• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Spoon Fork BaconSpoon Fork Bacon
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
    • Twitter
    • TikTok
  • What’s for Dinner?
  • Recipes By Category
  • Most Recent
  • Contact
  • Shop
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes By Category
  • Most Recent
  • What’s for Dinner?
  • Shop
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
    • Twitter
    • TikTok
  • ×

    Home > Blog > Pasta & Noodles > Chicken Tetrazzini Recipe

    Chicken Tetrazzini Recipe

    by Jenny Park · Published: Feb 17, 2021 · Modified: Mar 2, 2021

    Jump to Recipe
    A rich, creamy and delicious recipe for Chicken Tetrazzini. Our baked pasta casserole is filled with shredded chicken, sautéed mushrooms, peas, and smothered in a creamy sauce. It's pure comfort food at its best!
    Chicken tetrazzini in a baking dish with a spoon in it.
    Baked chicken tetrazzini with a spoon in it.
    Chicken tetrazzini in a baking dish.
    Chicken tetrazzini in a baking dish with a spoon in it.
    Chicken tetrazzini on two plates.
    Chicken tetrazzini in a baking dish with a spoon in it ready to sever.

    I love this Chicken Tetrazzini Recipe so much! This deliciously creamy baked pasta casserole is one of my favorite cozy meals to make. I love making a big batch at the start of the weekend and working my way through the whole dish by the weekends end.

    Chicken tetrazzini hits all the cozy points from the shredded chicken, buttery mushrooms, hearty pasta, and creamy cheese sauce. If you have never had this dish before, you’re in for such a treat!

    What’s Chicken Tetrazzini Anyway?

    It’s a (American, not Italian) baked pasta casserole that includes shredded chicken, sautéed mushrooms and peas that are all tossed together in the most decadent creamy sauce. Everything is piled into a baking dish and topped with buttery breadcrumbs and baked until bubbling, gooey and hot.

    Our chicken tetrazzini recipe uses bucatini instead of spaghetti, which makes this dish even better because not only does the pasta get coated in the creamy sauce, but each strand also gets filled with sauce, so every bite is super rich and delicious!

    How to Make Our Chicken Tetrazzini Recipe

    Process

    1. Preheat oven. Grease baking dish with butter.
    A greased baking dish for chicken tetrazzini.
    1. Place a skillet over heat, add oil and melt butter.
    2. Add onion and sauté.
    Melted butter in a skillet.
    Onions cooking in a skillet with butter.
    1. Add mushrooms and garlic and continue to sauté. Season with salt and pepper.
    2. Add herbs and shredded chicken to the mushroom mixture, toss together and continue to sauté.
    Mushrooms cooking in a skillet.
    Chicken and mushrooms in a skillet with onions.
    1. In a saucepan, melt more butter.
    2. Add flour and whisk together until no lumps remain and the raw flour taste has been cooked out.
    Melted butter in a stock pot.
    Butter and flour in a stock pot.
    1. Pour milk into the mixture and whisk until smooth. Continue to whisk until the mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon. Season with salt and pepper.
    2. Stir some Parmesan into the béchamel and allow mixture to simmer.
    Sauce for Chicken Tetrazzini in a stock pot.
    Sauce for Chicken Tetrazzini in a stock pot with parmesan.
    1. Add stock and continue to simmer.
    2. Add chicken mixture, pasta, reserved pasta water, and peas to sauce and toss together until fully combined. Sprinkle more Parmesan over the mixture and toss together. Adjust seasonings if needed.
    Sauce for Chicken Tetrazzini simmering in a stock pot.
    Chicken tetrazzini ingredients being added into the sauce in a stock pot.
    1. Pour pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish and set aside.
    Chicken tetrazzini in a stock pot.
    Chicken tetrazzini in a baking dish ready to be baked.
    1. In a skillet melt the remaining butter and toss together with panko. Season with salt and pepper.
    Melted butter in a skillet.
    Toasting panko in a skillet with butte.r
    1. Sprinkle evenly over the pasta mixture and top with remaining Parmesan.
    2. Bake tetrazzini in the oven until the panko has browned and the entire dish is bubbling.
    3. Cool slightly before serving.
    Chicken tetrazzini in a baking dish.
    Baked chicken tetrazzini with a spoon in it.

    Tools You Will Need

    • cutting board
    • knife
    • baking dish
    • large skillet
    • mixing bowl
    • wooden spoon
    • whisk
    • saucepan

    Make Ahead and Freezing Our Chicken Tetrazzini Recipe

    Make Ahead

    Our chicken tetrazzini can be made up to 3 days ahead of time. The entire dish can be assembled pre-bake (except for the buttered panko), tightly wrapped in foil and refrigerated until ready to use.

