Chicken Tetrazzini Recipe

Chicken Tetrazzini is a creamy, cheesy pasta dish that the whole family will love. Easy to make and freezer friendly, it’s a great casserole to share with friends.

Use up some leftover turkey breast and whip up a dish of this easy, cheesy Turkey Tetrazzini for the holidays!

Chicken tetrazzini scooped onto a white dinner plate with silver fork.


Comfort Food for Dinner

All of my children have left the nest, and this Chicken Tetrazzini recipe is what they always request when they come home.

It’s delicious comfort food, a great recipe, and easy to make ahead of time too!

This is also one of those recipes I like to keep on hand for when I want to bring a family in need a hearty meal, or a new mom a dinner! It gets rave reviews, and I even made a video tutorial to show you how to make chicken tetrazzini!

This cheesy dish needs to happen in your kitchen. It makes a big 13×9 pan, but you can split it into two dishes (2qt or 8-inch square) and share it with a neighbor or friend in need!

This dish ALWAYS gets people asking for the recipe, and once you try it, you’ll understand why our family loved it!!

FAVORITE PASTA DINNERS: Penne Rosa | Pizza Stuffed Shells

Ingredients you'll need to make chicken tetrazzini, including cooked chicken, pasta, cream of chicken soup and more.

Ingredient Notes

  • Chicken breasts or rotisserie chicken- we love this easy shredded chicken recipe!
  • Cream of Chicken Soup- Every instinct is going to make you want to sub for something homemade and from scratch, but this is one of those times that comfort food wins, and the canned stuff just tastes better! (here’s our favorite homemade cream of chicken soup though)
  • Unsalted butter
  • Sour cream– or plain greek yogurt
  • Dry white wine– (or chicken broth)
  • Salt and pepper
  • Parmesan cheese
  • Mozzarella cheese
  • Spaghetti noodles – can also use any other pasta of choice.
  • onions, garlic, and mushrooms optional

How to make Chicken Tetrazzini

Step by step photos showing how to make Chicken Tetrazzini.
  • Cook the chicken. You’ll want to start by baking chicken or using leftover turkey, rotisserie chicken, or leftover cooked chicken. If I’m in a hurry, I’ll boil some boneless skinless chicken breasts in a pot of water with salt and pepper to use in this cheesy dish!
  • Cook the pasta. Pick your favorite kind of pasta and cook it until al dente.

What is al dente pasta? It just means that the pasta is still slightly firm. Because you will be baking this dish, you don’t want your pasta too soft and mushy!

  • Combine Ingredients. While you are cooking pasta and chicken, combine the remaining ingredients in a very large bowl. Add your hot pasta and your cooked (diced) chicken to the bowl and mix until blended.
  • Assemble and Bake. Pour into a large 13×9 baking dish (or two smaller pans). Bake covered for about 45 minutes, then remove foil and bake uncovered for an additional 15 minutes, until bubbly and cheese is melted.

Make in Advance: Refrigerate and cover until ready to heat. If cooking from cold, add bake for one hour, then uncovered for 20 minutes. ENJOY.

Chicken tetrazzini baked in a white 13x9 dish and served with a green side salad.

Serving Suggestions

Chicken Tetrazzini is one of those easy dinner recipes that goes great with any green salad or garlic bread!

  • Easy, buttery Beer Bread recipe to serve with dinner! Also great to cube into bite sized pieces and use for dips!
  • This delicious Spinach and Bacon Salad is a breeze to prepare! The sweet dressing with the salty bacon keeps you wanting more!
  • Looking for a fresh bowl of homemade applesauce for dinner tonight? This Instant Pot Applesauce recipe is super quick and easy!
  • Don’t forget to finish the meal with a fresh batch or rice krispie treats!

Recipe FAQs

Can you freeze Chicken Tetrazzini

Yes! Assemble the chicken tetrazzini casserole in a freezer safe dish. When opting to freeze this dinner, I usually choose a foil pan for freezing. Cover with foil and freeze for up to two months.
To serve, thaw in refrigerator overnight, and bake accordingly.

What goes with Chicken Tetrazzini

Serve this delicious pasta dish with Olive Garden breadsticks and Olive Garden Italian salad for the perfect meal.

Can I make tetrazzini without mushrooms?

Absolutely. Leave out the mushrooms or add in extra depending on your taste buds. You can also add in fresh cut broccoli florets!

Can Chicken Tetrazzini be made ahead of time?

Yes. Before baking, cover with foil and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. When ready to bake, remove from fridge and add 10-15 minutes baking time.

Chicken casserole served on a white dinner plate with two small side salads in background.

More Easy Chicken Recipes

Weeknight Dinner Recipes

See all Main Dish recipes

Chicken Tetrazzini

4.87 from 191 votes
By: Aimee
Chicken Tetrazzini is a creamy, cheesy pasta dish that the whole family will love. Easy to make and freezer friendly, it's a great casserole to share with friends.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 10 servings

Ingredients 

  • 16 ounce thin spaghetti cooked (or any of your favorite noodles)
  • 2 cups cooked chicken about 1 pound
  • ½ cup unsalted butter plus more for buttering pan
  • 2 cans cream of chicken soup
  • 2 cups sour cream
  • ½ cup dry white wine
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 Tablespoons parmesan cheese
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
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Instructions 

  • Combine 1/2 cup butter, cooked chicken, soup, sour cream, salt, pepper and white wine. Add cooked noodles.
  • Pour into a buttered 13×9. Sprinkle both cheeses on top.
  • Bake in a 300 degree oven for 45 minutes, covered with foil. Remove foil and bake uncovered for another 15 minutes.
  • May be made in advance and refrigerated (before cooking). However, add time if that is the case to heat thoroughly! Enjoy!

