Turkey tetrazzini is a comforting and creamy pasta dish that's perfect for using up leftover turkey. This classic casserole combines tender turkey, spaghetti, and a rich sauce made with heavy cream and parmesan cheese. It's an easy and delicious way to bring a touch of elegance to your dinner table.
While most of the ingredients for turkey tetrazzini are common pantry staples, you might need to pick up a few items at the supermarket. Heavy cream is essential for the rich sauce, and parmesan cheese adds a savory depth of flavor. Don't forget the mushrooms and frozen peas to add texture and color to the dish.
Ingredients for Turkey Tetrazzini
Spaghetti: The base of the dish, providing a hearty and satisfying texture.
Turkey: Shredded cooked turkey adds protein and flavor.
Mushrooms: Sliced mushrooms contribute an earthy taste and meaty texture.
Frozen peas: Thawed peas add a pop of color and sweetness.
Chicken broth: Provides a savory liquid base for the sauce.
Heavy cream: Adds richness and creaminess to the sauce.
Parmesan cheese: Grated cheese adds a nutty and salty flavor.
Olive oil: Used for sautéing the onions and garlic.
Onion: Chopped onion adds sweetness and depth to the dish.
Garlic: Minced garlic provides a fragrant and savory note.
Salt and pepper: Essential seasonings to enhance the overall flavor.
Technique Tip for This Recipe
When cooking the mushrooms, make sure not to overcrowd the pan. Overcrowding can cause them to steam rather than brown, which affects the overall flavor and texture of the dish. Cook them in batches if necessary to ensure they release their moisture and develop a nice golden color.
Suggested Side Dishes
Alternative Ingredients
spaghetti - Substitute with fettuccine: Fettuccine has a similar texture and will hold the sauce well.
shredded cooked turkey - Substitute with shredded cooked chicken: Chicken has a similar flavor profile and texture.
sliced mushrooms - Substitute with sliced zucchini: Zucchini provides a similar texture and absorbs flavors well.
thawed frozen peas - Substitute with fresh green beans: Green beans add a similar pop of color and a slight crunch.
chicken broth - Substitute with vegetable broth: Vegetable broth provides a similar depth of flavor and is suitable for vegetarians.
heavy cream - Substitute with half-and-half: Half-and-half will still provide creaminess but with less fat.
grated parmesan cheese - Substitute with grated pecorino romano: Pecorino Romano has a similar salty and nutty flavor.
olive oil - Substitute with canola oil: Canola oil has a neutral flavor and similar cooking properties.
chopped onion - Substitute with shallots: Shallots offer a milder and slightly sweeter flavor.
minced garlic - Substitute with garlic powder: Garlic powder can provide a similar flavor, though it is less potent.
salt - Substitute with soy sauce: Soy sauce adds a similar salty flavor along with umami.
pepper - Substitute with white pepper: White pepper provides a similar heat but with a slightly different flavor profile.
Alternative Recipes Similar to This Dish
How To Store / Freeze This Dish
- Allow the Turkey Tetrazzini to cool to room temperature before storing. This helps prevent condensation, which can make the dish soggy.
- Transfer the Turkey Tetrazzini to an airtight container. If you don't have one large enough, you can use multiple smaller containers.
- For optimal freshness, store the Turkey Tetrazzini in the refrigerator. It will keep well for up to 3-4 days.
- If you plan to freeze the Turkey Tetrazzini, portion it into individual servings. This makes it easier to reheat only what you need.
- Wrap each portion tightly with plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe bag or container. Label with the date to keep track of freshness.
- When ready to enjoy, thaw the Turkey Tetrazzini in the refrigerator overnight. This ensures even thawing and maintains the dish's texture.
- Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) until heated through, about 20-25 minutes. You can also reheat in the microwave, but the oven method helps retain the dish's original texture.
- If the Turkey Tetrazzini seems dry after reheating, add a splash of chicken broth or heavy cream to restore its creamy consistency.
How To Reheat Leftovers
Oven Method:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Transfer the leftover Turkey Tetrazzini to an oven-safe dish.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil to prevent it from drying out.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the pasta is heated through and the top is bubbly.
- For an extra crispy top, remove the foil during the last 5 minutes of baking.
Stovetop Method:
- Place a non-stick skillet over medium heat.
- Add a splash of chicken broth or heavy cream to the skillet to help rehydrate the pasta.
- Add the leftover Turkey Tetrazzini to the skillet.
- Stir occasionally, heating until the dish is warmed through, about 8-10 minutes.
Microwave Method:
- Transfer a portion of the leftover Turkey Tetrazzini to a microwave-safe dish.
- Cover the dish with a microwave-safe lid or plastic wrap, leaving a small vent for steam to escape.
- Microwave on medium power for 2-3 minutes.
- Stir the pasta and continue to microwave in 1-minute intervals until heated through.
- Let it sit for a minute before serving to allow the heat to distribute evenly.
Air Fryer Method:
- Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C).
- Place the leftover Turkey Tetrazzini in an air fryer-safe dish.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil to prevent the top from burning.
- Air fry for 10-15 minutes, checking halfway through to ensure even heating.
- Remove the foil during the last 5 minutes for a crispy top.
Essential Tools for This Recipe
Large pot: Used for heating the olive oil and cooking the onions, garlic, and mushrooms.
Baking dish: Used to transfer the mixture for baking in the oven.
Oven: Preheated to 350°F (175°C) for baking the tetrazzini.
Wooden spoon: Ideal for stirring the ingredients while cooking.
Measuring cups: Used to measure the chicken broth, heavy cream, and parmesan cheese.
Knife: Essential for chopping the onion and mincing the garlic.
Cutting board: Provides a surface for chopping the onion and mincing the garlic.
Colander: Used for draining the cooked spaghetti.
Mixing bowl: Useful for mixing the cooked spaghetti with the sauce and parmesan cheese.
Grater: Used to grate the parmesan cheese if it is not pre-grated.
Spatula: Helpful for transferring the mixture from the pot to the baking dish.
Measuring spoons: Used to measure the olive oil and seasonings.
Oven mitts: Essential for safely handling the hot baking dish when removing it from the oven.
How to Save Time on This Recipe
Use rotisserie turkey: Save time by using pre-cooked rotisserie turkey instead of cooking your own.
Pre-sliced mushrooms: Buy pre-sliced mushrooms to skip the slicing step.
Frozen peas: Use frozen peas directly without thawing; they will cook perfectly in the sauce.
Pre-minced garlic: Opt for pre-minced garlic to avoid the hassle of mincing cloves.
One-pot cooking: Cook the spaghetti in the same pot you use for the sauce to reduce dishwashing.
Pre-grated cheese: Purchase pre-grated parmesan cheese to save time on grating.
Turkey Tetrazzini Recipe
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 12 oz spaghetti cooked and drained
- 3 cups cooked turkey shredded
- 1 cup sliced mushrooms
- 1 cup frozen peas thawed
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese divided
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- to taste salt and pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for another minute.
- Add mushrooms and cook until they release their moisture and start to brown, about 5-7 minutes.
- Stir in the cooked turkey, peas, chicken broth, and heavy cream. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes.
- Mix in the cooked spaghetti and half of the Parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Transfer the mixture to a baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining Parmesan cheese on top.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, until the top is golden and bubbly.
- Let cool for a few minutes before serving.
Nutritional Value
Keywords
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