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    Home » Main Course » Southern Chicken Tetrazzini

    Southern Chicken Tetrazzini

    Published: Mar 8, 2022 by Anne Clark · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    cooked pasta in bowl
    cooked pasta in bowl

    Southern chicken tetrazzini is made with chicken thighs, sliced mushrooms, parmesan cheese, and cream of chicken soup.  This easy pasta dinner is ready in 20 minutes.  This is serious comfort food!

    I'm excited to share with you my best Chicken Tetrazzini recipe!  What makes this so southern you may ask?  Because it's packed with flavor.  No bland flavors are allowed on my site!  My recipes are "easy" with a Southern flair.

    tetrazzini topped with parmesan cheese in white round plate with red napkin and fork on the side

    Another comfort food recipe you may love is my Venison Stroganoff.  Made with ground venison, sliced mushrooms, and a rich & creamy sauce served on top of egg noodles.

    Why This Recipe Works

    Southern flavors include lots of seasoning. For this meal, we include Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, paprika, and the usual salt and pepper.  The Worcestershire sauce gives this dish a golden brown color and amazing flavor.

    We love this easy family dinner recipe.  Most everybody loves pasta, especially kids since it’s fun to eat.  Get ready to wipe those messy chins lol.

    Budget Friendly Pasta Recipe

    Most pasta recipes are budget-friendly, too.  Assuming you already have the basics on hand (butter, olive oil, milk, salt, pepper), this particular recipe costs less than $20.00 using store brands where available (as of March 2022) and feeds about 4 adults. 

    You can lower the cost by using generic or store brands.  You don’t have to use Campbell's soup; use the store brand.  Most of the ingredients in this recipe are available with the store brand version.

    This is a favorite quick and easy dinner that everyone loves.  No baking required!  It’s definitely Southern comfort food that's ready in 20 minutes!

    Ingredients

    I laid out all the ingredients for the recipe but forgot the Worcestershire sauce and optional chicken bouillon cube.  Sorry about that!

    ingredients measured out on counter top

    So what goes into Southern Chicken Tetrazzini? Chicken, pasta, mushrooms, cheese, and smooth creamy sauce that's got lots of flavor!

    cooked linguine or fettuccine - or buy the cooked, refrigerated pasta

    chicken thighs, boneless skinless - or use a whole rotisserie chicken, deboned and chopped

    olive oil - or vegetable oil (for cooking the chicken)

    butter - to saute the garlic and mushrooms

    garlic - use the minced garlic that comes in a jar - it's very handy!

    mushrooms - use fresh mushrooms, or frozen (if all you have is jarred mushrooms, then use those. Drain the juice before adding them to the recipe.

    Worcestershire sauce - for added depth and flavor

    cream of chicken soup, milk, and parmesan cheese - creates the creamy, flavorful sauce

    lemon juice - add a light tang to the creamy sauce

    seasonings - smoked paprika, salt, pepper

    chicken bouillon cube(s) - optional - add to the water you're boiling the pasta in for added flavor

    Easy Instructions

    Making Southern Chicken Tetrazzini is probably one of the easiest recipes on the blog!

    photo collage of recipe steps
    • Brown diced chicken thighs in olive oil.  Remove from pan and set aside.
    • Cook garlic and mushrooms in butter.  Add seasonings.
    • Stir in soup, milk, cheese, and cooked chicken.
    • Add cooked pasta. Sprinkle with more cheese.  Heat to bubbly.
    • Eat!

    Do you love easy pasta recipes?  If so, be sure to check out my Chicken Broccoli Alfredo Pasta recipe. It’s made with chicken breasts, broccoli florets, penne pasta, and an easy homemade alfredo sauce.

    If a beef noodle casserole is on your meal planner, try my Beef Noodle Casserole recipe. It’s filled with ground beef, egg noodles, robust tomato sauce, and a creamy cheesy sauce.

    For the ultimate easy lasagna, try my Easy Meat Lasagna Recipe!  Easy homemade lasagna with three layers of lasagna noodles, meat sauce, and lots of creamy ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan cheeses.  You’ll love this traditional Italian lasagna recipe!  Easy make-ahead and freezer-friendly, too.

    Substitutions

    As most people know, you can easily substitute turkey for the chicken.  Turkey tetrazzini has been around for as long as I can remember.  If you're looking for a way to use leftover turkey, put it in a casserole!  This is a great casserole to do just that!

    Everybody has their favorite kind of pasta for this meal.  I used fettuccini this time.  The fact is, you can use whatever pasta you like or what's available.  Linguini or spaghetti noodles or even the refrigerated pasta will do the job. 

    This quick and easy recipe only takes about 20 minutes from start to finish.  However, if you want to use a store bought rotisserie chicken, then please do so.  It only takes about 10 minutes to remove all the meat and chop or shred.  

