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Turkey or Chicken Tetrazzini

This turkey tetrazzini is extremely flavorful and a great way to use leftover holiday turkey. Chicken would work just as well.

Turkey or Chicken Tetrazzini
Turkey tetrazzini is a great way to use up leftover turkey.

Turkey Tetrazzini Recipe

Whenever we’re planning on having turkey or chicken leftovers, especially after the holidays, we can count on Turkey or Chicken Tetrazzini to take poultry to a whole new level.   Now this is a way to spin a bit of magic onto leftovers.

Tetrazzini is leveled up comfort food.  Combine poultry and veggies with mounds of satisfying pasta.  It’s an all-in-one meal that satisfies both young and old at the dinner table.  A hunger-inducing aroma will beckon you while it cooks.  Then, one bite leads to another until there’s nothing left of your leftovers.

A bowl of Chicken Tetrazzini
Use linguini noodles or whatever pasta noodles you have in the pantry.

Turkey Tetrazzini is an Easy Meal in One

This scrumptious pasta dish is a transformation of the ordinary into something extraordinary.  With players like bacon, mushrooms, and cheese, Tetrazzini is an popular crowd-pleaser. 

We love our Turkey/Chicken Tetrazzini with linguini noodles, but use whatever pasta you’re craving.  The recipe includes a fair variety of spices, but it’s mostly stuff you probably already have.

Try this chicken cacciatore or buffalo chicken pasta for some other easy weeknight meals! Want more leftover turkey recipes? Try this turkey bolognese! It’s a true winner!

Turkey or Chicken Tetrazzini 4
Panko breadcrumbs provide an extra crispy topping over turkey tetrazzini.

Panko Breadcrumbs Provide A Crispy Topping

In lieu of normal breadcrumbs, this Tetrazzini is adorned with crispy Panko breadcrumbs.  It’s been around a long time, but Panko has more recently started gaining well-deserved popularity.  Panko is the new breadcrumb. 

If you’ve never used it, try Panko just once – you might become its next big fan.  It’s extra crisp and light, and makes everything that much better.  I use Panko with anything from casseroles to finger foods.

Enjoy the holiday meals with your beloved people, and create something wonderful out of what remains.

Did you make this?

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turkey tetrazzini or chicken tetrazzini

Turkey or Chicken Tetrazzini

5 from 5 ratings
This turkey/chicken tetrazzini is extremely flavorful and a great way to use leftover holiday turkey.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Servings: 6
Author: Amy Dong

Ingredients  

  • 2 slices bacon
  • 4 TB olive oil
  • 1 whole onion, large
  • 1 whole red bell peppers, chopped
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced
  • 8 oz mushrooms, sliced
  • ½ tsp paprika
  • ½ tsp dried thyme
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ¼ cup all purpose flour
  • 1 cup white wine, dry
  • 2 cups chicken stock, low sodium
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
  • 12 oz linguini noodles, uncooked
  • 2 cups broccoli, frozen florets
  • 3 cups turkey , or chicken, shredded and cooked
  • 2 TB parsley, freshly chopped
  • cup parmesan, freshly shredded, divided
  • 6 oz Panko breadcrumbs

Instructions

  • Cook bacon until crisp and browned in large, heavy pot.  Remove with slotted spoon, crumble into pieces, and set aside.
  • Sauté 3 TB olive oil, onions, garlic, and bell pepper in same pot on high for about 4 minutes.  Add mushrooms, paprika, thyme, oregano, and garlic powder.  Cook until mushrooms are soft, about 5 minutes.  Sprinkle with the flour and cook for another 2 minutes. 
  • Add wine and chicken stock, stirring until smooth and thick, about 2 minutes.  Add heavy cream, milk, salt, and pepper, and bring to a boil.  Reduce to simmer, until sauce is thick enough to coat back of spoon and very flavorful, 15-20 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, boil a large pot of well-salted water.  Cook linguini until just al dente, about 8 minutes.  Drain and sprinkle with some olive oil.  Set aside (do not rinse pasta.)
  • Oil a 9×13 casserole dish with 1 TB olive oil.   Set oven to 350F.   In a bowl, mix Panko with 1/3 shredded Parmesan and set aside.
  • When sauce has thickened, add drained linguini, crumbled bacon, frozen broccoli florets, shredded poultry, and 1/3 shredded Parmesan cheese to the sauce pot.  Stir until well combined.  Season with additional salt and pepper, if needed.
  • Transfer to prepared casserole dish.  Top with Panko/Parmesan mixture.  Bake uncovered until bubbly and golden, about 30 minutes.  Sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve immediately.

Notes

  • This is a great recipe for leftover roast turkey.
  • If you enjoyed this recipe, please come back and give it a rating ♡

Nutrition (per serving)

Serving: 1g | Calories: 780kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 127g | Saturated Fat: 40g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 26g | Monounsaturated Fat: 54g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 151mg | Sodium: 486mg | Potassium: 389mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 708IU | Vitamin C: 32mg | Calcium: 179mg | Iron: 1mg
Course: Main Course, Main Dish
Cuisine: American Italian
Method: Stovetop

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Recipe Rating




9 comments

    • sarah

    Can you make ahead and freeze this dish?

      • chewoutloud

      Hi, Sarah! In general, freezing cooked pasta will change the texture quite a bit (frozen cooked pastas tend to become gummy and too-soft, losing their bite/chew.) I wouldn’t recommend it, as pasta is always best freshly cooked; That said, you could definitely prepare everything else except the pasta ahead of time. You can also make the dish in its entirety, cover, and keep chilled in fridge 24 hours ahead of time; just reheat in oven to serve. Hope that helps 🙂

    • james
    • 5 stars

    my vatiation uses Gruyere as well as Parmesan. I used ground chicken, peppered turkey bacon and Spanish smoked paprika. I excluded the wine as well and added a little more salt. It came out awesome!!!!!

      • chewoutloud

      So great to hear it, James! Yippeee!! Thanks for taking the time to come over and let us know you liked this! 🙂 🙂

    • Busyladygayle

    This looks good and I am about to bake it but there is no temperature indicated!!!!!!

      • chewoutloud

      Thanks! 350F… enjoy it… hope you love it 🙂

    • delishthoughts

    mmmm def need to try making this!

    • themondaybox

    Turkey Tetrazzini is my family’s favorite meal after Thanksgiving. (Maybe even better than the plain turkey on Thanksgiving!) Yours looks especially creamy and delicious. I plan on trying your version soon!

    • Liz

    I know I say this EVERYTIME, but pretty pretty:-)

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