Description
Creamy chicken tetrazzini brings comfort straight from Italian-American kitchens, blending tender pasta with succulent chicken in a rich, cheesy sauce. Hearty and satisfying, this classic casserole promises warmth and deliciousness you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 rotisserie chicken, shredded
- 16 ounces (454 grams) linguini
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated
Sauce Ingredients:
- 2 cans (10.5 ounces/298 grams each) cream of chicken soup, condensed
- 1 block cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1.5 cups chicken broth
Seasoning and Preparation Ingredients:
- 5 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 cup butter, softened (for buttering the casserole dish)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and prepare a casserole dish with a light butter coating to prevent sticking.
- Cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente, then drain thoroughly and set aside.
- In a spacious mixing bowl, whisk together cream-based sauce ingredients until completely smooth and well-incorporated.
- Fold the shredded rotisserie chicken into the sauce mixture, ensuring even distribution of protein throughout the creamy base.
- Gently combine the cooked pasta with the chicken and sauce, stirring carefully to coat every noodle with the rich, velvety mixture.
- Transfer the combined pasta mixture into the prepared casserole dish, spreading it evenly to create a uniform layer.
- Generously sprinkle the remaining cheese across the top, creating a complete coverage that will melt into a golden, crispy crust.
- Dust the surface with dried parsley for added color and subtle herbal notes.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 35 minutes, watching for a bubbly, golden-brown surface that indicates perfect doneness.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes to allow the sauce to set and flavors to meld.
- Serve with optional red pepper flakes and seasoning salt for diners who enjoy an extra flavor kick, accompanied by warm rolls or steamed broccoli.
Notes
- Swap regular noodles with gluten-free pasta to make this dish celiac-friendly and accommodate dietary restrictions.
- Reduce calorie content by using low-fat cream, Greek yogurt instead of heavy cream, and part-skim mozzarella cheese.
- Enhance protein variety by substituting chicken with leftover turkey, shredded salmon, or plant-based protein alternatives like tofu or tempeh.
- Add extra vegetables like sautéed mushrooms, spinach, or bell peppers to increase nutritional value and create a more balanced one-dish meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 680
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 1100 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 54 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg