Easy Chicken Tetrazzini {No Mushrooms!}

What is Chicken Tetrazzini?

Tetrazzini is an American recipe that traditionally uses chicken, pasta, and a creamy white sauce.

This popular casserole is named after Italian opera star, Luisa Tetrazzini, who was a long-time resident of the Palace Hotel in San Francisco. The chef at the hotel, Ernest Arbogast, invented the recipe sometime between 1908–1910 and named it in her honor.

There is no universal standard for the dish, so various parts are often missing or tweaked in the various recipes you'll find on the internet. 

Ingredients

While many chicken tetrazzini recipes may involve complicated lists of ingredients, my version has been modified for average busy parents who just want to get dinner on the table quickly!

• Shredded Rotisserie Chicken: Or any cooked chicken leftovers you have on hand.
• Pot-Sized Linguine: Or you can break spaghetti or thing spaghetti in half by hand if you can't find the shorter noodle.
• Prepared Alfredo Sauce: In a pinch, you can buy the prepared sauce from the grocery store but I highly recommend using half of this homemade alfredo sauce recipe. There are so many ways to use the leftovers another night and it tastes SO much better!
• Cream of Chicken Soup* See my tips for flavor variations at the bottom of the post.
• Frozen Peas
• Grated Parmesan Cheese
• Italian Herbs
• Chicken Stock

How to Make This Easy Casserole

You're going to love how fast this recipe is to prep!

First, place a large pot of water over HIGH heat and bring to a boil. Cook the pasta for 4 minutes less than the lowest time listed on the package.

I was thrilled to find Pot-Sized Linguine at our grocery store. The shorter noodle is a lot easier for kids to twirl on their forks.

If you can't find it, you can always substitute spaghetti and just break the dry pasta in half before adding it to the pot.

Cooked chicken can be quite delicate. Gently stir together all the ingredients until the sauce is smoothly blended and the chicken is coated.

Add the peas to the bowl and measure the chicken stock.

Once the pasta has cooked, drain the water and add the pasta to the mixing bowl. Pour the chicken stock in and gently stir it all together.

You have two options for this pasta casserole:

1. 1 9x13-inch Pan: You can bake the whole recipe in one dish now or freeze the whole recipe in one dish.
2. 2 8x8-inch Pans: You can split the recipe over two smaller pans and bake one now and freeze one for later OR freeze two smaller pans for separate nights.

Spray your baking pans of choice with cooking spray and pour the pasta mixture evenly into the pan.

Sprinkle the remaining half of the grated parmesan over the top.

If you're baking it right now, preheat the oven to 350°F and bake the dish for 30 - 35 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the filling is hot and bubbling.

How to Make It Taste Even Better

I don't cook anything with mushrooms for my family. It was {an informal} part of my wedding vows.

However, I know other families love mushrooms. If you'd like to make your chicken tetrazzini taste even better than this simple version, you can consider:

• Cream of Mushroom Soup: Swap the chicken soup with your favorite mushroom variety. You could also add a can of drained mushrooms to the sauce before stirring in the pasta.
• Almonds: This is another traditional addition to chicken tetrazzini. You could sprinkle sliced almonds over the top or stir them into the mixture.
• Lemon Zest / Lemon Juice: To add a little freshness to the dish, you could grate some lemon zest and add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to the sauce before adding the pasta.
• Red Pepper Flakes or Cayenne Pepper: For just a subtle kick of heat, consider adding up to 1 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes or ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper.

Make Ahead and Freezer Tips

If you want to make this dish ahead of time and freeze it, your instructions are very easy:

1. Let Cool: Once you've filled the baking pan(s), allow the casserole to cool for 10 minutes.
2. Wrap Tightly: Cover the dish in aluminum foil and label the date with a piece of tape/label. If you're delivering this as part of a meal train recipe, be sure to label the dish with cooking instructions, too.
3. Freeze: Store in the freezer for up to 6 months.
4. Thaw: Let the casserole thaw in your fridge overnight before you bake it.
5. Bake as Directed: You can bake the thawed casserole just as directed.

To Bake from Frozen

If you forget to thaw it overnight, you could also bake the casserole directly from the freezer. Simply loosen the aluminum foil but keep the dish covered.

Add an additional 10 - 15 minutes to the baking time, uncover the dish and continue to cook until it is hot and bubbly.

What to Serve with Chicken Tetrazzini

The beauty of this easy chicken tetrazzini recipe is that it is an all-in-one meal.

If you'd like to add additional sides, you could consider serving it with a green salad with a bright lemon parmesan vinaigrette. Roasted air fryer green beans are perfect because they don't affect your oven temp.

And lastly, warm garlic bread is always a hit with a pasta dinner!