Leftover turkey? Don’t know what to do with it? This Thanksgiving, try Ina Garten’s turkey tetrazzini recipe! It’s simple, delicious, and perfect for using up your leftovers. The leftovers always give an enhanced taste for newly formed recipes.
So don’t stress about what to do with all that leftover turkey – whip up a batch of this amazing tetrazzini! You won’t regret it and would repeat making this dish for all.
This is one dish loved by all and is proof that with leftover portions, you can create amazing recipes for all to relish. Never throw a leftover, just a little creative twist, and a new dish like this is ready.
What is the Ina Garten Turkey Tetrazzini?
Turkey Tetrazzini is a dish consisting of Turkey, pasta, and cheese sauce. It was created by Chef John V. Garten in 1918, who named it after the Italian opera singer Luisa Tetrazzini.
The dish gained popularity in the United States during the mid-20th century and remains a popular comfort food today. Turkey Tetrazzini is often served with a side of bread or salad and is a popular choice for holiday meals or potlucks.
Does this recipe need leftover turkey?
Yes, this recipe was designed for using up leftover turkey. But, if you have no leftover turkey, you can always use cooked chicken instead. So the variation is there but preferred would be turkey only.
How much time does it take to make this recipe?
It takes about 1 hour, which is not bad considering you are making a dish from scratch. So according to the method, the time span will decrease or increase, so you can easily adjust your full preparation.
Turkey Tetrazzini Ina Garten Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound Spaghetti
- 12 tbsp Unsalted butter, divided evenly
- 1/4 cup All-purpose flour
- 2 cups Whole milk
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon Freshly ground black pepper
- 3/4 cup Parmesan, grated, divided
- 1/4 teaspoon Freshly grated nutmeg
- 12 ounces Gruyere, grated
- 2 cups Cooked, shredded turkey breast (I like to use the dark meat)
- 1/4 cup Dry white wine
- 1 can Condensed cream of mushroom soup (10-ounce)
- cup 1/4 Chopped fresh parsley leaves
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Cook the spaghetti in a large pot of salted water, according to package instructions. Drain well.
- Meanwhile, melt 6 tablespoons of butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Add the flour and cook for 2 minutes, constantly stirring with a wooden spoon.
- Raise the heat to be medium and whisk in the milk. Cook, constantly whisking, until the mixture comes to a boil and thickens. Remove from the heat and whisk in 1/2 cup of Parmesan, the nutmeg, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
- Melt 6 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add the Gruyere on top and cook, stirring, until melted. Stir in the turkey, wine, condensed soup, and parsley.
- Add the cooked spaghetti and toss well.
- Transfer the mixture to a 9 by 13-inch baking dish and sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan.
- Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the sauce, is bubbly and the pasta is browned around the edges.
- Enjoy!
What if I don’t have leftover turkey?
If you don’t have leftover turkey, you can always use roseterri chicken. Just be sure to shred it before adding it to the dish.
Can I make this recipe with leftover chicken?
Yes, you can easily make this recipe with leftover chicken. Just be sure to shred the chicken before adding it to the dish.
Can I add or replace some ingredients?
Yes, feel free to add or replace ingredients as you see fit. For example, if you don’t have Gruyere, you could use cheddar cheese instead.
Things to take care of while storing this recipe:
- Store in an airtight container.
- Store in a cool, dry place.
- Use within 3-4 days.
- Reheat before serving.
- Do not freeze.
- Cover tightly when reheating.
- Stir well before serving.
- Add a little extra broth or water when reheating, if needed.
Tips and tricks for a better recipe
First of all, cook the spaghetti in a large pot of salted water, according to package instructions. Drain well.
- To make this dish extra creamy, you could stir in some sour cream when you add the chicken.
- If you want a little more crunch in your dish, you could stir in some chopped nuts or bread crumbs.
- If you’re looking for a little more flavor, you could add in some garlic or onion powder.
- For a kick, you could also add in some red pepper flakes.
- If you want a heartier dish, you could add in some cooked bacon or sausage.
- If you want a vegetarian option, you could leave out the meat and add extra vegetables.
- You could also make this gluten-free dish with gluten-free pasta and flour.
And finally, you could make this dish ahead of time and reheat it when you’re ready to eat. Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to eat, reheat in a 350-degree Fahrenheit oven until warmed.
Side dishes to serve with this dish
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts: Brussels sprouts roasted with olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper.
- Garlic Mashed Potatoes: Yukon gold potatoes mashed with garlic, milk, and butter.
- Honey Glazed Carrots: Carrots glazed with honey, butter, and thyme.
- Green Beans Almondine: Green beans sauteed with butter and almonds.
- Seasoned Rice: White rice cooked with chicken broth, garlic, and onion.
- Quinoa Pilaf: Quinoa cooked with chicken broth, garlic, and onion.
- Couscous Salad: Couscous salad with roasted vegetables and feta cheese.
- Broccoli Salad: Broccoli salad with bacon, raisins, and sunflower seeds.
- Fruit Salad: A mix of fresh fruits such as grapes, strawberries, blueberries, and oranges.
Desserts to go with this dish
- Chocolate Cake: A classic dessert that goes with any main course, chocolate cake is always a good choice.
- Ice Cream: Another classic dessert, ice cream is a great way to cool down after a spicy dish.
- Fruit Salad: A healthy and sweet option, fruit salad is a great way to get your daily dose of fruit.
- Cheesecake: A rich and creamy dessert, cheesecake is the perfect ending to a heavy meal.
- Chocolate Chip Cookies: A classic cookie that is always a hit, chocolate chip cookies are a great way to end a meal.
- Brownies: A rich and fudgy dessert, brownies are a perfect way to end a meal.
- Pies: A classic dessert with many different flavors, pies are a great way to end a meal.
Final Words
Be sure to cook the spaghetti well and drain it before adding it to the dish. You can also add or replace ingredients as you see fit.
The Tetrazzini turkey recipe being the classic dish, would be now at your fingertips. It may seem so much to remember for you, but actually, it is very simple, you just need to follow the above-mentioned recipe and preparation steps one after the other. And there your tasty and fresh turkey will be ready in no time, making you a pro in this recipe.
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The ingredients lists has one stick of butter split. 4tbls and 4 tbls, correct?
Then in the instructions on how to cook it mentions 6tbls and 6 tbls.
Also after the instructions tell you to take the milk concoction off the heat and add cheese, etc., there are no further instructions for it…..of course logically it goes on top, but if going to the trouble of writing the recipe, do it correctly.
Thank you Angela, you are right. The recipe was ambiguous and has now been corrected.