How to make the best turkey casserole with pasta. Easy recipe made with egg noodles and leftovers, this turkey tetrazzini is so creamy and delicious!
This leftover turkey casserole is just the recipe you need when you’re trying to figure out what to do with turkey leftovers from Thanksgiving. Oh my word, I love this casserole because of how cheesy it is.
If you love cheese as much as I do, you are in for a treat with this delicious dinner recipe. And making it in a big 13×9 casserole dish pretty much guarantees you’ll have leftovers for tomorrow night.
You will need to cook some pasta for this recipe. And you’ll need to make the sauce on the stovetop.
But once you have the sauce made, you’re home free. Finish throwing it together, put it in the oven, set your timer, and off you go to accomplish an important task or spend time with your family while dinner cooks.
If you love this cheesy turkey noodle casserole, you will LOVE this cheesy hash brown casserole recipe, broccoli cheese rice casserole, and this green bean casserole too! And if you’re looking for ways to use up leftover turkey, turkey stuffing crescent rolls and turkey enchilada casserole are usually a big hit in my house. Or swap out the chicken with turkey in this creamy Ritz chicken casserole!
WHERE CAN I FIND THE ACTUAL RECIPE CARD?
If you’d rather skip all of my cooking tips, important cooking info for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to the recipe – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.
WHAT IS TURKEY TETRAZZINI?
Turkey tetrazzini is a delicious comfort food made with turkey, noodles, and a cheesy sauce filled with mushrooms, peppers, and onion.
INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED:
- Egg noodles (I’ve also used spaghetti and fettuccine noodles.)
- Salted butter
- Yellow onion
- Green bell pepper
- Mushrooms
- Flour
- Milk
- Chicken broth – I prefer using a chicken base to make broth (instructions are on the packaging).
- American cheese
- Cheddar cheese
- Salt and pepper
- Shredded turkey
Keep in mind, all of the ingredient amounts you’ll need are in the printable recipe card below.
KITCHEN TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT YOU’LL NEED:
Pasta Pot – for cooking the noodles
Cutting Board and Knife (or Vegetable Chopper)
Glass Measuring Cup – for measuring out liquids.
HOW TO MAKE TURKEY TETRAZZINI
First things first, make sure your egg noodles are cooked and ready to go. Just follow the instructions on the package to cook them.
You’ll also need to shred leftover turkey for this recipe.
TO MAKE THE SAUCE:
- In a large skillet, melt the butter and sauté the onion, bell pepper, and sliced mushrooms until they’re tender, probably about 15 minutes.
- Then add the flour and blend it in with the veggies really well.
- Add in the milk and chicken broth, cooking on low ’til the sauce begins to thicken.
- Finally, add in the cheeses, and cook until it’s all melted; then add in the salt and pepper.
Then you’ll just combine the turkey, noodles, and cheese sauce in a large mixing bowl, and add that mixture to a greased 13×9 inch baking dish.
HOW LONG TO COOK TURKEY CASSEROLE WITH PASTA
Your casserole will need to bake at 350° F for about 30 minutes, or until heated through and bubbly.
CAN YOU FREEZE TURKEY CASSEROLE WITH PASTA?
Yes, you can freeze this cheesy turkey tetrazzini. Just be sure to store it in an airtight container so it doesn’t get freezer burn.
When you take it out of the freezer, you can either allow time for it to thaw or reheat as is. Of course, oven times will vary, depending on whether it’s thawed or frozen.
Reheat individual servings, or place the entire baking dish, covered with aluminum foil, in the oven at 350° F until heated through.
ALTERNATIVE INGREDIENT OPTIONS:
There are a few ways you can change this recipe up and make it slightly different…
- Don’t have turkey? Use chicken instead; rotisserie chicken would taste great. Just shred it up and add as you would the turkey.
- If you’re like me and don’t care for mushrooms, leave them out. I usually just put up with them because my family likes them, and I can hardly tell they’re there if I dice instead of slice.
- Use spaghetti noodles or fettuccine noodles instead of egg noodles.
- Use gluten-free pasta and gluten-free flour to make this casserole gluten-free. Of course, check the labels on all of your other ingredients to ensure that everything is gluten-free if going this route.
- Add a smoked cheese for a smoky flavor to your turkey casserole.
- Add a vegetable to the casserole. Peas are delicious in a cheesy casserole.
WHAT GOES WITH TURKEY TETRAZZINI:
- Leftover cranberry relish
- Southern Green Beans
You’ll find more delicious options on my list of favorite recipes for Thanksgiving.
GET THE PRINTABLE CASSEROLE RECIPE
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Cheesy Leftover Turkey Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 cup salted butter
- 1 medium yellow onion minced
- 1 medium green bell pepper chopped
- 4 ounces mushrooms diced
- 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 8 ounces American cheese
- 8 ounces cheddar cheese shredded
- 3 cups turkey cooked and shredded
- 16 ounces egg noodles cooked
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 350° F, and grease a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray.
- In a large skillet, melt the butter and sauté the onion, bell pepper, and mushrooms until they’re tender, probably about 15 minutes.
- Then add the flour and blend it in with the veggies really well.
- Add in the milk and chicken broth, cooking on low ’til the sauce begins to thicken.
- Finally, add in the salt, pepper, and cheeses, and cook until the cheese is melted.
- Combine the cheese sauce, shredded turkey, and noodles in a large mixing bowl, and spread the mixture in the greased 9×13 baking dish.
- Bake at 350° F for about 30 minutes, or until the casserole is heated through and bubbly.
- Serve while warm.
