Creamy Turkey Tetrazzini Recipe (Easy Leftover Turkey Dinner)

You’ve roasted the turkey, enjoyed the feast, and now you’ve got leftovers — the best part, right? This creamy turkey tetrazzini recipe is the ultimate way to turn that extra turkey into a cozy, family-favorite dinner.

This dish is everything you love about comfort food — tender noodles coated in a rich, cheesy sauce, bits of juicy turkey in every bite, and a perfectly golden topping. It’s easy to make, reheats beautifully, and honestly tastes even better the next day.

Whether you’re using leftover Thanksgiving turkey or rotisserie chicken, this easy turkey tetrazzini comes together in just a few simple steps. No fancy ingredients or complicated techniques — just real, creamy, delicious food that makes everyone at the table happy.

As I was finishing off the recipe I felt like it needed a little crunch on top, much like a perfect macaroni and cheese with a breading. I remembered that we had these Honey Dijon chips in our storage room so on a whim I ran down, grabbed the bag and crushed them up.

Dear sweet mercy, it was perfection!!

This post is sponsored by Kettle Brand.

Why You’ll Love This Turkey Tetrazzini Recipe

• Creamy, rich sauce without being heavy
• The perfect use for leftover Thanksgiving turkey
• Family-friendly comfort food
• Simple ingredients, easy prep

What is Turkey Tetrazzini?

Tetrazzini is an American main dish with diced poultry (yes you could use chicken as well) and mushroom in a butter/cream and parmesan sauce. It is served hot over linguine, spaghetti, or some similarly thin pasta, garnished with parsley.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Every ingredient in this best turkey tetrazzini recipe has a job to do! Here’s a quick look at what each one adds…

• Spaghetti: The base of the dish that holds the creamy sauce and gives that classic, comforting texture.
• Turkey: Adds hearty protein and mild flavor that pairs perfectly with the creamy sauce.
• Olive Oil: Used for sautéing to build flavor and prevent sticking.
• Button Mushrooms: Add earthy, savory depth and balance the richness of the sauce.
• Garlic Cloves: Infuse the sauce with delicious, aromatic flavor.
• Butter: Adds richness and forms the base of the creamy sauce.
• Flour: Thickens the sauce when combined with butter to make a roux.
• Chicken Broth: Thins the sauce slightly and adds savory depth.
• Kosher Salt & Black Pepper: Adds flavor and subtle heat.
• Heavy Cream: Adds richness and makes the sauce extra velvety.
• Milk: Creates a smooth, creamy texture and helps mellow the flavors.
• Frozen Peas: Add color, sweetness, and freshness to balance the dish.
• Parsley: Adds fresh herby flavor.
• Mozzarella Cheese: Melts beautifully for a creamy, cheesy finish.
• Parmesan Cheese: Gives salty, nutty flavor and helps thicken the sauce.
• Kettle Brand Honey Dijon Chips: Give the casserole a crispy, golden crust for contrast in texture.

How to Make Turkey Tetrazzini

1. Prep: Preheat the oven to 350˚F.
2. Cook the Pasta: In a large pot of salted water, cook the pasta until al dente.
3. Chop: Grab your leftover turkey meat and chop/shred it.
4. Sauté: Add a drizzle of olive oil to a large dutch oven over medium-high heat, add the mushrooms and cook until softened. Then add the garlic and sauté another minute or two.
5. Create a Roux: Add the butter to the pan and let it melt, then add the flour and whisk until smooth. Add the cream and milk to the mixture and bring it to a simmer until it thickens. Add the chicken stock and season with salt and pepper to taste.
6. Combine: Add the cooked pasta and turkey to the pot and then add the parsley, peas, mozzarella and parmesan cheese. Stir everything to combine.
7. Bake: Cover the dutch oven and then bake for 30min. Remove the lid and sprinkle with the crushed chips. Then bake for another 10min without the lid.
8. Serve: Serve immediately!

Kettle Brand Chips

This holiday season, be totally ready for every drop-in guest, late night munchies while you chat with loved ones and of course, holiday meals. Keeping Kettle Brand potato chips around isn’t just smart for snacking and playing games with family and friends, it’s actually a great way to finish off a holiday meal.

Kettle Brand potato chips are non-GMO, totally packed full of flavor and I hear that they are literally an obsession among some of our neighbors and friends.

Kettle Brand chips are the ultimate crunchy chip. You chip lovers know what I’m talking about, chips aren’t at all just about the flavor, you want that crazy crunch thing going on and not all chips are created equally. Kettle Brand chips win the prize for the biggest crunch!

Variations and Substitutions

If you don’t have leftover turkey, no worries at all! You can use chicken instead! Here are a few ideas for variations and substitutions:

• Use rotisserie chicken instead of turkey
• Make it lighter with half-and-half instead of cream
• Swap the spaghetti noodles for penne or linguine
• Add other veggies: broccoli, carrots, green beans

What to Serve with Turkey Tetrazzini

Pasta is always tricky isn’t it. You feel like you have to serve only a salad with pasta dishes, but if you’re smart about it, you can actually ditch the side dish completely.

If you add some extra veggies into your turkey casserole with noodles, I see no need to even worry about sides. I mean, carbs, protein and veggies are covered.

Heck, you could even say you’ve got dairy as well!

Alright, but I get it, you are like me and one dish sometimes feels like you at least need a salad. Here are a few ideas.

Storing and Reheating

Leftover turkey tetrazzini should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep for 4-5 days.

To reheat a single serving, I use the microwave, but if I’m going to reheat a large portion of the turkey pasta bake, I’ll reheat it in the oven at 300 degrees F for about 10-15 minutes or until heated through.

Can Turkey Tetrazzini Be Frozen?

Because turkey tetrazzini is a cream-based sauce and full of pasta it’s best to never freeze it. Your sauce will separate and the pasta will continue to bloat and take on the liquid. This will make for a mushy pasta which no one wants.

There’s something so satisfying about turning leftover turkey into something completely new — and this creamy turkey tetrazzini does just that. It’s warm, comforting, and easy enough for a weeknight, but special enough for company.

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