Reasons to Love This Turkey Tetrazzini

No Canned Soup. Instead of using canned mushroom soup, this recipe is made with a homemade mushroom cream sauce filled with fresh mushrooms and parmesan cheese. It is NEARLY as simple to make as using canned soup and tastes so much better!

Cozy Comfort Food. Made with tender pasta, and leftover turkey, and baked with a crispy, buttery topping this creamy, hearty turkey casserole is guaranteed to

Easy Recipe. After cooking Thanksgiving dinner all day, the last thing you want to do is slave in the kitchen. This recipe comes together with minimal effort to create a whole new delicious dish.

Notes on Ingredients

The following tips and notes are provided to help you achieve perfect results and make this recipe work using what you have on hand. You will find the detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Ingredients for Turkey Tetrazzini labeled on white counter.

Leftover Turkey: Leftover roasted turkey, Instant Pot Turkey Breast, or even rotisserie chicken all work well in this casserole.

Noodles: Spaghetti noodles are classic in turkey tetrazzini. However, you can use rotini noodles, small shells, or elbow noodles if that is what you have on hand.

Mushrooms: Use sliced button mushrooms or baby bella mushrooms in this casserole.

Butter: Use unsalted butter to control the level of sodium in this casserole.

Dry Sherry: A little bit of dry sherry adds incredible depth of flavor to the homemade cream sauce.

Chicken Stock: Use either low-sodium store-bought or homemade chicken stock. Of course, if you have turkey stock, that works great.

Milk: Use any fat percentage of milk. For a really rich Turkey Tetrazzini, use half and half in place of the milk.

Parmesan: While you can use pre-grated Parmesan cheese, freshly grated Parmesan adds the best flavor.

Bread Crumbs: I recommend panko bread crumbs for the crispiest of toppings, but traditional bread crumbs can be used if that is all you have on hand.

Thyme: Fresh thyme helps elevate this casserole and enhances the flavor of the turkey.

Substitutions

No Sherry Wine? You can replace the sherry with dry white wine, such as chardonnay or Pinot Grigio, or dry marsala wine.
Omit the Alcohol. If you don't care to cook with alcohol, use additional chicken stock in place of the sherry.
No Fresh Thyme? Use ½ teaspoon of dried thyme leaves in place of the fresh thyme. Do not use ground thyme--the flavor is way too overpowering.
Hate Mushrooms? Omit them! The sauce will be plenty delicious without the mushrooms.
Add Another Vegetable. Feel free to add up to 1 cup of frozen mixed vegetables or peas prior to baking the casserole.
Swap the Turkey. Replace the cooked turkey with leftover rotisserie chicken, baked ham, or Instant Pot ham.

important note about using leftover turkey

Keep in mind that leftover turkey is only safe to consume for up to 4 days after baking unless frozen. It is best to prepare and consume Turkey Tetrazzini within 4 days of preparing turkey OR use defrosted frozen, cooked turkey.

Serving Suggestions

Turkey Tetrazzini is a delicious, hearty casserole that is best served with a fresh vegetable or salad on the side. Serve leftover vegetables or salad from your holiday meal or serve with one of the following dishes on the side.