Turkey Tetrazzini

Use up your turkey leftovers in this hearty casserole.

By
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Updated November 15, 2023
Elise Bauer
Lifting a forkful of Turkey Tetrazzini recipe out of a casserole dish.

Simply Recipes / Cambrea Gordon

Turkey leftovers anyone? Try this American classic turkey casserole—turkey Tetrazzini—a hearty pasta bake that includes sautéed mushrooms, a cheesy creamy sauce, leftover turkey, peas, and egg noodles.

The Original Turkey Tetrazzini Recipe

Tetrazzini is thought to have been originated in San Francisco, named after a famous opera singer of the early 1900s—Luisa Tetrazzini—who lived there for many years.

To my mother, however, turkey Tetrazzini is just another way of saying turkey casserole. In her opinion casseroles are passé; she hasn’t made one in twenty years. (Note to readers: my mother is anything but a snob, although she can sound like one at times. Note to my mother’s friends: she loves your casseroles.) Fortunately, neither my father nor I could care less if something is “in” or “out”; all we care about is whether or not we like it (and by the way, mom used to make a wicked good tuna casserole). 

I made this for them the other night and judging by my dad's three servings, it passes with flying colors. It's a great way to use up turkey leftovers!

Old fashioned turkey tetrazzini recipe in a casserole dish.

Simply Recipes / Cambrea Gordon

Don’t Have Peas? Try these Vegetable Subs

  • Green beans
  • Broccoli
  • Red or green peppers
  • Leeks
  • Artichoke hearts

Making Turkey Tetrazzini in Advance

If you've cooked a whole turkey, this is a great recipe to make and freeze with turkey leftovers, extending the life of your leftovers for months.

Follow these steps for easy freezing.

  1. Before adding the ingredients to the casserole dish, line it with foil, using enough so that the foil comes up the sides and above the lips of all sides of the dish.
  2. Follow Steps 1 through 7.
  3. Bake as directed in Step 8.
  4. Cool the cooked casserole completely.
  5. Cover the cooled casserole with a layer of foil and place it in the freezer, in the casserole dish.
  6. Once the casserole is completely frozen, pop it out of the casserole dish and wrap it tightly in a second layer of foil.
  7. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Defrost overnight, remove from the foil, and pop it back into its original casserole dish. Reheat at 375°F for about 30 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbly.

Storing Leftover Turkey Tetrazzini

Refrigerate leftovers tightly covered for 3 to 5 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave, or reheat in the oven at 375°F for about 30 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbly.

5 More Ways to Use Leftover Turkey

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

Turkey Tetrazzini

Prep Time 30 mins
Cook Time 75 mins
Total Time 105 mins
Servings 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces egg noodles, spaghetti, linguini or other pasta

  • 12 ounces mushrooms, sliced (about 4 to 5 cups)

  • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided

  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

  • 1 1/2 cups milk

  • 1/4 cup heavy cream

  • 2 cups chicken broth

  • 1/4 cup dry sherry (or vermouth or dry white wine)

  • 3 cups coarsely chopped cooked turkey

  • 1 cup peas

  • 2/3 cup grated Parmesan, divided

  • 1/3 cup shredded Swiss cheese

  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice

  • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

  • Ground nutmeg (optional)

  • 1/3 cup fine fresh breadcrumbs (or panko)

  • Freshly chopped parsley for garnish (optional)

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
  2. Boil the pasta:

    Bring 2 to 3 quarts of water to a boil, adding 1 teaspoon of salt for each quart of water. Cook the pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta and set it aside.

  3. Sauté the mushrooms:

    In a large skillet, melt 3 tablespoons of the butter over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring, until all of the liquid the mushrooms give off has evaporated, 5 to 7 minutes. Set aside.

    Sauteeing mushrooms to make a Turkey Tetrazzini Recipe.

    Simply Recipes / Cambrea Gordon
  4. Make a roux:

    In a large, heavy saucepan, melt 4 tablespoons of butter. Stir in the flour and cook the mixture over low heat, stirring, for 3 minutes.

    Making a roux for a Turkey Tetrazzini recipe.

    Simply Recipes / Cambrea Gordon
  5. Make the sauce:

    Into the saucepan with the butter and flour, slowly whisk in the milk, cream, chicken broth, and the sherry. Bring to a simmer and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, for about 5 to 8 minutes.

    Making a roux for a Turkey Tetrazzini recipe.

    Simply Recipes / Cambrea Gordon
  6. Assemble the casserole:

    In a large bowl combine the pasta, the sauce, the mushrooms, the turkey, and the peas. Stir in 1/3 cup of the Parmesan and the Swiss cheese. Stir in the lemon juice. Add salt and pepper to taste.

    Note that if you have been using unsalted or low-sodium stock, you will need to add more salt than you might expect. Just keep sprinkling it in until it is seasoned to your taste.

    Add a pinch of ground nutmeg if using, again to taste. Transfer the mixture to a buttered 3-quart casserole.

    Pasta, turkey, and peas in a bowl to make a Turkey Tetrazzini Recipe.

    Simply Recipes / Cambrea Gordon
    Making a Turkey Tetrazzini Recipe.

    Simply Recipes / Cambrea Gordon
  7. Make the topping:

    In a small bowl combine well the remaining 1/3 cup Parmesan and the breadcrumbs. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the tetrazzini and dot the top with the remaining 1 tablespoon butter, cut into bits.

    Did you love the recipe? Give us some stars and leave a comment below!

    Making a Turkey Tetrazzini Recipe.

    Simply Recipes / Cambrea Gordon
  8. Bake:

    Bake the Tetrazzini in the middle rack of the oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or until it is bubbling and the top is golden.

    Garnish individual servings with chopped parsley.

    Overhead view of a plate of an old fashioned turkey tetrazzini recipe

    Simply Recipes / Cambrea Gordon
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
559 Calories
32g Fat
35g Carbs
33g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 559
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 32g 41%
Saturated Fat 17g 86%
Cholesterol 164mg 55%
Sodium 737mg 32%
Total Carbohydrate 35g 13%
Dietary Fiber 4g 14%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 33g
Vitamin C 7mg 35%
Calcium 267mg 21%
Iron 4mg 20%
Potassium 621mg 13%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.