    When ready to serve, uncover casserole, top with buttered panko and bake for about 30 minutes or until casserole is bubbling and golden brown on top.

    Freezing

    Our chicken tetrazzini can be frozen for up to 2 months. The entire dish can be assembled pre-baked (including the buttered panko), tightly wrapped in foil and stored in the freezer until ready to use.

    When ready to serve, bake covered casserole in the oven for 30 minutes. Remove foil and continue to bake for an additional 15 to 20 minutes or until casserole is bubbling and golden brown on top.

    Chicken tetrazzini in a baking dish with a spoon in it.

    Tips and Tricks for Chicken Tetrazzini Success

    • Use a store-bought rotisserie chicken to save yourself a bunch of time!
    • Use bucatini instead of spaghetti so the pasta is not only coated in sauce, but filled with sauce from the inside out!
    • The creamy sauce should still be thick enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon, but expect it to be a thinner sauce, than a typical bechamél. The sauce will thicken when it bakes.
    • Don’t be alarmed at the amount of sauce the recipe makes; you need a lot of sauce to ensure you don’t end up with a dry pasta bake!
    • Use panko instead of plain breadcrumbs for a crispier top. We love the texture contrast the panko provides in this creamy dish.

    Variations

    While we really love our recipe for chicken tetrazzini, we also love dishes that can be customized based on preferences and this dish definitely fits the bill!

    • Mix it up with a variety of mushrooms like shiitake, porcini and oyster.
    • Make it vegetarian by omitting the chicken and increasing the amount of mushrooms. You can also add other vegetables into this dish like broccoli florets and sautéed bell peppers.
    • Although we love using panko, try topping the dish with crushed buttery crackers like Ritz or oyster crackers! So good!
    • A long strand pasta is more traditional, but if you prefer a shaped pasta, go for it! We just recommend using something like fusilli or penne which picks up lots of the delicious sauce!

    What to Serve with Chicken Tetrazzini?

    This baked pasta casserole is a whole meal in itself, but if you want to balance the creamy dish out with some greens or need something to sop up any extra sauce, we have a handful of our favorite tettrazini sides below!

    • Classic Caesar Salad
    • Everyday Simple Side Salad
    • Cheesy Herb Pull Apart Bread
    • Sour Cream and Chive Drop Biscuits
    • Watercress Salad with Green Apple Vinaigrette
    • Citrus Sautéed Beet Stems
    Chicken tetrazzini in a baking dish.

    Other Baked Pasta Recipes You Will Love

    • Cacio e Pepe Pasta Pie
    • Baked Ziti
    • Creamy Turkey and Kale Skillet Lasagna
    • Chicken Alfredo Lasagna Roll Ups
    • Baked Turkey Sausage and Mascarpone Stuffed Shells
    • Sausage and Kale Baked Gnocchi
    • Carbonara Pasta Pie

    Here are some more yummy pasta recipes you will love:

    • The Best Homemade Vodka Sauce
    • Cacio E Pepe
    • One Pot Fettuccine Alfredo
    • Baked Carbonara Mac and Cheese
    • Butter Roasted Cherry Tomato Pasta
    • Wild Mushroom Wafu Pasta
    • Basic Pasta Carbonara
    • Linguine with Butternut Squash Vegan Cream Sauce
    Click here for our Pasta & Noodles Recipe Collection
    Chicken tetrazzini on two plates.

    Hungry for more?

    Subscribe to never miss a recipe.

    EmailPinTweetShareYummly
    Chicken tetrazzini in a baking dish with a spoon in it.

    Chicken Tetrazzini

    5 from 6 votes
    PRINT RECIPE Pin Recipe
    A rich, creamy and delicious recipe for Chicken Tetrazzini. Our baked pasta casserole is filled with shredded chicken, sautéed mushrooms, peas, and smothered in a creamy sauce. It's pure comfort food at its best!
    RECIPE BY Teri & Jenny
    Prep Time: 20 mins
    Cook Time: 1 hr 10 mins
    Total Time: 1 hr 30 mins
    Servings: 8

