When the holidays roll around, I make sure to prepare extra turkey so that we have leftovers for dishes such as turkey salad, turkey soup and this fabulous turkey tetrazzini.
Turkey Tetrazzini Ingredients
To make this turkey tetrazzini recipe you will need spaghetti, butter, onion, mushrooms, garlic, flour, chicken broth, half and half, Parmesan cheese, cream cheese, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, cooked turkey, frozen peas, Italian breadcrumbs and parsley. This tetrazzini is one of my favorite leftover turkey recipes along with turkey pasta carbonara, turkey noodle soup and turkey casserole. You can make amazing dishes to feed a crowd after Thanksgiving.
How Do You Make Turkey Tetrazzini?
Start this turkey tetrazzini recipe by cooking onions and mushrooms in butter. Whisk in a little flour, then add half and half and chicken broth to form the base for the creamy sauce. Stir in cream cheese and parmesan cheese, along with herbs and spices. Place cooked spaghetti in a large bowl along with turkey, the mushroom sauce and peas. Toss until you mix everything together, then spoon the pasta mixture into a baking dish. Add a layer of breadcrumbs, then bake until the breadcrumbs are brown and sauce is bubbly. Add a sprinkling of fresh parsley, then serve.
Tips For The Perfect Dish
I typically use leftover diced turkey, but you can also cook up turkey specifically for this casserole. I recommend using turkey breast or turkey tenderloins, and roasting them in the oven. I typically use button mushrooms because they are readily available and mild in flavor. You can also use other varieties including cremini, portobello or chanterelle. Feel free to buy pre-sliced mushrooms to save on prep time. You can assemble turkey tetrazzini up to 8 hours before you plan to bake it. Cover the pan with foil and store it in the fridge, then bake for an additional 10-15 minutes to compensate for starting with a cold dish. Tetrazzini will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, and you can freeze it for 2 months. Reheat any leftovers in a covered dish in the oven at 325 degrees F, or heat individual portions in the microwave.
Flavor Variations
While this dish is great as-is, you can absolutely substitute in other ingredients to customize the flavors to fit your tastes.
Protein: Instead of turkey, try diced chicken, ground chicken or sliced smoked sausage. Noodles: While spaghetti is traditional, you can use pastas such as linguine, fettuccine, penne, farfalle or even egg noodles. Flavorings: You can add a variety of ingredients including sauteed bell peppers, frozen corn, diced green beans, bacon or spinach. Toppings: Try a topping of shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese instead of the breadcrumbs.
Turkey tetrazzini to be my favorite way to repurpose extra turkey. Feed a crowd and get rave reviews from kids and adults!
Turkey Tetrazzini Video
