Turkey Tetrazzini Recipe (2024)

By Laura

Posted Nov 20, 2022, Updated Feb 15, 2024

5 from 3 votes

1 Comment

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This turkey tetrazzini recipe is a delicious way to use up leftover roast turkey from the holidays. Spaghetti, turkey broccoli and cheese are tossed in a from-scratch sauce (no canned soups), and baked until bubbly.

Turkey Tetrazzini Recipe (2)

We often find ourselves with lots of leftover Thanksgiving turkey, and after a few meals I try to find new ways to use it – like this turkey tetrazzini recipe (and of course, turkey pot pie and the best turkey cranberry sandwich).

This turkey tetrazzini includes a rich & cheesy from-scratch sauce, which means no canned soup! It’s a hearty main dish that your whole family will love, and a nice change of pace from eating Thanksgiving leftovers for every meal.

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Turkey Tetrazzini: Ingredients & Substitutions

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  • Spaghetti. We use regular spaghetti noodles but really any shape of pasta works well in this recipe. I also have used chickpea pasta (gluten-free) with great results.
  • Salted butter. Unsalted butter works well too.
  • Minced garlic. Fresh or jarred are great choices.
  • All-purpose flour. Gluten-free all-purpose flour works well.
  • Chicken broth. If you have homemade turkey broth from your leftovers definitely use it in this recipe.
  • Whole milk. You need 2 cups of liquid dairy. Half and half is a great substitute for whole milk. Or you can use 1 cup whole milk, 1 cup heavy cream.
  • Broccoli. I use frozen broccoli because it’s easy. Fresh broccoli cut in small pieces works well too. If you don’t love broccoli you can substitute your favorite vegetable(s) or simply omit it.
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How to Make Turkey Tetrazzini

We’ll walk through how to make turkey tetrazzini step-by-step, and don’t forget to watch the video.

Begin this recipe by cooking the spaghetti. First, break the spaghetti noodles in half.

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Then, cook the noodles according to package instructions in salted water. Drain and set aside in a large bowl but do not rinse.

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Make the sauce

While the spaghetti is cooking, make the sauce. Begin by melting butter in a large stockpot.

Then, add the onion and garlic and cook until onion is soft (about 4 minutes).

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Next, add the flour, sea salt and pepper and whisk to combine. Then, cook for 30-60 seconds until the mixture starts bubbling.

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Then, add chicken broth (or turkey broth), whole milk and Italian seasoning, whisk to combine, and cook until the mixture just starts to thicken (it will boil).

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Once the mixture is thickened, whisk in 1 cup parmesan cheese and 1 cup mozzarella cheese until melted.

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Assemble

Turn off the heat, and add the spaghetti, broccoli and turkey to the sauce and stir to combine.

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Combine the topping ingredients in a medium bowl.

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Then, pour the turkey tetrazzini mixture into the prepared 9×13″ baking dish and evenly spread the mixture over the top of the tetrazzini in the pan.

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Bake

Cover and bake for 20 minutes, then uncover and bake an additional 5-10 minutes until the top is lightly browned and the filling is bubbly.

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Serve

Serve warm with a garnish of fresh parsley (if desired). The great thing about this turkey tetrazzini is that it’s a full meal on is own.

Sometimes we like to serve it with some homemade bread (homemade french bread, no knead bread, or homemade dinner rolls) and a green salad like this kale salad or burrata salad.

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Store/Freeze

Store leftover turkey tetrazzini in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months. Reheat in the microwave or in the oven.

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Turkey Tetrazzini Recipe FAQs

What is Turkey Tetrazzini made of?

This recipe includes a homemade sauce made of milk, cheese, butter, & spices, as well as leftover turkey, broccoli and spaghetti.

Can I halve this recipe?

Yes, to make a smaller amount halve the ingredients and bake in a 9×9″ or 8×8″ pan.

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Turkey Tetrazzini Recipe (19)

Turkey Tetrazzini Recipe (20)

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Turkey Tetrazzini Recipe

Laura

This turkey tetrazzini recipe is a delicious way to use up leftover roast turkey from the holidays. Spaghetti, turkey broccoli and cheese are tossed in a from-scratch sauce (no canned soups), and baked until bubbly.

5 from 3 votes

Course Main Course

Cuisine Italian

Servings 16 servings

Calories 286

Prep Time20 minutes minutes

Cook Time30 minutes minutes

Total Time50 minutes minutes

Ingredients

Topping

  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese
  • ¼ cup parmesan cheese
  • ¼ cup breadcrumbs

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9×13” baking dish.

  • Break spaghetti noodles in half, then cooking according to package instructions in salted water. Drain and set aside in a large bowl but do not rinse.

  • While spaghetti is cooking, make the sauce.

  • In a large stockpot melt butter.

  • Add onion and garlic and cook until onion is soft (about 4 minutes).

  • Add flour, sea salt and pepper and whisk to combine. Cook for 30-60 seconds until mixture starts bubbling.

  • Add chicken broth, whole milk and Italian seasoning and whisk to combine. Cook until the mixture just starts to thicken (it will boil).

  • Whisk in 1 cup parmesan cheese and 1 cup mozzarella cheese until melted.

  • Turn off the heat, and add the spaghetti, broccoli and turkey to the sauce and stir to combine.

  • Pour the tetrazzini mixture into the prepared 9×13” baking dish.

  • Combine 1 cup mozzarella, ¼ cup parmesan cheese and ¼ cup breadcrumbs in a medium bowl.

  • Evenly spread the mixture over the top of the tetrazzini in the pan.

  • Cover and bake for 20 minutes, then uncover and bake an additional 5-10 minutes until the top is lightly browned and the filling is bubbly.