Notes

  • Can you freeze Chicken Tetrazzini? Yes! Assemble the chicken tetrazzini casserole in a freezer safe dish. When opting to freeze this dinner, I usually choose a foil pan for freezing. Cover with foil and freeze for up to two months.To serve, thaw in refrigerator overnight, and bake accordingly.
  • Can I make tetrazzini with or without mushrooms? Absolutely. Leave out the mushrooms or add in extra depending on your taste buds. You can also add in fresh cut broccoli florets!
  • Can Chicken Tetrazzini be made ahead of time? Yes. Before baking, cover with foil and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.When ready to bake, remove from fridge and add 10-15 minutes baking time.
  • See blog post for more recipe tips, tricks, and ingredient substitutions.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 385kcal, Carbohydrates: 22g, Protein: 13g, Fat: 26g, Saturated Fat: 14g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 79mg, Sodium: 893mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 3g
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Did you make this recipe?Mention @shugarysweets or tag #shugarysweets!

Creamy baked Chicken Tetrazzini recipe is the best weeknight dinner recipe your family will love! Easy and delicious.



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About Aimee

Aimee is a dessert lover (specifically rice krispie treats), workout enthusiast, self-taught foodie, and recipe creator.

Learn more about Aimee.

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Posted on June 24, 2020

Comments & Reviews

  1. Can’t wait to try this, have been looking for a great tetrazzini recipe but I will have to add mushrooms (sorry to your husband) and also a handful of frozen peas (he prob’ly hates those also).

    Thanks for the recipe!

  2. My husband and I made this tonight and it was super good! But, then, every single one of your recipes I have tried is fantastic. We used a rotisserie chicken and added sauteed mushrooms and peas, and a bit of sharp cheddar to the cheeses. Will definitely make it again!

  3. Good evening! We made this for the first time about two months ago, and even my picky kid liked and ate it! We’ve made several times since, ((we have a pan of it in the oven as I type)) and it’s become a favorite around our house! Thanks for sharing!!!
    ~sam~

  4. I made this last night and it was very dry, but we loved the flavor. I followed the recipe exactly except for using angel hair pasta instead of spaghetti (husband went to the grocery store :). Could this have made the difference?

    Mine didn’t look creamy like the pictures and I don’t see any other comments about the same issue. I’d like to make it again but don’t know what I did wrong. Any ideas?

    1. This is definitely a creamy dish, so I’m not sure why it would turn out dry. I haven’t used angel hair, but I wouldn’t think that would be the issue…Sorry!

  5. Did you not fully cook the chicken and noodles due to putting it in the oven and they will cook more or did you cook everything until done and put it together and then in the oven?? Just wondering 🙂

  6. Thank you for this post! I made this last night for my fiancee and we both thought it was amazing! Very easy and a unique flavor. I used sauvignon blanc for my wine. I accidentally read the butter wrong and thought it said 1/2 stick of butter but it was still delicious. I can only imagine what it would have been if I used a whole stick! YUM!!!!!

  7. So I’m an underage cook and obviously can’t buy the wine… Am I allowed to buy cooking wine? And if not, is there some other substitute that I can use?

      1. I love crockpot recipes. I didn’t try this one in the crockpot, but from my experience, I bet you could skip pre-cooking the chicken. Just put it in there raw with all the ingredients. Be sure to spray your crockpot with cooking spray so it doesn’t stick too much. And, I would probably use a penne or rotini style pasta instead of a spaghetti/linguine/fettuccine. Cook on low for 4 hours. Once it’s finished you can shred the chicken with a fork instead of it being cubed.

        I’d love to hear if that works!

  8. I must tell you…through the chaos of Walmart on Sunday afternoon, I bought cream of celery instead of cream of chicken. It was still delicious!!!! Happy husband and happy kiddo at my place tonight! We can’t wait to try it the original way! Thank you for a great recipe!

  9. I made this tonight and it was AMAZING! Like better than Olive Garden amazing! Will definitely be a regular in my home 🙂 thanks!!

  10. Just made this tonight. It was very yummy. Based on other reviews, I halved the recipe. Glad I did! 🙂 I sauteed 8oz of mushrooms and threw them in. The next time I think I will throw some bread crumbs and extra seasoning/herbs on top. Mine didn’t quite look as creamy as yours, but thinking it might be because I halved it. Thanks for the yummy recipe!

  11. Where does the cheese go? You list it in the ingredients but not the recipe. Learn to give a complete recipe if you’re going to post.

    1. OMG BOB!! Why do you have to be so rude when all someone is doing is helping others. It says right in her directions ON TOP!!! But one might think you could mix it in too. Use your noggin Bob! and quit being so mean to other people.

  12. This is a great recipe. Delicious. Even my picky family loved it. I used canned chicken because my son has chewing problems (long story – autism). Canned is very soft. Some might not like it with canned chicken but my guys loved it. THANKS!

  13. Hi! I have a silly question. for the cream of chicken soup, do we mix it straight from the can or follow the directions on the can (adding a can of water)? Thanks!

  14. This recipe sounds wonderful, but I was wondering if you could use something else in place of the wine. Would chicken stock work instead?

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