    I like to use Parmesan cheese for this recipe.  You can use cheddar cheese, but sometimes cheddar can be a bit greasy.  Just ½ cup parmesan cheese in the mixture adds just the right amount of "cheesiness" and also adds fantastic flavor!

    If you're like my daughter, you don't like mushrooms.  What?!  If you don't like mushrooms, you can leave them out or consider adding green peas instead.  Some people add pimento to give it a splash of color.

    Make-ahead Tip

    Southern chicken tetrazzini is a great make-ahead freezer meal, too.  Sometimes when I know I'll be having company over, I'll go ahead and make a double batch; then freeze it. It will stay fresh in the freezer for about 2 months.  Let it thaw in the refrigerator first, then bake at 350F for about 30 minutes or until bubbly hot.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How do you reheat chicken tetrazzini?

    You can reheat in the microwave, in the oven, or on the stovetop. If the mixture looks extra thick, add some milk (¼ cup at a time) and give it a good stir.

    How long will it last in the fridge?

    Store leftovers in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I prefer to use BPA-free glass containers with locking lids.  Check out this 18-piece set of glass food storage containers with locking lids from Bayco, available now on Amazon.

    What to serve with chicken tetrazzini?

    There are many great sides that go well with this dish!  My first choice would be something like a green salad and french bread because the casserole itself is very filling. 

    tetrazzini topped with parmesan cheese in white round plate with red napkin and fork on the side
    • Easy Rotel Chicken Spaghetti
    • Easy Red Beans and Rice with Sausage
    • Lazy Enchiladas
    • Honey Ginger Chicken

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    If you tried this recipe, please rate it and leave me a comment. I'd love to hear from you!

    plated pasta

    Southern Chicken Tetrazzini

    Creamy Southern Chicken Tetrazzini is made with chicken thighs, sliced mushrooms, parmesan cheese, and cream of chicken soup.  This easy pasta dinner is ready in 20 minutes.  This is serious comfort food!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin For Later Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 678kcal
    Author: Anne Clark

    Equipment

    • Large pot for boiling pasta
    • Pasta strainer
    • large pot for cooking chicken alfredo
    • measuring cup(s)
    • measuring spoons

    Ingredients

    • ½ pound dry linguine or fettuccine
    • 1-2 chicken bouillon cube(s) - optional
    • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 2 tablespoons butter
    • 8 ounces sliced mushrooms
    • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
    • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
    • 1 can cream of chicken soup
    • 1 cup milk
    • 1 cup shredded parmesan cheese (divided)
    • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
    • ¼ teaspoon paprika
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

    Instructions

    • Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Optional: Add 1-2 chicken bouillon cubes to the boiling water before adding pasta to add extra flavor. Drain.
    • Sprinkle the diced chicken thighs with a little salt and pepper, if desired. In a large pan, brown the diced chicken thighs in olive oil for about 5 minutes or until no longer pink.  Remove chicken from the pan and set aside.
    • To the same pan, add butter, garlic, sliced mushrooms, and Worcestershire sauce. Gently simmer over medium heat for about 5 minutes or until mushrooms are browned.
    • Using a spatula, scrape the bottom of the pan to incorporate any bits and pieces that may have adhered to the bottom of the pan. This is where your flavor is, so be sure to get it all!
    • Add cream of chicken soup, milk, lemon juice, paprika, salt, pepper, and ½ cup parmesan cheese. Stir well.
    • Add the cooked pasta and cooked chicken to the pan. Stir to combine. Add the other ½ cup of shredded parmesan cheese on top. Heat to bubbly!

    Notes

    Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.  You can use a whole, deboned, and chopped rotisserie chicken instead of chicken thighs.
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @mykitchenserenity or tag #mykitchenserenity on Instagram!!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 678kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 44g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 152mg | Sodium: 1651mg | Potassium: 748mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 643IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 407mg | Iron: 3mg

    This recipe was originally published in 2020 and was updated in 2022.

    Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy to my readers. I'm not a nutritionist and I don't guarantee the accuracy of this data. The data may differ according to the brands I used versus the brands you use. To calculate the data yourself using your brands, try using an online nutrition calculator or app.

    « Easy Brownie Blondies Recipe
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    About Anne Clark

    Hi! I'm Anne, the founder and content creator at My Kitchen Serenity, a food blog focused on serving the needs of busy moms and dads who are looking for easy and delicious recipes for the family.

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    Hi. I’m Anne and I’m happy to share with you my easy, family-friendly recipes. I’ve been cooking for my family for 30 years, and what I’ve learned is that most busy families appreciate easy homemade meals. Now that the kids are grown, my passion is creating and sharing flavorful food for you and your family to enjoy as well. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at [email protected] 

    I’d love to hear from you!

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