Video

Notes

Ingredient Substitutions

  • Spaghetti. We use regular spaghetti noodles but really any shape of pasta works well in this recipe. I also have used chickpea pasta (gluten-free) with great results.
  • Salted butter. Unsalted butter works well too.
  • Minced garlic. Fresh or jarred are great choices.
  • All-purpose flour. Gluten-free all-purpose flour works well.
  • Chicken broth. If you have homemade turkey broth from your leftovers definitely use it in this recipe.
  • Whole milk. You need 2 cups of liquid dairy. Half and half is a great substitute for whole milk. Or you can use 1 cup whole milk, 1 cup heavy cream.
  • Broccoli. I use frozen broccoli because it’s easy. Fresh broccoli cut in small pieces works well too. If you don’t love broccoli you can substitute your favorite vegetable(s) or simply omit it.

Store/Freeze

Store leftover turkey tetrazzini in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months. Reheat in the microwave or in the oven.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.75cup | Calories: 286kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 544mg | Potassium: 290mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 480IU | Vitamin C: 26mg | Calcium: 234mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you enjoy this recipe? Have a question? Leave a comment below!

Try these recipes

Roast Turkey Recipe

Turkey Cranberry Sandwich

Healthy Turkey Meatballs

Healthy Turkey Chili Recipe

Leftover Turkey Pot Pie

Healthy Turkey Meatloaf

Turkey Tetrazzini Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is tetrazzini sauce made of? ›

The basis of Tetrazzini sauce is a béchamel sauce. While a basic béchamel is made with just butter, flour and milk, for Tetrazzini, we dial up the deliciousness by adding chicken stock (for flavour), cream (for richness) and cheese (a good thing in anything!).

What is turkey tetrazzini made of? ›

It's a baked pasta recipe using a creamy, cheesy white wine sauce as the base. Cooked spaghetti, mushrooms, green peas, black olives, turkey, and bacon make up the bulk of the casserole and then it gets topped with panko breadcrumbs.

Why is it called tetrazzini? ›

It is supposedly named for Italian opera singer Luisa Tetrazzini, and was made by the chef at her hotel in the early 1900s. Chicken tetrazzini is a baked casserole made with poultry or seafood, and mixed with dairy and pasta that is topped with cheese and breadcrumbs.

What is tetrazzini in English? ›

Tetrazzini is an Italian-American dish made with diced poultry or seafood and in a butter, cream or milk and cheese sauce flavored with sherry or white wine, and combined with linguine, spaghetti, egg noodles, or other types of pasta, sometimes topped with breadcrumbs or cheese, and garnished with parsley or basil.

What is pasta and tomato sauce called? ›

Pasta Pomodoro, or Pasta al Pomodoro as it's called in Italy, is a simple yet delicious dish of spaghetti or rigatoni tossed with a rich, basil-infused tomato sauce.

Where does tetrazzini originate from? ›

Chicken Tetrazzini is an American dish. It's unclear which chef, but a chef, created it in honor of Italian opera singer Luisa Tetrazzini when she debuted as Gilda in Rigoletto in San Francisco in 1905.

What is spatch cooked turkey? ›

Spatchco*cking is a non-gimmicky way to get you to perfectly cooked turkey—fast. Also known as butterflying, the technique involves removing the backbone and flattening the bird for cooking.

When was turkey Tetrazzini invented? ›

First is San Francisco. One story goes that Luisa Tetrazzini sang in The Palace Hotel's Palm Court in 1905. A banquet was held and that is supposedly when the dish was created. Though no newspaper that was present that day mentioned the dish.

Why is it called killer spaghetti? ›

The name assassina, which means killer, refers not to the felony, but rather the risottatura cooking technique that cooks pasta like risotto. Instead of boiling the spaghetti, it's cooked directly in the pan by consistently adding water to it each time the pasta absorbs it.

Why is it called John Wayne casserole? ›

Why Is It Called A John Wayne Casserole? The origins of this delicious casserole can be traced back to a cookbook called “Cooking with Love from Cara and Her Friends.” John Wayne contributed an egg and cheese casserole recipe to that book.

Why don't Italians eat chicken and pasta? ›

It's no big deal in British and American kitchens, but pasta with chicken is unheard of in Italy. It could be because the texture of chicken is too similar to cooked pasta, or maybe it's just because that's not what Nonna used to do, but chicken is kept strictly to the secondo, or second course.

What is a casserole vs lasagna? ›

Casseroles are usually quick and easy. Some ingredients quickly stir together and are poured into a baking dish, topped with cheese, and baked. A traditional lasagna takes more time. Multiple layers, all made separately, then put together before baking.

Do Italians put chicken in pasta dishes? ›

Traditionally, Italians do not mix chicken and pasta. Chicken was scarce in post-war rural Italy, and people used chickens for recipes that utilize the entire chicken more effectively. However, there are exceptions such as cold pasta salads with chicken shreds or ragu sauces flavored with chicken.

What is a chunky pasta sauce called? ›

Marinara sauce isn't simmered at length, so it has a chunky, watery texture that's different from other types of pasta sauce.

What is traditional pasta sauce made of? ›

A classic pasta sauce crafted with vine-ripened tomatoes and well-storied passion. Tomato Puree (Water, Tomato Paste), Salt, Olive Oil, Sugar, Dehydrated Onions, Dehydrated Garlic, Spices, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder.

What is Italian pasta sauce called? ›

A traditional tomato-based pasta sauce is known as marinara sauce. According to top Arizona pizza places, crushed or diced tomatoes are combined with chopped garlic, onions, and peppers and simmered until they reach a saucy consistency.

What is Italian spaghetti sauce called? ›

Marinara sauce is tomato-based and is seasoned with classic Italian flavors like basil, oregano and garlic.

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