Turkey Tetrazzini
- By Amy Dong
- Updated Nov. 28, 2024
This Turkey Tetrazzini is an incredibly delicious way to transform leftover turkey into a new dish. It’s comfort food that’s a complete all-in-one meal that the entire family will devour.
In This Article
This post may contain affiliate links, at no additional cost to you.
Why This Recipe Stands Out
Here’s why this turkey tetrazzini recipe is a standout meal:
- Great for Leftover Turkey: This recipe gives new life to leftover turkey, just like our Turkey Bolognese recipe.
- Comfort Food: The combination of pasta, turkey, and a delicious sauce makes this dish the ultimate comfort food. It’s the perfect recipe for a cozy winter dinner.
- Crowd-Pleaser: Like Turkey Pot Pie, this is a dish that everyone loves. The flavors are familiar and delicious which makes it an instant winner for family dinners or potlucks.
- Freezer-Friendly: This casserole can be made ahead of time and frozen, making it a convenient option for busy weeknights or for meal prep.
Key Recipe Ingredients
- Turkey – Cooked and shredded turkey from a whole roasted turkey or smoked turkey is perfect.
- Linguine Noodles – We use uncooked linguine noodles, which cook in the sauce, soaking up all the delicious flavors. You can also use spaghetti or fettuccini noodles.
- White Wine – Dry white wine not only adds a depth of flavor to the sauce. We highly recommend using this, but if you must, you can use broth.
- Chicken Stock – We use low-sodium chicken stock to control the saltiness of the dish while still adding a rich, savory flavor.
- Heavy Cream – A splash of heavy cream adds a creamy, velvety texture to the sauce.
Substitutions And Variations
Here are some of our favorite variations and substitutions:
- Pasta: We love our Turkey Tetrazzini with linguine noodles, but use whatever pasta you’re craving. Spaghetti, fettuccini, or penne would work.
- Add Mushrooms: Feel free to add sliced mushrooms to the sautéed garlic and onions for even deeper flavors.
- Protein: This recipe calls for cooked turkey, but chicken works just as well.
- Bacon Topping: You can also prepare some extra cooked and crumbled bacon to top the casserole before baking.
Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions
- Saute vegetables and spices in oil in a large pan.
- Add wine, chicken stock, and seasonings to the pan; stir and let cook for a couple of minutes. Then, add the heavy cream and let it simmer.
- While the sauce is simmering, cook the linguine in a separate pot. Once done, toss the pasta in olive oil and set aside.
- Combine the creamy sauce with bacon, turkey, and Parmesan cheese. Transfer to a baking dish, mix in the cooked linguine, and top with panko and more Parmesan.
- Bake for 20 minutes. Then, uncover and bake for 5-10 more minutes.
- Garnish with chopped parsley and serve.
For full list of ingredients and instructions, see recipe card below.
How To Prep Ahead
Take a look at our best prep tips for this Turkey Tetrazzini:
- Prep the Veggies: You can chop the onion, mince the garlic, and chop the broccoli and red bell pepper ahead of time. Store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Shred Leftover Turkey: You can shred leftover turkey or chicken up to 3 days ahead of time; keep chilled until ready to use.
- Make the Sauce: The creamy sauce for the tetrazzini can be made in advance and stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge.
What To Serve With Turkey Tetrazzini
Vegetables
- Roasted Vegetables make a great side to balance out the richness of the Turkey Tetrazzini.
- We also love these 15-Minute Honey Glazed Carrots on the side.
Bread and Potatoes
- Some Rosemary Garlic Bread or French Bread are perfect for soaking up the delicious sauce and are always a hit with the whole family.
- If you’re looking for a heartier side, Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes would work great.
- Creamy, cheesy potatoes, such as our ultra-popular Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes, are a perfect side for turkey tetrazzini.
Commonly Asked Questions
What type of turkey is best for tetrazzini?
For this recipe, we recommend using cooked and shredded leftover turkey. You can also use rotisserie chicken as a substitute.
Can I use any type of white wine for this recipe?
