One Pan Chicken Tetrazzini

This chicken tetrazzini recipe is a creamy baked pasta casserole loaded with tender shredded chicken, mushrooms, peas and a rich Parmesan cream sauce. Finished with a golden breadcrumb topping, it’s classic comfort food that’s perfect for family dinners or make-ahead meals.

What is Chicken Tetrazzini?

Chicken Tetrazzini is said to have been created in San Francisco in the early 1900s in honor of the Italian opera singer, Luisa Tetrazzini. This noodle and chicken casserole has changed over the years since its creation, but the basic idea remains the same: bake noodles with chicken, veggies, and a creamy cheese sauce.

It was originally made with thin spaghetti noodles and you can still make it that way, but I prefer to use smaller noodles that hold onto the sauce. Egg noodles are my favorite for this dish because they are very soft and delicate.

Recipe Essentials

Simple pantry ingredients come together to make the most delicious chicken tetrazzini. A full list of ingredients with measurements for this recipe is available in the printable recipe card below.

• Cooked egg noodles – You can also use any other noodle that you like for this recipe! Some of my favorites for this dish are fusilli, penne, shells, and bowtie pasta.
• Boneless skinless chicken breasts – You can also use chicken tenderloins or chicken thighs, thighs are dark meat and will produce the most juicy chicken, but breast give tender chicken as well if cooked correctly- see our notes.

How to Make One Pan Chicken Tetrazzini (Step-by-Step)

The steps are pretty simple, but let’s walk through them step by step! If you don’t have cooked pasta, do that before getting started.

1. Sear chicken. Searing the chicken ensures that it will stay moist. Season the chicken on all sides with the the salt, pepper and garlic powder. Then in a cast iron skillet or something similar (and oven safe) heat the olive oil and cook the chicken breasts for 4-5 minutes on each side.

2. Sauté veggies. In the same pan, add more oil and sauté the onions. Cook until they are soft and fragrant. Next add in the mushrooms and cook those for another few minutes. Next add peas and cook for another 2 minutes. If at any time you need more oil, feel free to add it to the pan.

3. Shred the chicken. Remove the vegetables from the pan and set aside. Turn off the heat on the stove and shred the cooked chicken breast into bite sized pieces with two forks.
4. Prepare the sauce. Heat the same pan over low heat and melt the butter. Once melted and starting to bubble, mix in the flour with the butter until it forms a paste. Slowly pour in the heavy cream as you stir the mixture. Then pour in 1 cup of the parmesan cheese and stir until just melted.

5. Mix and bake. Combine the noodles, shredded chicken and vegetables into a prepared baking dish with the cheese sauce and toss to coat everything well.

6. Top with the remainder of shredded parmesan cheese and the bread crumbs.

7. Rest. Allow the mixture to rest for at least 5 minutes before serving.

Variations

You know I am all about customizations! Here are some great ideas to make your easy chicken tetrazzini special:

• More veggies – Add drained sundried tomatoes or other vegetables to the peas and mushrooms.
• Flavored breadcrumbs – Sauté breadcrumbs in melted butter with garlic before topping.
• A splash of wine – Add a splash of white wine to the cheese sauce- a dry one works best.
• Seasonings – Try adding 1/2 teaspoon of onion powder in addition to the garlic powder. You can also add 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning to the cheese sauce.
• Protein swap – Swap chicken for turkey, hello turkey tetrazzini!

Make it A Meal

The beauty of chicken tetrazzini is that is a one-dish meal, but you feel compelled to pair it with something, garlic bread, garlic knots or easy dinner rolls are great!

Since this is already a carb-heavy dish, I like to serve mine with an extra side of vegetables. Green beans seem to be a classic pairing, as is a nice leafy, green salad.

More Classic Pasta Dishes

I’m a true Italian girl, so pasta is always on the dinner rotation at our house. Here are some of my favorites.

Pastas

Parmesan Garlic Linguine Pasta

4.78 from 221 votes

Pork Main Dishes

Authentic Carbonara

4.44 from 60 votes

Pastas

Bolognese Sauce

4.85 from 13 votes

Easy Chicken Tetrazzini Recipe

4.91 from 11 votes

Learn how to make classic chicken tetrazzini with shredded chicken, egg noodles, and a rich Parmesan cream sauce baked until bubbly and golden.

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 50 minutes mins

Total Time: 1 hour hr

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Servings: 6

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Equipment

• Garlic press

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons fine sea salt , divided
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 4 tablespoons olive oil , divided
• 1/2 yellow onion , chopped
• 2 cups baby bella mushrooms , sliced
• 1 cup frozen green peas
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 4 tablespoons flour
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1 1/2 cups milk , whole or 2% preferred
• 2 cups parmesan cheese , shredded and divided
• 12 ounces broad egg noodles , cooked al dente
• 1/2 cup bread crumbs

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 375°F.
• Combine 1 teaspoons fine sea salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder in a small bowl. Season 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts on all sides with the seasoning mixture. Set aside.
• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large oven safe skillet over medium-high heat.
• When the oil is warm, place the chicken in the pan and cook for 4-5 minutes on each side, cooking until the chicken is just cooked through (165°F). Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside to cool. When cooled, shred the chicken using 2 forks.
• Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil to the pan if needed. Sauté the chopped 1/2 yellow onion in the pan and toss it frequently until soft and fragrant, approximately 2-3 minutes. Add the sliced 2 cups baby bella mushrooms and cook for another 3 minutes. Finally, add the 1 cup frozen green peas along with the remaining 1 teaspoons fine sea salt and sauté for another 2 minutes. Vegetables should be soft. Remove the vegetables from the pan and set aside.
• Reduce heat to low and add the 4 tablespoons unsalted butter to the pan. When the butter is fully melted and starts to bubble, add the 4 tablespoons flour and mix into a paste. Slowly pour in the 1/2 cup heavy cream as you stir the mixture with a wooden spoon.
• Keep stirring as you pour in the 1 1/2 cups milk in small increments. You should be left with a smooth creamy mixture. Pour in 1 cups Parmesan cheeseand stir until just melted.
• Add the cooked 12 ounces broad egg noodles, shredded chicken and sautéed vegetables into the pan with the cheese sauce and toss to combine. Top the mixture with the remaining cup of 1 cups Parmesan cheese and the 1/2 cup bread crumbs.
• Bake in the oven for 20 minutes at 375°F. Top with fresh parsley and serve warm.
• If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or ratings!

Notes

Storage: You can store the leftovers in an airtight container or covered with plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to four days. For best results, reheat this chicken tetrazzini in an oven safe container in the oven over low heat until it is warmed through.

Freezing: Chicken tetrazzini is a freezer friendly casserole recipe, so why not make two when you are at it? Simply cover with foil and freeze for up to 3 months. To reheat, place in the oven at 350°F while still frozen and covered, bake for 45 minutes then remove foil and continue to cook for other 15-20 minutes or until the center has reached an internal temperature of 165°F.

Nutrition

Calories: 730 kcal, Carbohydrates: 61 g, Protein: 34 g, Fat: 39 g, Saturated Fat: 18 g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3 g, Monounsaturated Fat: 15 g, Trans Fat: 1 g, Cholesterol: 148 mg, Sodium: 1469 mg, Potassium: 614 mg, Fiber: 4 g, Sugar: 7 g, Vitamin A: 1116 IU, Vitamin C: 11 mg, Calcium: 532 mg, Iron: 3 mg

Author: Madeline Tague

Calories: 730

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American, Italian

Keyword: chicken tetrazzini casserole, chicken tetrazzini recipe, chicken tetrazzini with egg noodles, easy chicken tetrazzini

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