor.
Herbs: Dried oregano or Italian seasoning boost the flavor.
Wine: White wine adds acidity and complexity to the sauce.
Peas: Frozen peas are a bright addition.
Breadcrumbs: Panko or plain breadcrumbs on top provide crunch.

How to Make Turkey Tetrazzini

Making turkey tetrazzini is easy! Here are the basic steps:

Cook the pasta: Boil the pasta until al dente in salted water. Drain and set aside.
Prepare the sauce: Cook onions, celery, mushrooms, and garlic in butter. Make a white sauce by whisking in flour, broth, cream, and cheese.
Add the turkey: Stir in the cooked chopped turkey and frozen peas. Season with salt, pepper, and herbs.
Assemble: Add the cooked pasta to the turkey sauce mixture and transfer to a baking dish. Top with breadcrumbs.
Bake: Bake until hot and bubbling, about 30 minutes. Let sit briefly before serving.

Variations

Turkey tetrazzini is highly adaptable to what you have on hand:

Use chicken instead of turkey.
Swap different pasta shapes like rotini, ziti, or egg noodles.
Add veggies like broccoli, carrots, zucchini or green beans.
Use Cheddar, Swiss, mozzarella or Monterey Jack instead of Parmesan.
Stir in cooked bacon pieces for a savory, smoky twist.
Mix in sundried tomatoes, olives, or roasted red peppers for flavor.
Top with crushed potato chips or buttery breadcrumbs instead of panko.
Make it spicy with red pepper flakes, chili powder or hot sauce.

Tips for the Best Turkey Tetrazzini

Follow these tips for turkey tetrazzini with the perfect creamy texture:

Don’t overcook the pasta or it will absorb too much sauce.
Make sure the white sauce is thick enough to coat the pasta. Add a little extra flour or cream if needed.
Let the casserole rest for 5-10 minutes after baking so the sauce thickens up.
For extra flavor, use turkey broth in the sauce instead of plain chicken broth.
Chop the turkey into small, uniform pieces so it distributes nicely.
Add frozen peas right before baking so they don’t get overcooked.
Use good melty cheeses like cheddar, mozzarella or Mexican blends.

Serving Suggestions

Serve turkey tetrazzini with:

A fresh green salad or coleslaw
Buttered breadsticks, biscuits or garlic bread
Steamed broccoli florets
Mashed, roasted or scalloped potatoes
Cranberry sauce
A crisp white wine or lager beer

This comforting casserole is also delicious on its own. The flavors meld together during baking, making every bite delicious saucy perfection. Leftovers can be refrigerated for 3-4 days or frozen for up to 3 months. Simply reheat individual portions in the microwave or oven.

what is in turkey tetrazzini

Turkey TetrazziniThis Turkey Tetrazzini recipe is the perfect way to enjoy leftover turkey. Tender turkey chunks, mushrooms, and pasta are smothered in a rich and creamy sauce and topped with cheese.

▢ 12 ounces spaghetti
▢ 3 tablespoons salted butter
▢ 1 onion diced
▢ 3 cloves garlic minced
▢ ¾ pound mushrooms sliced
▢ 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
▢ 2 ¼ cups chicken broth reduced sodium
▢ 8 ounces spreadable cream cheese garlic flavor
▢ 1 ⅓ cups half & half or light cream
▢ salt and pepper to taste
▢ 1 tablespoon fresh parsley
▢ 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
▢ 2 cups cooked turkey chopped
▢ 2 cups mozzarella cheese divided
▢ ¼ cup Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Cook spaghetti al dente according to package directions.
Cook butter, onions and garlic over medium heat until softened. Add mushrooms and cook an additional 3 minutes. Stir in flour and cook 1 minute.
Add broth and cream all at once. Cook until thick & bubbly, let boil 1 minute. Stir in cream cheese until melted. Add parsley and seasonings
Combine spaghetti, turkey, 1 cup of mozzarella cheese and sauce. Pour into a greased 9×13 pan. Top with remaining mozzarella, cover and bake 20 minutes. Sprinkle with parmesan and bake an additional 10-15 minutes uncovered until hot & bubbly.

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

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How to Make Turkey Tetrazzini | Allrecipes.com

FAQ

What is tetrazzini made of?

Tetrazzini is an Italian-American dish made with diced poultry or seafood and in a butter, cream or milk and cheese sauce flavored with sherry or white wine, and combined with linguine, spaghetti, egg noodles, or other types of pasta, sometimes topped with breadcrumbs or cheese, and garnished with parsley or basil.

Why is it called turkey tetrazzini?

Tetrazzini is thought to have been originated in San Francisco, named after a famous opera singer of the early 1900s—Luisa Tetrazzini—who lived there for many years.

What is turkey casserole made of?

Mix turkey, celery, pimento peppers, almonds, and salt into mushroom soup mixture; cook and stir until heated through, about 5 minutes. Pour mixture into a 2-quart casserole dish; top with bread crumbs and Cheddar cheese. Bake in the preheated oven until casserole is bubbling and cheese is melted, 30 to 40 minutes.

What wine is best for turkey Tetrazzini?

Turkey Tetrazzini An American-style pasta bake made with turkey, mushrooms, cheese – and sometimes a dash of sherry makes this a richer dish than the pie above. I’d go for an aromatic wine like a pinot gris myself.