Introduction

Best Turkey Tetrazzini is pure creamy, golden, post-Thanksgiving magic: tender turkey and spaghetti tangled in a silky mushroom-sherry cream sauce, topped with a crispy Parmesan-panko crust that bakes up bubbly and irresistible. This classic retro casserole turns leftover turkey (or rotisserie chicken) into the most luxurious, crowd-pleasing comfort dish that disappears faster than the gravy did on Thursday. Served straight from the baking dish with a sprinkle of fresh parsley, this Best Turkey Tetrazzini recipe offers a gorgeous, appetizing aesthetic that instantly becomes the star of holiday leftover season.

Why you’ll love this recipe

60 minutes total — mostly hands-off bake.
The ultimate leftover makeover — tastes as you planned it.
Freezer & make-ahead champion — assemble weeks ahead.
Crowd-size scalable — doubles perfectly.
Endlessly riffable — chicken, ham, or veggie versions.

Ingredients (9×13 pan, 8–10 servings)

Turkey & Pasta

12 oz (340 g) spaghetti or linguine, broken in half
4 cups cooked turkey (or chicken), shredded or diced

Creamy Mushroom Sauce

6 tbsp (85 g) unsalted butter
1 lb (450 g) cremini or white mushrooms, sliced
1 medium onion, finely diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
⅓ cup (45 g) all-purpose flour
½ cup dry sherry or white wine
3 cups (720 ml) chicken broth
2 cups (480 ml) whole milk or half-and-half
1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
1 cup (100 g) grated Parmesan (divided)
1 tsp kosher salt
½ tsp black pepper
½ tsp dried thyme or 1 tbsp fresh
Pinch nutmeg (secret weapon)

Crunchy Topping

1 cup (100 g) panko breadcrumbs
2 tbsp melted butter
½ cup (50 g) grated Parmesan
Fresh parsley, chopped

Essential Tools and Equipment

Large pot for pasta
Deep skillet or Dutch oven
9×13-inch baking dish

Step-by-step process

Preheat oven to 375°F (190 °C). Butter a 9 × 13 dish.
Cook pasta 2 minutes less than al dente → drain, reserve 1 cup pasta water.
Sauté mushrooms in 6 tbsp butter over medium-high until golden and liquid evaporates (8–10 min). Add onion + garlic → cook 3 min more.
Make roux — sprinkle flour over mushrooms → cook 2 min.
Deglaze — pour in sherry → scrape brown bits → reduce 1 min.
Build sauce — slowly whisk in broth, milk, cream → simmer 5–7 min until thickened (coats spoon). Stir in ¾ cup Parmesan, seasonings, and nutmeg. Taste → adjust.
Combine — off heat, fold in turkey + pasta. Add splashes of reserved pasta water if too thick.
Topping — mix panko, melted butter, and remaining Parmesan.
Assemble — pour into dish → sprinkle topping evenly.
Bake 25–30 minutes until golden and bubbly. Broil 2 minutes for extra crunch. Rest 10 minutes → serve.

Mistakes to avoid

Overcooking pasta — mushy final dish.
Skipping sherry — flavor flat; extra broth + splash vinegar if needed.
Thin sauce — must thicken before baking or it’s soup.
No nutmeg — a tiny pinch makes it taste “restaurant.”
Bake cold from fridge — add 10–15 min.

Variations of the Best Turkey Tetrazzini

Chicken — rotisserie chicken, anytime of year.
Ham & Pea — diced ham + frozen peas for a retro twist.
Lighter — half-and-half only + extra broth.
Spicy — add red pepper flakes + pepper jack topping.
Mini casseroles — portion into ramekins for individual servings.

Tips for better storage & make-ahead

Make-ahead — assemble fully (don’t bake) → fridge 48 hrs or freeze 3 months. Bake from frozen +30–40 min covered, then uncover.
Reheating — 350 °F covered 20–30 min → uncover 10 min for crunch.
Leftovers — even better day 2.

Frequently Asked Questions

No sherry? Dry white wine, vermouth, or extra broth + 1 tbsp vinegar.
Gluten-free? GF pasta + 1:1 flour + GF panko.
Dairy-free? Coconut milk + nutritional yeast (not the same but decent).
Half recipe? 8×8 pan → same bake time.
Crunchier top? Broil last 2–3 min — watch closely.

Conclusion

Best Turkey Tetrazzini is the ultimate leftover glow-up — each creamy, sherry-kissed forkful of tender turkey, silky pasta, and crispy golden crust tastes like pure holiday comfort reinvented. One casserole dish turns Thanksgiving remnants into the most requested, most devoured dinner of the season. Keep mushrooms and spaghetti stocked, and the coziest, most elegant leftover dish on earth is always one bake away. Whether you’re feeding a post-holiday crowd, meal-prepping comfort, or proving casseroles can be downright luxurious, this tetrazzini delivers pure joy and empty dishes in perfect harmony. One bite, endless “this is better than the turkey was on Thursday,” and the quiet thrill of tetrazzini mastery.