You can use any dry white wine that you would enjoy drinking. A chardonnay, pinot grigio, or sauvignon blanc would all work well.
What is the purpose of panko breadcrumbs in this recipe?
Panko breadcrumbs add a crunchy texture to the dish. They are sprinkled on top of the casserole before baking to give it a golden, crispy finish.
How do I know when the tetrazzini is done baking?
The tetrazzini is done when it is bubbly and the top is golden brown. This usually takes about 20-25 minutes in the oven.
How long does Turkey Tetrazzini keep?
Turkey tetrazzini can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Be sure to store it in an airtight container to maintain its freshness.
Did you make this?
Please give us a rating and comment below. We love hearing from you!
Turkey Tetrazzini
This Turkey Tetrazzini is an extremely flavorful way to use leftover holiday turkey. It’s a leveled-up comfort food that’s a complete all-in-one meal, satisfying both young and old at the dinner table.
Ingredients
- 5 TB olive oil, divided
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup broccoli, small florets
- 1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
- ½ tsp paprika
- 1 tsp dried basil, or 1 TB freshly chopped
- 1 cup white wine, dry, see notes
- 2 cups chicken stock, low sodium
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ tsp table salt
- 1 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
- 12 oz dry spaghetti or linguine noodles, uncooked
- 2 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 3 cups turkey, cooked and shredded
- ⅔ cup parmesan, freshly shredded, divided
- ½ cup Panko breadcrumbs
- 2 TB parsley, freshly chopped for garnish
Instructions
- Sauté 3 TB olive oil, onions, garlic, broccoli, and bell pepper in a deep/large pan on high for about 4 minutes.
- Add paprika, basil, wine, and chicken stock to the saucepan, stirring about 2 minutes. Add heavy cream, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil. Immediately reduce to simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, bring a large pot of generously-salted water to a boil. Cook linguine until just al dente, 8-9 minutes. Drain (do not rinse). Transfer pasta back to the empty pot and toss with 2 TB olive oil. Set aside.
- Spray a 9×13 casserole dish with oil. Preheat oven to 350F, with rack on lower middle position.
- To the creamy sauce, add bacon, turkey, and 1/3 shredded Parmesan cheese Stir until well combined. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper, if needed
- Pour sauce into the pot of linguine and stir to combine. Transfer to prepared baking dish. Top with panko and remaining parmesan cheese.
- Bake uncovered until bubbly and golden, 20-25 minutes. If desired, garnish with chopped parsley and serve.
Notes
- This is a great recipe for leftover turkey after the holidays.
- You can also use leftover chicken or rotisserie chicken.
- Dry white wine such as Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc work well.
- If you wish to omit wine, sub with an extra cup of low-sodium chicken broth.
- Feel free to add 8 oz sliced mushrooms to the sautéed garlic and onions.
- You can substitute the red bell peppers and broccoli with peas or any other vegetables you like.
- You can use Italian seasoning in place of basil if you’d like.
- If desired, prepare extra cooked/crumbled bacon to top the casserole before baking.
- If you are short on time, you can also serve the linguine with the finished sauce and skip the panko topping/baking part. If you do this, cook the linguine a bit longer, according to the package instructions.
- This recipe is part of our Casserole Recipe Collection.
- Some Rosemary Garlic Bread or French Bread are perfect for soaking up the delicious sauce in this turkey tetrazzini.
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
More to Cook And Eat
- Turkey Chili – This healthy turkey chili recipe is the perfect comfort food for cold winter nights, game-day feasts, and everything in between.
- BBQ Turkey Meatloaf – This BBQ Turkey Meatloaf is juicy, tender, and packed full of flavor. The BBQ sauce takes it over the top.
- Smoked Spatchcock Turkey – This Smoked Turkey recipe lives up to all our expectations of the perfect Thanksgiving bird. We’ve never had a more juicy and flavorful turkey!
- Instant Pot Turkey Breast with Gravy – You can have tender, succulent turkey breast with gravy in less than an hour with this Instant Pot Turkey Breast with Gravy recipe.