This chicken tetrazzini casserole is packed with delicious flavors and textures. It has hearty chicken, tender mushrooms, peas, and pasta, all tossed in a creamy, rich sauce. The casserole is topped with crispy, buttery breadcrumbs and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese with the most irresistible crunch and flavor.
Make-Ahead: This is the perfect dish to make ahead and throw in the oven right before dinner. It makes dinner time quick and stress-free!
One-Dish Meal: You get your protein, veggies, and pasta all in one satisfying dish. You won’t need to make any other sides!
Quick and Easy: Chicken tetrazzini casserole is so simple to make! Boil the paste, sauté the veggies, stir up the sauce and add the chicken!
This casserole only uses a few ready-made ingredients. Plus, with its simple ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions, dinner time will be smooth and stress-free! Scroll to the bottom of the page for exact measurements.
Cooked and Cubed Chicken: The main protein source that gives the dish a hearty, meaty texture and savory flavor.
Spaghetti Pasta: The base of the casserole that perfectly absorbs the creamy sauce.
Olive Oil: Used to sauté vegetables, adding healthy fat.
Diced Mushrooms: Absorb the wonderful savory flavors and gives a nice texture.
Minced Garlic: Gives the dish a warm, comforting savory flavor.
Frozen Peas: Add a pop of color, texture, and sweet flavor.
Flour: Helps thicken the sauce.
Cream of Chicken Soup Cans: Provide moisture and flavor to the casserole.
Hald and Half: Adds a smooth, creamy texture and delicious flavor.
Chicken Broth: Gives the casserole moisture and adds a depth of chicken flavor.
Salt and Pepper: To Taste!
Parmesan Cheese: Provides a sharp, nutty flavor.
Italian Bread Crumbs: Adds flavor and texture for a crunchy topping.
Melted Butter: Allows the topping to become browned and crunchy.
Making chicken tetrazzini casserole is simple. I love being able prep it in the morning or the night before so that when it’s time to eat, I can pop it in the oven, and dinner is served.
Prep: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray and set aside. In a large pot, cook the pasta according to the directions until al dente. Drain, then place in the prepared baking dish.
Sauté and Stir: In a medium-sized saucepan, add olive oil, mushrooms, garlic, and peas. Cook until tender, then whisk in the flour and cook for another minute.
Make the Sauce: Add the cream of chicken soup, heavy whipping cream, and chicken broth to the saucepan. Add salt and pepper to taste. Let simmer until it starts to thicken, then add the chicken and mix to incorporate.
Combine: Add the sauce to the spaghetti and toss until coated. Spread in your 9×13-inch pan.
Make the Topping: Mix the parmesan cheese, bread crumbs, and butter in a bowl, then spread the mixture on top of the casserole.
Bake: Bake for 30-40 minutes until heated through, and the bread crumbs are brown on top.
The great thing about this chicken tetrazzini casserole is you can make it to suit your tastes. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Vegetables: You can leave out the peas or the mushrooms or both. You could also add other veggie like onions, broccoli, bell pepper, potatoes or any of your favorite veggies.
Protein: This is a great casserole to make with leftover turkey. Replace the chicken with your leftover turkey from Thanksgiving. You could also use ham, pork, beef, or sausage.
Condesned soup: You can replace the cream of chicken with cream of mushroom soup cans. You can also replace the condensed soup and use my homemade cream of chicken soup.
You can make chicken tetrazzini casserole as a freezer meal! I like making a couple of batches, freezing them and pulling them out as I need. After you have gone through step 5, cover it with plastic wrap and then aluminum foil, and freeze. Then, when you are ready to have it for dinner, follow the instructions below!
Heat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cover the dish with foil, place it directly into the preheated oven from the freezer, and bake for 50-60 minutes until the dish is heated completely through.
Remove the foil in the last 10 minutes of baking.
Leftover casserole is especially good for reheating the next day. By then, all of the flavors have melded together, and your kids will love having something warm and hearty after school.
Refrigerator: Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Reheat: Warm individual servings in a microwave-safe dish for 30-seconds at a time until heated through.
Casserole cooking is a must at my house. After all, making one dish that includes veggies, protein, and a hearty base makes my life easier and my family’s stomachs happy! Here are some of my favorite quick and easy recipes!
Updated September 4, 2024