      INGREDIENTS  

    • 12 ounces cooked bucatini
    • 1/2 cup reserved pasta water
    • 2 1/2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
    • ½ chopped onion
    • 8 ounces cremini mushrooms thinly sliced
    • 4 ounces shiitake mushrooms thinly sliced
    • 2 minced garlic cloves
    • 2 tablespoons minced thyme
    • 1 tablespoon minced oregano
    • 2 cups cooked and shredded chicken
    • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter divided
    • 4 tablespoons all purpose flour
    • 3 1/2 cups whole milk
    • 2 cups chicken stock
    • 1 cup grated Parmesan
    • 3/4 cup frozen peas thawed
    • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
    • salt and pepper to taste

      INSTRUCTIONS  

    • Preheat oven to 375˚F. Grease a 9”x13” baking dish with 2 tablespoon butter.
    • Place a large skillet over medium-high heat, add oil and melt 1 1/2 tablespoons butter.
    • Add onion and sauté for 5 to 6 minutes.
    • Add mushrooms and garlic and continue to sauté for an additional 3 to 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
    • Add herbs and shredded chicken to the mushroom mixture, toss together and continue to sauté for 1 minute. Set aside.
    • In a saucepan, melt 3 ½ tablespoons butter over medium heat.
    • Add flour and whisk together until no lumps remain and the raw flour taste has been cooked out, 2 to 3 minutes.
    • Pour milk into the mixture and whisk until smooth. Continue to whisk until the mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon. Season with salt and pepper.
    • Stir ½ cup Parmesan into the béchamel and allow mixture to simmer for 1 minute.
    • Add stock and continue to simmer for 1 minute.
    • Add chicken mixture, pasta, reserved pasta water, and peas to sauce and toss together until fully combined. Sprinkle ¼ cup Parmesan over the mixture and toss together. Adjust seasonings if needed.
    • Pour pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish and set aside.
    • In a small skillet, melt the remaining 1 tablespoon butter and toss together with panko. Season with salt and pepper.
    • Sprinkle evenly over the pasta mixture and top with remaining Parmesan.
    • Bake tetrazzini in the oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until the panko has browned and the entire dish is bubbling. Cool for 10 minutes before serving.

      NOTES  

    Make Ahead

    Our chicken tetrazzini can be made up to 3 days ahead of time. The entire dish can be assembled pre-bake (except for the buttered panko), tightly wrapped in foil and refrigerated until ready to use.
    When ready to serve, uncover casserole, top with buttered panko and bake for about 30 minutes or until casserole is bubbling and golden brown on top.

    Freezing

    Our chicken tetrazzini can be frozen for up to 2 months. The entire dish can be assembled pre-baked (including the buttered panko), tightly wrapped in foil and stored in the freezer until ready to use.
    When ready to serve, bake covered casserole in the oven for 30 minutes. Remove foil and continue to bake for an additional 15 to 20 minutes or until casserole is bubbling and golden brown on top.

    Tips and Tricks for Chicken Tetrazzini Success

    • Use a store-bought rotisserie chicken to save yourself a bunch of time!
    • Use bucatini instead of spaghetti so the pasta is not only coated in sauce, but filled with sauce from the inside out!
    • The creamy sauce should still be thick enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon, but expect it to be a thinner sauce, than a typical bechamél. The sauce will thicken when it bakes.
    • Don’t be alarmed at the amount of sauce the recipe makes; you need a lot of sauce to ensure you don’t end up with a dry pasta bake!
    • Use panko instead of plain breadcrumbs for a crispier top. We love the texture contrast the panko provides in this creamy dish.

    Variations

    • Mix it up with a variety of mushrooms like shiitake, porcini and oyster.
    • Make it vegetarian by omitting the chicken and increasing the amount of mushrooms. You can also add other vegetables into this dish like broccoli florets and sautéed bell peppers.
    • Although we love using panko, try topping the dish with crushed buttery crackers like Ritz or oyster crackers! So good!
    • A long strand pasta is more traditional, but if you prefer a shaped pasta, go for it! We just recommend using something like fusilli or penne which picks up lots of the delicious sauce!
    Calories: 449kcal Carbohydrates: 35g Protein: 18g Fat: 27g Saturated Fat: 13g Trans Fat: 1g Cholesterol: 64mg Sodium: 394mg Potassium: 521mg Fiber: 3g Sugar: 9g Vitamin A: 850IU Vitamin C: 9mg Calcium: 312mg Iron: 2mg
    CUISINE: Italian-american
    KEYWORD: baked pasta, chicken tetrazzini, tetrazzini
    COURSE: dinner, Main Course

    You Might Also Love...

    • Turkey sausage and mascarpone stuffed shells in a baking dish with a spoon.Baked Turkey Sausage and Mascarpone Stuffed Shells
    • A pan of creamy pork baked pasta with serving spoon and plates with forks.Creamy Pork and Tomato Baked Pasta
    • Cacio e pepe pasta pie with slices cut.Cacio e Pepe Pasta Pie

    February 17, 2021 / 6 Comments

    About Jenny Park

    Jenny Park is half of Spoon Fork Bacon. She is also a food stylist and recipe developer. One of her favorite foods is donuts. #sfbJENNY

    Previous Post: < Previous Post Cacio e Pepe Recipe
    Next Post: Lamb Kofta Next Post >

    Reader Interactions

    February 17, 2021 / 6 Comments

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      Did you make this recipe? We want to see!

      tag @SpoonForkBacon and #SpoonForkBacon on Instagram

    1. Jill

      March 02, 2021 at 1:52 pm

      I made this and it was good, but I saved 1/2 cup of reserved pasta water like the ingredients list, and the instructions never say when to use it. The instructions also never say when to add the pasta (it’s pictured as added but never written out). Mine still turned out looking like the picture so I must have done it right, and it tasted like I remember from when I had tetrazzini as a kid, which is why I wanted to make it :)

      Reply
      • Jenny Park

        March 02, 2021 at 3:31 pm

        Thanks for pointing those little things out! The recipe has been updated, so things are clear. So glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    2. MISTY

      February 18, 2021 at 6:34 am

      5 stars
      This is the perfect “stay home and invite your neighbors over” dish. Incredibly easy to make and the look is rustic chic and inviting!

      Reply
    3. Karen

      April 21, 2016 at 5:47 am

      This was a great recipe to reinvent leftover grilled chicken breasts. The flavor of the thyme and oregano was wonderful and a hit with the family! Will definitely make it again and won’t change a thing.

      Reply
    4. Nadia

      April 17, 2016 at 3:54 am

      I have not made this in ages but after seeing your gorgeously appetizing photograph, it is on the menu this week for sure.

      Reply
    5. Regine Karpel

      April 16, 2016 at 2:35 pm

      Yum.
      http://www.rsrue.blogspot.com

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    HI! WE ARE GLAD YOU'RE HERE!

    Teri and Jenny of Spoon Fork Bacon

    We hope you find something you love in
    our little corner of the internet.
    XOXOXO, Teri + Jenny

    ABOUT US

    As Featured On

    A complication of logos showcasing where Spoon Fork Bacon has been featured. Including delish, today show, cosmopolitan, good morning america, domino, good housekeeping, william sonoma, and country living.

    Asian Inspired

    BBQ

    PORK

    DESSERT

    For Dinner Tonight

    • Tteokbokki recipe on a platter. Tteokbokki (Korean Spicy Rice Cakes)
    • Cajun shrimp pasta recipe in a bowl with a fork on the side. Cajun Shrimp Pasta
    • Korean Army Stew or Budae Jjigae in a pot ready to be served. Budae Jjigae (Korean Army Stew)
    • Shrimp scampi recipe on a plate with bread and lemon wedges. Shrimp Scampi Recipe
    • A collage of our best Valentine's dinner ideas. Best Valentine’s Day Dinner Ideas
    • Cashew chicken recipe in a skillet with rice on the side. Cashew Chicken

    Popular Now

    • Fried pickle chips on a platter with ranch dressing. Fried Pickle Chips
    • Shrimp scampi recipe on a plate with bread and lemon wedges. Shrimp Scampi Recipe
    • Brown Butter Colcannon recipe in a bowl with a spoon in it. Brown Butter Colcannon
    • Chicken and gnocchi soup in a bowl with bread on the side. Chicken Gnocchi Soup
    • Cajun shrimp pasta recipe in a bowl with a fork on the side. Cajun Shrimp Pasta
    • Air fryer chicken tenders with a variety of sauces. Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

    Footer

    As Featured On
    As featured on graphic.

    GET NEW RECIPES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX!

    Thank you!

    You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

    Footer

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS Feed
    • Twitter
    • TikTok

    All content including images © 2011-2022 Teri Lyn Fisher & Jenny Park. Stealing is bad karma.

    Spoon Fork Bacon contains paid advertising banners and occasionally affiliate links, and sponsored posts.
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Sponsored posts are indicated at the start of such posts. All of our opinions are always our own.
    Thank you for supporting our sponsors. It helps us pay to run this site and bring you unique and original recipes.

    Privacy Policy | Accessibility Statement

    Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

    Email sent!