As a busy mom, I always love to find recipes that make enough to serve for two meals, and taste equally delicious each time. This cheesy, creamy chicken tetrazzini is one of those double-duty recipes, and it also happens to be a real crowd-pleaser! I’ve made typical chicken tetrazzini more wholesome by replacing the canned cream soups that are often used in this dish with a homemade cheese sauce, and I’ve made sure to incorporate lots of good-for-you veggies to make this a true one-dish meal. Add this recipe to your menu this week–you’ll be so glad you did!
Cheesy Chicken Tetrazzini
Ingredients
- 1 pound dried spaghetti broken into halves
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 cup red bell pepper chopped
- 1/2 cup yellow bell pepper chopped
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 8 ounces button mushrooms sliced
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 8 ounce can sliced water chestnuts drained
- 2 cups chopped cooked chicken
- 1/2 cup frozen peas
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar
For the sauce
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1/3 cup flour
- 3 cups milk at room temperature
- 1 cup shredded cheddar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil; season generously with a pinch of salt. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain pasta and set aside.
- While pasta cooks, melt the butter in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the peppers and onion to the pan and season with the 1/2 teaspoon salt. Saute until softened, about 4 minutes. Add the mushrooms and thyme to the pan, and continue to saute until mushrooms are softened and have given up most of their moisture, about 4 minutes more. Stir in water chestnuts, and saute about 1 minute more. Remove pan from heat.
- For the sauce, melt the 4 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for about 2 minutes, or until mixture is bubbly and flour is toasty. Slowly add the milk, whisking vigorously the prevent any lumps. Stir in the salt, pepper and Dijon mustard. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until the sauce is thick enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon. Remove from heat and stir in nutmeg.
- To assemble the casserole, stir together the pepper filling, the chopped cooked chicken, frozen peas, pasta and sauce in a very large bowl. Transfer mixture to a greased lasagna pan and sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup shredded cheddar. Bake at 350 for about 25 minutes, or until filling is bubbly and cheese is melted.
By the way, this casserole is made even better with my fantastic chopped chicken recipe!
On the lookout for even more dinner recipe inspiration? Check out these other delicious dishes!
Homemade Chicken Pot Pie
Baked Lasagna Rolls
Thanks for stopping in!
Having grown up in a home brimming with sewing notions and paintbrushes, Amy has a deep love for all things creative. On any given day, you’ll find her knee-deep in her latest creative endeavor, with projects ranging from sewing and crafts to home decor and kid-friendly ideas. Amy believes that everyone, regardless of skill level or experience, possesses the ability to create something beautiful, and Positively Splendid was born of her passion for helping others harness their innate creative potential.