Creamy Chicken Tetrazzini Recipe: Ina Garten’s Homestyle Joy

Chicken tetrazzini whisks ordinary dinners into a whirlwind of culinary magic that electrifies family gatherings.

Creamy, comforting, and packed with soul-warming goodness, this pasta marvel blends tender chicken and silky sauce into pure deliciousness.

Each forkful tells a story of rich flavors dancing across your palate with irresistible charm.

Home cooks adore how effortlessly this dish transforms simple ingredients into an extraordinary meal.

Pasta enthusiasts will swoon over the luxurious cream-based sauce that envelops perfectly cooked noodles in a warm embrace.

This classic casserole strikes a delicate balance between nostalgic home cooking and sophisticated cuisine.

Create a meal that’ll have everyone asking for seconds.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

Calories: 637 kcal

Servings: 5

What Goes Into Ina Garten Chicken Tetrazzini

• Pasta: Choose a long, slender variety like spaghetti or linguine for authentic tetrazzini texture and perfect sauce absorption.

• Cooked Chicken: Select tender, shredded rotisserie chicken or freshly poached chicken breast for maximum flavor and moisture.
• Cream of Chicken Soup: Opt for low-sodium version to control salt levels and enhance overall dish richness.
• Sour Cream: Select full-fat sour cream for a luxurious, velvety consistency.
• Butter: Use unsalted butter to manage seasoning precision.
• Chicken Broth: Pick low-sodium, high-quality broth for deeper, cleaner flavor profile.
• Garlic Salt: Choose fine-grain garlic salt for even seasoning distribution.
• Black Pepper: Freshly ground pepper provides more robust, vibrant taste.

• Parmesan Cheese, Mozzarella Cheese: Select freshly grated cheeses for superior melting quality and authentic, rich flavor complexity.

Kitchen Gear for Ina Garten Chicken Tetrazzini

• Large Mixing Bowl: Spacious container for combining and mixing ingredients smoothly.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Precise tools for accurate ingredient quantities.
• 9×13-inch Baking Dish: Perfect rectangle pan for even cooking and serving.
• Colander: Essential for draining pasta quickly and thoroughly.
• Wooden Spoon or Spatula: Great for stirring and folding ingredients gently.
• Cheese Grater: Optional tool if using freshly grated cheese.
• Cooking Spray or Butter: Needed for greasing the baking dish.
• Oven Mitts: Crucial for safely handling hot dishes.

How to Assemble Ina Garten Chicken Tetrazzini

Whip Up Creamy Chicken Pasta Delight

• Warm Up the Oven

Fire up your oven to a cozy 350°F. Grab a baking dish and give it a quick spray or butter rub to prevent sticking.

• Transform Pasta and Chicken

Cook pasta until it’s perfectly tender, then drain. Shred or cube your chicken into bite-sized pieces. Mix the chicken with a velvety blend of cream of chicken soup, sour cream, butter, chicken broth, and a sprinkle of garlic salt and pepper.

• Create Cheesy Magic

Combine the creamy chicken mixture with your cooked pasta, making sure every noodle gets a luxurious coating. Transfer this dreamy concoction to your prepared baking dish, spreading it out evenly.

• Cheese It Up

Rain down a shower of Parmesan and mozzarella cheese over the top, creating a blanket of melty goodness.

• Bake to Golden Perfection

Slide the dish into the oven and let it bubble and brown for 35-40 minutes. You’ll know it’s ready when the cheese turns into a gorgeous golden crust that’s crispy and irresistible.

• Serve and Savor

Pull out your masterpiece and let it rest for a few minutes. Serve alongside a crisp salad or some steamed veggies for a complete meal that’ll have everyone asking for seconds.

Tweak the Taste of Chicken Tetrazzini Easily

Explore unique twists on this classic Chicken Tetrazzini recipe that will tantalize your taste buds.

Replace chicken with turkey, shrimp, or roasted vegetables for a delightful variation that keeps the dish exciting and adaptable to different dietary preferences.

Elevate the flavor profile by adding red pepper flakes, smoked paprika, or fresh herbs like thyme and parsley to introduce a personal touch that makes the dish uniquely yours.

Create an irresistible texture by sprinkling breadcrumbs, crushed crackers, or toasted almonds over the cheese before baking, adding a satisfying crunch that transforms the dish’s mouthfeel.

