Turkey Tetrazzini Recipe - Belly Full (2024)

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5 from 1 Rating

Published: November 12, 2021Author: Amy

This easy Turkey Tetrazzini recipe is classic comfort food that’s irresistibly creamy, cheesy, and delicious! It’s a great make-ahead meal and freezer-friendly. Also pretty much the most perfect use for leftover Thanksgiving Turkey.

We love this dish all on its own, but also served with some homemade garlic bread, roasted carrots, or a side salad.

Turkey Tetrazzini Recipe - Belly Full (1)

What is Turkey Tetrazzini?

Turkey Tetrazzini is a popular American pasta bake casserole made with diced up turkey (or chicken), vegetables, and a buttery, cream based sauce. Chef Ernest Arbogast debuted this creation at his San Francisco hotel in the 1900’s in honor of the Italian opera star Luisa Tetrazzini.

If making this dish for the very first time, you might be put off by the combination of strange “gloppy” ingredients. But then it cooks up all cheesy and bubbly and you are sold within one bite, finally understanding what all the fuss is about. It’s synonymous with Thanksgiving, since it’s the perfect casserole to use up leftovers, but you can definitely make this all year round or sub the turkey with chicken and make chicken tetrazzini instead.

Turkey Tetrazzini Recipe - Belly Full (2)

Easy Turkey Tetrazzini Recipe

Here’s what you’ll need to make it:
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for measurements and details.)

  • Pasta: We use spaghetti, but you can make this with any kind of noodles. It’s important to cook them al dente, because they will continue cooking as the casserole bakes and you don’t want the noodles to end up mushy.
  • Turkey: Put that leftover Thanksgiving turkey to use here! Light or dark meat are both delicious. Dice or shred, depending on your preference.
  • Sauce: This is one of the few recipes I make which incorporates cream of canned goods. I’ve made a couple completely from scratch versions and just didn’t like them as much. Bonus, this way is quicker! You’ll also need low-sodium chicken broth, sherry, melted butter, and sour cream.
  • Seasonings: Salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
  • Cheese: A trifecta of shredded mozzarella, cheddar, and Parmesan is delish!
  • Peas and carrots: We love sweet peas and carrots in this casserole for flavor and color.

How to Make Turkey Tetrazzini

This dish only has a few simple steps and the prep is super easy. Here’s a brief summary:
(For all the details, scroll down to the complete printable recipe card and don’t miss the video below.)

  1. Start by dicing up the cooked turkey.
  2. Cook up the pasta according to package directions, al dente.
  3. Combine the sauce ingredients and spices until fully incorporated. Mix in the turkey, pasta, peas and carrots.
  4. Pour the mixture into a greased 9×13 casserole dish, sprinkle with the cheeses.
  5. Cover and bake for 30 minutes, then uncover and bake for another 15.
  6. Let is rest for 5 minutes or so and dig in!
Turkey Tetrazzini Recipe - Belly Full (3)

Make Ahead and Storing Leftovers

  • Can Turkey Tetrazzini be made ahead of time? Yes! This is a fantastic make-ahead meal. Make as instructed, but instead of baking, cover the casserole tightly with foil and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. When ready to bake, remove from fridge and add about 15 minutes onto the baking time.
  • How to freeze Turkey Tetrazzini: Prep according to the recipe in a freezer-safe casserole dish, cover tightly in plastic wrap and again in foil and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and then bake accordingly.
  • How to store leftovers: allow any leftovers to cool completely, then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

More Ways to Use Leftover Turkey:

  • Add some to this Mushroom Rice and make a meal out of it.
  • Make a Turkey Apple Pasta Salad.
  • Cranberry-Turkey Enchiladas are a must!
  • Swap out the chicken for turkey in these Chicken Pot Pie Crescent Bundles.
  • Put some in Chicken Noodle Soup.

I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full onTikTok,Facebook,Instagram,Pinterest, andYouTube!

Turkey Tetrazzini Recipe - Belly Full (4)

Turkey Tetrazzini

5 from 1 Rating

This easy Turkey Tetrazzini recipe is classic comfort food that's irresistibly creamy, cheesy, and delicious! It's a great make-ahead meal and freezer-friendly. Also pretty much the most perfect use for leftover Thanksgiving Turkey.

Print Recipe Rate Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour

Servings: 8

Ingredients

  • 10 ounce can reduced-sodium cream of celery soup (not diluted – no water added)
  • 10 ounce can reduced-sodium cream of mushroom soup (not diluted – no water added)
  • 2 cups sour cream
  • 1/2 cup butter , melted
  • 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 tablespoon dry sherry
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 cup frozen peas and carrots (does not need to be thawed)
  • 2 1/2 cups chopped or shredded leftover cooked turkey
  • 1 pound spaghetti , cooked al dente
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
  • Fresh chopped parsley , for garnish

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray, set aside.

  • In large bowl whisk together both soups, sour cream, butter, chicken broth, sherry, salt, pepper, and garlic powder until combined.

  • Stir in the peas and carrots, turkey, and cooked spaghetti; toss to combine until fully coated.

  • Pour mixture into the prepared baking dish and sprinkle with the cheeses.

  • Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes, then remove foil and continue baking for another 15 minutes until cheese is melted and casserole is hot throughout.

  • Remove from oven and sprinkle with parsley. Let stand 5-10 minutes.

  • Serve and enjoy!

