Busy with family and juggling endless tasks? Let this Easy Chicken Tetrazzini recipe come save the day! This homey, kid-friendly casserole brings big flavor with little effort, making it a perfect option for those hectic weeknights.
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When life gets chaotic and you’re struggling to get dinner on the table, give yourself a break. This simple chicken tetrazzini is the ultimate game-changer to make your evenings much simpler.
This creamy, cheesy chicken tetrazzini casserole is a quick dinner combining tender chicken, al dente pasta, and a rich sauce. It’s a fuss-free recipe that delivers comfort and convenience without compromising on taste. Perfect for busy families!
If you love quick, family-friendly chicken recipes, be sure to try these creamy white chicken enchiladas, chicken and gravy, our easy puff pastry pot pie, sheet pan chicken fajitas, and grilled teriyaki chicken.
Why You’ll Love This Easy Chicken Tetrazzini Recipe
- Quick and Simple: With ingredients you probably already have, this recipe comes together in less than an hour. It’s a perfect family prep meal for the whole week!
- Versatile: You can customize this your tetrazzini casserole to suit your family’s needs and dietary preferences. Swap chicken for turkey, and veggies, like mushrooms or peas, or use different pastas to make it your own.
- A Crowd-Pleaser: The creamy sauce, tender chicken and comforting pasta makes this dish a guaranteed hit with picky eaters and adults alike.
- Cost and Time Effective: With just a handful of simple ingredients, you can create a satisfying and gourmet meal without spending hours in the kitchen.
Ingredients
- Pasta: Traditionally this chicken tetrazzini easy recipe calls for spaghetti, but feel free to use fettuccine, penne or even gluten-free pasta.
- Chicken: The star of the dish! It's a lean and hearty protein that soaks up the flavors and pairs well with the pasta. Rotisserie or leftover chicken works well too!
- Vegetables: You’ll need half of a yellow onion and some fresh spinach (it may look like like a lot but it cooks down!). Be sure to sauté the onion until it's translucent for maximum flavor and the best texture. Stir in the spinach at the end so it wilts just right. Kale, swiss chard or even frozen peas work just as well if you don't have spinach.
- Sauce: Cream of mushroom soup, cream cheese, sour cream, and chicken broth build the creaminess of the sauce to make the recipe truly special. You can also use cream of chicken or celery soup instead. Cream of chicken soup adds richness and complements the chicken, while cream of celery soup provides a lighter, herbal flavor.
- Mozzarella Cheese: This cheese not only melts beautifully but it also adds rich, cheesy comfort.
- Aromatics and Seasoning: In this recipe for easy chicken tetrazzini, garlic, black pepper, paprika, onion powder, and Italian seasoning layer depth of flavor in the dish.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Protein Swap: While chicken is classic, use shrimp, turkey, or even a mix of seafood for a delicious variation. Swap the chicken with sautéed vegetables like carrots, zucchini, and bell peppers for a vegetarian option. Great for Meatless Mondays!
- Sauce Twists: Try different sauces to create flavor variations. Stir in a jar of your favorite pesto for herby notes or add a splash of white wine for a bit of acidity and tanginess.
- Add Some Spice: Toss in red pepper flakes or a splash of hot sauce for a kick.
- Cheesy Upgrades: Are you a cheese lover like me? Mix in Gruyère, goat cheese, or your favorite fancy cheese for a unique variation.
- More Toppings: For added crunch, sprinkle crushed crackers, breadcrumbs, crispy fried onions, or bacon bits prior to baking. For a bright finishing touch, sprinkle herbs like parsley or basil over the top.
- Healthier Recipe: Swap out regular pasta for whole wheat or chickpea pasta, use reduced fat cheese and replace some sauce with plain Greek yogurt for added protein and fewer calories.
How to Make Chicken Tetrazzini
Ready to learn how to make chicken tetrazzini in just 5 simple steps? Gather your ingredients, preheat the oven to 375℉, and coat a 9x13” baking dish with nonstick spray.
Step 1: Boil the Pasta. Cook the pasta until al dente, drain, and set aside.
Step 2: Season the Chicken. Slice the chicken lengthwise and season on both sides with pepper, paprika and onion powder.
Step 3: Cook the Chicken. Add the chicken to your heated skillet and cook for 4-5 minutes until golden brown. Then, transfer to a plate.
Step 4: Sauté the Veggies. Cook the onions in butter for 4-5 minutes until browned and translucent. Then, add the spinach and stir until it’s just wilted.