Prepare the entire casserole up to the baking stage, cover tightly with foil, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. When ready to serve, simply bake directly from the refrigerator, adding an extra 10-15 minutes to the cooking time for a convenient and stress-free meal preparation.

Serving Recommendations for Chicken Tetrazzini

• Pair with Crisp Salad: Toss a light, fresh green salad with mixed baby greens, cherry tomatoes, and a zesty vinaigrette to balance the creamy richness of the Chicken Tetrazzini.
• Complement with Roasted Veggies: Serve alongside roasted seasonal vegetables like asparagus, broccoli, or Brussels sprouts to add color, nutrition, and a slight crunch to the meal.
• Add Garlic Bread Sidekick: Warm, crusty garlic bread makes the perfect accompaniment, helping to soak up the delicious creamy sauce and providing a delightful texture contrast.
• Finish with Chilled Wine: Enhance the dining experience by pairing this comforting dish with a crisp white wine like Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc, which cuts through the richness and cleanses the palate.

How to Store Chicken Tetrazzini Properly

• Preserve Freshness: Store leftover Chicken Tetrazzini in an airtight container within the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Seal the dish tightly to maintain moisture and prevent flavor loss.
• Freeze for Later: Wrap portions in freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty aluminum foil. Chicken Tetrazzini freezes beautifully for 2-3 months, making meal prep a breeze for busy families.
• Reheat with Care: Warm refrigerated leftovers in the oven at 350°F, covering with foil to prevent drying. Add a splash of chicken broth to restore the creamy texture and prevent the pasta from becoming tough.
• Batch Cooking Tip: Double the recipe and portion out individual servings. These make-ahead meals work perfectly for quick weeknight dinners or lunch prep, saving time and reducing kitchen stress.

Comforting Ina Garten Chicken Tetrazzini Recipe

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4.9 from 38 reviews

• Total Time: 55 minutes
• Yield: 5 1x

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Description

Hearty chicken tetrazzini delights with creamy pasta and tender poultry, blending classic Italian-American comfort. Cheese-covered casserole brings warmth to family dinner tables, satisfying hunger with rich, nostalgic flavors you’ll savor.

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Ingredients

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• 16 oz (454 g) linguini pasta, cooked
• 4 chicken breasts, cooked and diced
• 2 cups (480 ml) sour cream
• 2 cups (226 g) mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 2 cans cream of chicken soup
• 1 cup (240 ml) chicken broth
• ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, softened
• 2 tbsps (30 g) Parmesan cheese, grated
• 1 tsp garlic salt with parsley flakes
• ½ tsp pepper

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Instructions

1. Oven Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9-x-13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
2. Pasta Cooking: Boil pasta until al dente, drain completely, and set aside for later incorporation.
3. Sauce Composition: In a large mixing bowl, blend shredded chicken, condensed chicken soup, sour cream, butter, chicken broth, garlic salt, and black pepper until achieving a smooth, homogeneous consistency.
4. Mixture Integration: Gently fold cooked pasta into the creamy chicken sauce, ensuring thorough and even distribution of ingredients throughout the mixture.
5. Dish Assembly: Transfer the combined pasta and chicken mixture into the prepared baking dish, creating an even layer across the surface.
6. Cheese Topping: Liberally sprinkle Parmesan and Mozzarella cheeses over the entire dish, completely covering the underlying mixture.
7. Baking Process: Place the uncovered dish in the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, watching for a golden-brown cheese crust and bubbling edges indicating complete cooking.
8. Resting Phase: Allow the Chicken Tetrazzini to rest for 5-7 minutes after removing from the oven, enabling sauce to settle and flavors to harmonize before serving.

Notes

• Master Pasta Texture: Cook pasta just until al dente to prevent mushiness and maintain a perfect bite throughout the casserole.
• Cheese Melting Technique: Ensure even cheese coverage by grating fresh Parmesan and Mozzarella, which melts more smoothly than pre-shredded varieties.
• Sauce Consistency Control: Whisk creamy ingredients thoroughly to eliminate lumps and create a silky, uniform sauce that coats every pasta strand.
• Resting Period Magic: Allow the dish to rest after baking, letting flavors integrate and sauce thicken for a more cohesive and delectable final presentation.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 637
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 1265 mg
• Fat: 36 g
• Saturated Fat: 22 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 1 g
• Carbohydrates: 54 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 31 g
• Cholesterol: 100 mg