Easy Turkey Tetrazzini Recipe

This Easy Turkey Tetrazzini Recipe is a perfect use for all of your leftover turkey. Made with a cheesy sauce, earthy mushrooms with noodles, this turkey casserole is a great way to eat turkey another day and not think you’re eating the same meal!

Today’s recipe is my solution to all of the leftover turkey you have after Thanksgiving.  I love leftovers, but sometimes there is so much turkey I can’t bear to eat it in its original form.  Turkey tetrazzini casserole is a pasta noodle dish with a cheesy rich sauce that won’t remind you at all about turkey and stuffing!

What is tetrazzini?

Funny thing about this tetrazzini, by the name of it you would think it is an Italian recipe.  But it’s actually an American recipe that is named for an Italian Opera Singer Luisa Tetrazzini (1871-1940).

It’s usually made with a non-red meat mixed with pasta noodles in a creamy cheese sauce.  It often has mushrooms, onions and vegetables with some almonds in it.

I’m taking a little liberty with the recipe today. I adapted a cheesy noodle recipe of my moms but subbed in turkey and mushrooms into it.  I’ve used peas, but if you have leftover green beans from Thanksgiving toss those in instead.

The easy turkey tetrazzini hot dish is made with a light, tangy cheese sauce tossed over the noodles with the earthy softened mushrooms woven throughout.

Baked in a casserole dish, it has a crunchy panko topping that ties the whole thing together!  It will work for a meal the day after thanksgiving to have while watching football or you can make this for a potluck or as a dish to drop off for a neighbor.

How to make turkey pasta noodles aka turkey tetrazzini

1. Get the ingredients ready.  Slice mushrooms, mince onions, shred chicken and measure out the cream cheese, butter, parmesan, peas and the nutmeg.  

   

2. Cook the pasta but cook it to al dente so its a little firm.  Doing this guarantees the pasta does not turn mushy when baking.

   

3. In the pan melt butter and saute the mushrooms and onions until softened and they have released the liquids. (set aside)
4. Melt butter with mushroom juices.
5. Make a roux with the flour and cook for a couple of minutes to get out the powdery taste.

   

6. Add in the milk and half and half and bring to a boil to thicken.
7. Add cream cheese and let it melt completely.
8. Sauce should hold firm to the spoon.

   

9. Add pasta and add-ins to pan.

   

10. Stir to mix everything, place into a casserole dish

    

11. Make a stuffing or bread crumb topping and place on top

    

12. Bake until warmed, and topping is golden brown.

Questions you might have about this recipe:

We didn’t have any turkey leftovers.  Can I use chicken?  yes!  Make this tetrazzini with roasted chicken meat and you can make it all year long!

Can I freeze this if I have a LOT of turkey leftover?  Tetrazzini stores really well in the freezer, place it in an airtight sealed container and it will reheat well.  Defrost, then either warm in the oven on low, or microwave in 1-minute increments until hot. Freshen up with some additional parmesan cheese on the top.

What wine can you pair this with?  This tetrazzini casserole would go great with any light white wine that is slightly sweeter.  A prosecco or a crisp sauvignon blanc will go great with the creamy tangy cheese sauce.

What can I serve with tetrazzini?  Serve the turkey noodle hot dish with a light salad for a complete meal.

More Recipes to use up all the Thanksgiving dinner leftovers you might have after :

Leftover Appetizers:

• Cranberry Orange Cream Cheese for a bagel spread instead of a dip for crackers
• Buttery toasted nuts
• Candied Nuts (for a salad topping)
• Turkey A la King

Leftover Turkey:  

• Turkey Artichoke Rice Casserole
• Turkey Pot Pie
• Turkey Tater Tot Casserole
• Turkey Salad Sandwiches 
• Turkey and Potato Supreme
• Turkey Wild Rice Salad

Leftover Cranberries:

• Cranberry Pistachio Spread
• Sugared Cranberries
• Cranberry Orange Bread
• Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail
• Honey Roasted Cranberry Crostini
• Cranberries in Baked Brie

Leftover Potatoes

• Sweet Potato Bisque with truffle Oil
• Potato Croquettes

Leftover Stuffing:

• Bacon Cups with Stuffing
• Stuffing Egg Casserole
• Stuffing Balls

Leftover Desserts

• Pumpkin Wontons
• Apple Pie Blizzard
• Pumpkin Spice Cookies from leftover pie crusts

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Yield: 6

Easy Turkey Tetrazzini :Turkey Leftovers

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This Easy Turkey Tetrazzini Recipe is a perfect use for all of your leftover turkey. Made with a cheesy sauce, earthy mushrooms with noodles, this turkey casserole is a great way to eat turkey another day and not think you're eating the same meal!  #thanksgiving #leftoverturkey 

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes

Total Time 55 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 cups shredded turkey
• 1 pound egg noodles
• 16 ounces mushrooms, sliced
• 1/2 cup peas
• 2 tablespoons onions, minced
• 2 cups half and half
• 1 cup milk
• 4 ounces cream cheese
• 1/4 cup flour
• 5 tablespoons butter
• pinch nutmeg
• 1 cup Panko Bread Crumbs
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
• parsley garnish, minced
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325°
2. Cook the egg noodles according to the package directions.  I suggest cutting the time to the lower end or 2 minutes less than the package recommends.  The dish gets baked at the end, and this will make it so the pasta does not go mushy.
3. Strain out water when done and set aside.  
4. In same pan melt 2 tablespoons of the butter and sauce the onions and mushrooms for 10 minutes until mushrooms are softened.  Remove from pan and set aside in a bowl.
5. Bring pan to medium high heat.  Melt 2 more tablespoons of butter then sprinkle in the flour and whisk quickly to completely combine.  Cook for 2 minutes to get rid of the flour taste and bring out the nutty flavor.
6. Add in milk and whisk until combined.  Then add the half and half slowly and whisk until well blended.  Raise heat to high, bring to a boil and let cook for about 10 minutes until sauce starts to thicken.  
7. Once sauce has thickened, add in the cream cheese and let it melt completely.  Remove pan with sauce from heat.  Add in nutmeg and season to taste with salt and pepper.
8. Add turkey, peas, mushrooms/onion and noodles to pasta and stir to mix well.  
9. Place into 9X13 casserole dish.
10. Melt last tablespoon of butter in microwave.  Toss bread crumbs in the butter.  Sprinkle breadcrumbs over the top of the casserole.
11. Bake for 15-20 minutes until the breadcrumb topping is golden brown and the noodles are heated throughout. 

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

6 Servings
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 722Saturated Fat: 18gCholesterol: 174mgSodium: 401mgCarbohydrates: 75gFiber: 4gSugar: 7gProtein: 30g

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