Step 5: Assemble. Combine the soup, cream cheese, sour cream, chicken broth, garlic, and seasonings in a large bowl and stir until smooth. Toss the diced chicken, pasta, vegetables, and 1 ½ cups of cheese with the sauce until well coated.
Step 6: Bake. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish, top with the remaining cheese, and bake for 35 minutes until bubbly and golden.
Hint: Skip the Pre-Shredded Cheese
Choose freshly grated cheese for the creamiest sauce - it melts much better than pre-shredded cheese.
Expert Tips
- Cooking Al Dente: Don’t overcook the pasta. The pasta will continue to cook in the oven, so it should be cooked just until al dente, which means ‘to the tooth’ in Italian, or ‘with a slight bite’.
- Season as You Go: Taste each component of the recipe, especially the sauce, and adjust the seasoning for balanced flavors.
- Don’t Skip the Bake: As tempting as it is, don’t skip baking! Baking melds the flavors together and creates a golden, bubbly topping. To make it crispier, broil the dish for the last couple of minutes of the baking time.
Storage Directions
- Storing and Refrigeration: If you have leftovers, cool them completely and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Reheating: When reheating in the microwave, place an individual portion on a microwave-safe plate, cover it with a damp paper towel, and heat in short intervals until it's heated through. For the oven, return it to a casserole dish, cover with foil, and bake at 350°F until warmed through.
- Freezing: I don’t recommend freezing this recipe once it’s been baked, as the pasta will lose its texture when thawed and reheated. If you do want to freeze, store the chicken and sauce separately and skip the pasta. When ready to bake, thaw the chicken and sauce overnight in the fridge, prepare fresh pasta, and bake in the oven.
- Make Ahead: Prepare this easy recipe for chicken tetrazzini a day ahead. Store in the fridge overnight. When you are ready to bake, let it sit at room temp for 30 minutes, and then bake as directed. Be sure to add 15-20 minutes extra to make sure it’s heated through!
Serving Suggestions
When making this classic pasta recipe, or stuffed manicotti here are my favorite things I like to serve it:
- Pairing your chicken tetrazzini casserole with warm bread for dipping makes for a comforting meal. These quick sheet pan breadsticks, my dinner rolls from scratch, and this easy Dutch oven bread are a few family favorites.
- Add healthier sides like cucumbers and tomatoes, a strawberry spinach salad, or this bacon wrapped asparagus to complete your meal.
- Round out the meal with festive desserts like this fruit pizza recipe, red velvet cake mix cookies, or even some chewy M&M Cookie Bars.
More Quick and Delicious Dinner Recipes
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Easy Chicken Tetrazzini
Ingredients
- 16 ounces spaghetti cooked
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ½ medium yellow onion diced
- 2 cups baby spinach
- 3 cups mozzarella cheese divided
Chicken
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
Tetrazzini Sauce
- 2 (10.5 ounce) cans cream of mushroom condensed soup
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- 3 teaspoons garlic minced
- 1 ½ cups sour cream
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375℉. Coat a 9X13 baking dish with a nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
- Cook pasta according to package instructions, until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Slice the chicken breasts lengthwise to make 6 thinner cutlets. Season chicken on both sides with black pepper, paprika, and onion powder.
- Heat oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Cook chicken for 4-5 minutes per side until golden. Transfer the to a plate.
- Add butter and onions to the skillet and cook for 4-5 minutes. Then, add spinach and cook until reduced by half.
- In a large bowl, add sauce ingredients and whisk until well combined. Chop cooked chicken into bite sized pieces. Add chicken, onions, spinach, noodles, and 1½ cups of cheese to the sauce. Toss until everything is coated in sauce.
- Transfer to the prepared baking dish and top with remaining cheese. Bake for 35 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the sauce is bubbling.
Notes
- Cooking Al Dente: Don’t overcook the pasta. The pasta will continue to cook in the oven, so it should be cooked just until al dente, which means ‘to the tooth’ in Italian, or ‘with a slight bite’.
- Season as You Go: Taste each component of the recipe, especially the sauce, and adjust the seasoning for balanced flavors.
- Don’t Skip the Bake: As tempting as it is, don’t skip baking! Baking melds the flavors together and creates a golden, bubbly topping. To make it crispier, broil the dish for the last couple of minutes of the baking time.
Nutrition
*All nutrition information provided is automatically calculated and is an estimate and will vary based on ingredients, brands, and changes in cooking methods listed in the recipe. If you need exact numbers on your ingredients, I would recommend calculating them with your prefered nutrition calculator.
Ryan Allen
This chicken recipe checks all the boxes. It is creamy, hearty, easy and the ultimate comfort food. If you want to WOW your guests this is the recipe for you.