Chicken Tetrazzini is a comforting American casserole named after Italian opera star Luisa Tetrazzini. It's a creamy pasta bake combining tender chicken, mushrooms, and spaghetti, all baked under a layer of Parmesan until bubbly and golden. This dish is a classic example of mid-century American cuisine that makes use of pantry staples and leftover poultry, making it a favorite for post-holiday meals and cozy family dinners.
Ingredients
- 4 lbs chicken (cooked and shredded)
- 1 onion (sliced)
- 1 carrot (sliced)
- 1 bay leaf
- 1/2 tsp celery salt
- 4 tbsp chicken fat (or margarine)
- 1/4 cup flour
- 2 cups chicken broth (strained )
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 tbsp sherry
- 1/2 lb mushrooms (sliced)
- 8 oz spaghetti ( or noodles, cooked)
- Parmesan cheese (grated , for topping)
Instructions
Step 1: Cook the Chicken
- Simmer chicken with onion, carrot, bay leaf, and celery salt until tender. Remove meat from bones and slightly reduce the broth.
Step 2: Make the Sauce
- In a saucepan, heat chicken fat. Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute.
- Gradually add 2 cups of strained chicken broth while stirring to avoid lumps.
- Add 1 cup of heavy cream and 2 tbsp sherry. Stir until smooth.
Step 3: Prepare Mushrooms
- Sauté sliced mushrooms in a small amount of fat until tender.
- Stir mushrooms into the sauce.
Step 4: Combine Ingredients
- Mix cooked spaghetti, shredded chicken, mushrooms, and sauce in a large bowl.
Step 5: Assemble the Casserole
- In a greased casserole dish, layer pasta, chicken, and sauce alternately.
- Top with grated Parmesan cheese.
Step 6: Bake
- Bake at 375°F until bubbly and golden brown (about 30–35 minutes).
Tips
- Substitute turkey for chicken to use up leftovers.
- Add sautéed green peppers for more flavor.
- Use instant chicken bouillon if homemade broth isn’t available.
- Extra mushrooms make the dish richer.
- Add a splash of white wine instead of sherry for a different flavor.
Nutrition
Calories: 2340kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 6gFat: 244gSaturated Fat: 76gPolyunsaturated Fat: 49gMonounsaturated Fat: 107gCholesterol: 233mgSodium: 381mgPotassium: 240mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 1713IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 41mgIron: 1mg
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