Easy Chicken Tetrazzini: The Ultimate Creamy, Cheesy Pasta Bake for a Perfect Family Dinner
Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with this incredibly easy chicken tetrazzini recipe. This pasta bake is a true crowd-pleaser, delivering a luscious, creamy texture combined with an irresistible blend of Parmesan, cheddar, and mozzarella cheeses. It’s a satisfying dish that brings warmth and flavor to any table, perfect for busy weeknights or special gatherings. Get ready for a delicious journey into cheesy, chicken-filled pasta goodness!
Why This Easy Chicken Tetrazzini Recipe is a Must-Try
This chicken tetrazzini recipe isn’t just delicious; it’s incredibly simple to prepare, making it a perfect choice for both novice cooks and seasoned home chefs. The magic happens in a single bowl where all the ingredients come together before being layered into a casserole dish and baked to a bubbly, golden-brown perfection. The ease of combining everything eliminates complicated steps, ensuring a smooth cooking experience from start to finish. You’ll love how quickly you can get this hearty meal on the table, all while achieving that comforting, homemade taste.
So, what exactly is chicken tetrazzini? It’s a classic American pasta casserole, often featuring a creamy sauce, poultry (like chicken or turkey) or seafood, and a generous amount of cheese, typically baked until hot and bubbly. Our streamlined version uses a combination of cream of mushroom and cream of chicken soups to create that rich, thick, and velvety sauce without the need for a scratch-made béchamel. While traditional recipes might include fresh mushrooms, we’ve opted for the convenience of cream of mushroom soup, allowing you to easily add diced fresh mushrooms if you prefer. Imagine it as a more decadent, cheesy cousin to chicken spaghetti, boasting layers of melty cheese and a truly luxurious sauce that coats every strand of pasta and piece of chicken.
Key Ingredients for Your Creamy Chicken Tetrazzini
Crafting the perfect chicken tetrazzini begins with selecting quality ingredients. Below you’ll find an overview of the components that make this dish so special. For exact measurements, a comprehensive list of ingredients, and step-by-step instructions, be sure to check out the printable recipe card located at the end of this post.
Ingredient Info and Smart Substitution Suggestions
CHICKEN – You’ll need approximately 3-4 cooked chicken breasts, totaling about 24 ounces. This recipe is incredibly versatile, allowing you to shred or cube the chicken based on your preference. For maximum convenience and quicker preparation, a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken is an excellent choice – simply shred it and you’re good to go! Don’t limit yourself to chicken; this dish also tastes fantastic with shredded turkey, making it a brilliant way to use up holiday leftovers.
SAUCE – Our signature creamy sauce uses two 10-ounce cans of cream of mushroom soup and one 10-ounce can of cream of chicken soup. This combination yields a rich and flavorful base that defines tetrazzini. If you have a preference, you can certainly use only cream of mushroom or only cream of chicken soup – feel free to adjust to your taste! This particular sauce is quite thick, which we love for coating the pasta beautifully. If you prefer a slightly thinner sauce, simply reduce the total number of creamed soups to two cans instead of three, or gradually add more chicken stock until you reach your desired consistency. For those who prefer to avoid canned soups, consider making our homemade cream of chicken soup as a fresh alternative, or a homemade mushroom cream sauce.
PASTA – The beauty of tetrazzini lies in its adaptability, and pasta is no exception. While we have a soft spot for classic spaghetti noodles in this recipe, almost any long or short pasta will work wonderfully. Excellent alternatives include fettuccine, linguine, angel hair for a more delicate bite, or heartier options like penne or ziti that capture the creamy sauce in their tubes. Ensure your pasta is cooked al dente before mixing, as it will continue to cook slightly in the oven.
CHEESES – The trio of Parmesan, cheddar, and mozzarella is what makes this chicken tetrazzini so incredibly cheesy and appealing. Parmesan offers a sharp, nutty flavor, cheddar provides a classic, savory note, and mozzarella brings that incredible melty stretch. Feel free to adjust the quantities or substitute with other good melting cheeses like Gruyere or Monterey Jack if you desire a different flavor profile.
OTHER INGREDIENTS – Sour cream adds an extra layer of tang and creaminess to the sauce, while low sodium chicken stock helps to thin it slightly and enhance the overall chicken flavor. Basic seasonings like sea salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and pepper are crucial for elevating the taste, ensuring every bite is well-balanced and savory.
How to Make the Best Chicken Tetrazzini
These step-by-step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe with ease. For a complete, printable version of this recipe, including all measurements and detailed instructions, please Jump to Recipe at the bottom of the page.
- Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C) and lightly grease a 9×13 casserole dish. This ensures your tetrazzini won’t stick and will brown beautifully.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cream of mushroom soups, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, chicken stock, shredded chicken, sea salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and pepper. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well incorporated and the sauce is smooth.
- Add the cooked spaghetti into the creamy sauce mixture. Toss gently until every strand of pasta is beautifully coated.
- Pour the spaghetti and chicken mixture evenly into your prepared casserole dish. Generously sprinkle the top with ¼ cup of Parmesan cheese, followed by the cheddar and mozzarella cheeses. This cheesy layer will bake into a golden, bubbling crust.
- Bake for 30 minutes, covered loosely with aluminum foil. This helps to cook the casserole evenly and prevent the cheese from browning too quickly. Then, remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the top is beautifully golden brown and bubbly.
Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips for Chicken Tetrazzini
Store any leftover chicken tetrazzini in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. While delicious, this dish is truly best enjoyed on the day it’s made, as the pasta tends to soak up the creamy sauce over time, making it thicker. When reheating, you’ll likely want to add a splash of water or chicken stock to help loosen up the sauce and restore its creamy consistency. Reheat gently in the microwave or oven until warmed through. For oven reheating, cover with foil to prevent drying out.
Absolutely! You can assemble the entire casserole, including the cheese topping, and cover it tightly with plastic wrap before refrigerating for up to 24 hours. When ready to bake, let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes while your oven preheats, then bake as directed, potentially adding an extra 5-10 minutes to the covered baking time since it will be colder.
Yes, chicken tetrazzini freezes well! You can either freeze the unbaked casserole or freeze baked leftovers. For unbaked, assemble in a freezer-safe dish, cover tightly with foil and plastic wrap, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before baking. For baked leftovers, portion into individual freezer-safe containers and freeze for up to 2-3 months. Thaw and reheat with a splash of broth or milk.
For that irresistible golden-brown and bubbly top, ensure you remove the foil during the last 10-15 minutes of baking. If your cheese isn’t browning as much as you’d like, you can briefly switch your oven to a low broiler setting (watch it carefully to prevent burning!) for the last minute or two.
Delicious Serving Suggestions for Chicken Tetrazzini
Chicken tetrazzini is a hearty and fulfilling meal on its own, but it truly shines when paired with simple, complementary side dishes. Feel free to stir in some frozen peas, steamed broccoli florets, or even sautéed button mushrooms directly into the casserole mixture for added vegetables and texture. For an extra layer of crunch, consider topping the casserole with some buttered breadcrumbs during the last 10 minutes of baking. This creates a delightful contrast to the creamy pasta.
To round out your meal, serve your chicken tetrazzini with a fresh, crisp green salad tossed in a light vinaigrette to cut through the richness. Warm garlic bread or soft dinner rolls are perfect for soaking up every last bit of that delicious sauce. Roasted asparagus, green beans, or a simple side of steamed carrots would also make excellent additions, adding color and nutrients without overpowering the main dish.
More Comforting Casserole Recipes to Love
If you’re a fan of easy, satisfying casseroles, you’re in luck! Here are some other fantastic recipes that deliver big on flavor with minimal effort:
- John Wayne Casserole
- Southwest Ground Beef Casserole
- Chicken Noodle Casserole
- Mexican Chicken Casserole
- Chicken Enchilada Casserole
- Sloppy Joe Cornbread Casserole
- Chicken Divan
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Chicken Tetrazzini
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
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Ingredients
- 1 lb dried spaghetti cooked
- 24 oz chicken shredded. about 3-4 breasts
- 20 oz cream of mushroom soup 2- 10 oz cans
- 10 oz cream of chicken soup
- 1 ½ cups sour cream full fat
- ⅓ cup low sodium chicken stock
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp pepper
- ¼ cup parmesan grated
- 1 cup cheddar cheese grated
- 1 cup mozzarella grated
Things You’ll Need
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13×9 baking dish
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Mixing bowls
Before You Begin
- This particular sauce is thick, which provides a rich coating for the pasta. If you prefer a thinner sauce, you can either reduce the total count of cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soups to 2 cans instead of 3, or simply add more chicken stock to loosen it up gradually until it reaches your desired consistency.
- For the chicken, you’ll need it either shredded or cubed. A convenient and time-saving tip is to use a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken, which you can easily shred for quicker prep. This versatile dish also tastes wonderfully with shredded turkey, making it an excellent way to use up holiday leftovers!
- Store any leftovers in an air-tight container, kept in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- This dish is truly best served on the day it’s prepared, as the sauce tends to soak into the noodles over time. When reheating leftovers, you might find it beneficial to add a bit of water or chicken stock to help loosen the sauce and restore its creamy texture.
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 325F (160°C) and lightly grease a 9×13 casserole dish.
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Cook spaghetti noodles according to package directions, removing from the water once they are al dente. Drain well.
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In a large bowl, add both cream of mushroom soups, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, chicken stock, shredded chicken, sea salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and pepper. Mix all ingredients thoroughly until well combined.
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Add the cooked spaghetti into the prepared sauce mixture and toss until the spaghetti is completely coated.
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Transfer the spaghetti and chicken mixture into the greased casserole dish. Evenly top with ¼ cup of grated Parmesan cheese, followed by the cheddar and mozzarella cheeses.
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Bake the casserole for 30 minutes, covered loosely with aluminum foil. After 30 minutes, remove the tinfoil and continue to bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and bubbly.
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Optionally, garnish with additional grated Parmesan cheese and fresh chopped parsley before serving for an appealing finish.
Nutrition
The recipes on this blog are tested with a conventional gas oven and gas stovetop. It’s important to note that some ovens, especially as they age, can cook and bake inconsistently. Using an inexpensive oven thermometer can assure you that your oven is truly heating to the proper temperature. If you use a toaster oven or countertop oven, please keep in mind that they may not distribute heat the same as a conventional full sized oven and you may need to adjust your cooking/baking times. In the case of recipes made with a pressure cooker, air fryer, slow cooker, or other appliance, a link to the appliances we use is listed within each respective recipe. For baking recipes where measurements are given by weight, please note that results may not be the same if cups are used instead, and we can’t guarantee success with that method.