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 661kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 136mg | Sodium: 843mg | Potassium: 718mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1840IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 295mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional information given is an automatic calculation and can vary based on the exact products you use and any changes you make to the recipe. If these numbers are very important to you, I would recommend calculating them yourself.

Other Notes

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: turkey leftovers, turkey tetrazzini recipe

Did you make this recipe?Snap a picture and mention @bellyfullblog!

Turkey Tetrazzini Recipe - Belly Full (2024)

FAQs

What is turkey tetrazzini made of? ›

Try this American classic turkey casserole—turkey Tetrazzini—a hearty pasta bake that includes sautéed mushrooms, a cheesy creamy sauce, leftover turkey, peas, and egg noodles.

Why is Tetrazzini called Tetrazzini? ›

It is supposedly named for Italian opera singer Luisa Tetrazzini, and was made by the chef at her hotel in the early 1900s. Chicken tetrazzini is a baked casserole made with poultry or seafood, and mixed with dairy and pasta that is topped with cheese and breadcrumbs.

What is chicken tetrazzini sauce made of? ›

Here's what you need to make the cream sauce for Chicken Tetrazzini: butter, flour, chicken broth/stock, milk, cream and cheese. The basis of Tetrazzini sauce is a béchamel sauce.

Who created turkey tetrazzini? ›

The dish is named after the Italian opera star Luisa Tetrazzini. The origins of tetrazzini are widely disputed. Some accounts ascribe tetrazzini as a creation of Auguste Escoffier.

What is tetrazzini in English? ›

adjective. (often lowercase) served over pasta with a cream sauce, often flavored with sherry, sprinkled with cheese, and browned in the oven: chicken Tetrazzini.

What is cream cheese called in turkey? ›

Meanings of "cream cheese" with other terms in English Turkish Dictionary : 3 result(s)
CategoryTurkish
Gastronomy
1Gastronomyhoşmerim
2Gastronomylabne
3Gastronomyçedar peyniri
1 more row

Why is it called killer spaghetti? ›

The name assassina, which means killer, refers not to the felony, but rather the risottatura cooking technique that cooks pasta like risotto. Instead of boiling the spaghetti, it's cooked directly in the pan by consistently adding water to it each time the pasta absorbs it.

Why is it called John Wayne casserole? ›

In her pitch, she asked the stars to provide the recipe for their favorite dish. Wayne offered a simple concoction of egg souffle, cheese, green chiles, and tomatoes. His basic recipe became known as John Wayne Casserole, and it's now adored as a breakfast classic in many households.

How do you use tetrazzini in a sentence? ›

The restaurant was full of people enjoying a plate of turkey tetrazzini. Turkey tetrazzini is a great way of using up leftover turkey.

Why do Italians don't put chicken in pasta? ›

It's no big deal in British and American kitchens, but pasta with chicken is unheard of in Italy. It could be because the texture of chicken is too similar to cooked pasta, or maybe it's just because that's not what Nonna used to do, but chicken is kept strictly to the secondo, or second course.

What is creamy pasta sauce called? ›

While bechamel sauce is made with milk and flour, alfredo sauce is mainly made with heavy cream and cheese. Both have a creamy texture that thoroughly coats pasta noodles, but bechamel tends to be thicker than alfredo sauce.

What is this pink sauce stuff? ›

Pink Sauce is a pink dipping sauce created by TikTok user Veronica Shaw, better known by her screen name, Chef Pii. Food safety and labeling concerns caused the Food and Drug Administration to stop the production and online sale of Pink Sauce.

Why do they call it Tetrazzini? ›

Tetrazzini is a baked pasta dish purportedly named after the Italian opera singer Luisa Tetrazzini. Despite its symphonious name, it's actually mid-century American, not Italian. The turkey should have been a giveaway… It's made with pantry staples and lends itself to all sorts of variations.

Which company made the first TV dinners out of leftover turkey? ›

In the fall of 1953, the frozen-food company of C.A. Swanson & Sons of Omaha, Nebraska, was left with what must be a record in turkey leftovers: ten railroad cars packed with 520,000 pounds of turkey.

Who invented turducken? ›

The History of Turducken

The late Cajun chef Paul Prudhomme claimed to have invented the turducken (a turkey stuffed with a duck stuffed with a chicken) in the 1970s. He became synonymous with the dish—and even trademarked the name in 1986 (Turducken™).

What is spatch cooked turkey? ›

Spatchco*cking is a non-gimmicky way to get you to perfectly cooked turkey—fast. Also known as butterflying, the technique involves removing the backbone and flattening the bird for cooking.

What does Turducken consist of? ›

A "turducken" is a layered product especially popular during the holidays. The "turducken" is a deboned stuffed chicken inside a deboned stuffed duck inside a deboned stuffed turkey. The name is comprised of syllables from the words "turkey," "duck," and "chicken."

What is turkey casserole made of? ›

Ingredients/Variations

In this version, turkey, mushrooms, and noodles are baked into a savory sauce made with cream of chicken soup, seasonings, and cheese. What's so great about this recipe is that veggies like broccoli, peas, or carrots can be added to make an even heartier casserole.

What is turkey dish made of? ›

Frequently used ingredients in Turkish specialties include lamb, chicken, beef, fish, rice, eggplants, green peppers, onions, garlic, lentils, beans, zucchinis, chickpeas and tomatoes.

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