Turkey Tetrazzini

  • Duration

    1 hour

  • Serves

    4 to 6
Chef’s notes

This Midwestern classic has all the hallmarks of 1950s cooking, including the abundant use of cheese and cream. The end result is pure comfort food goodness. Despite being incredibly simple to make, this dish definitely is a balancing act of seasoning. Just remember that lots of sauce when it goes into the oven means that you won’t have dry pasta when it’s finished.

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs. wild turkey breast, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 (12 oz) box dry spaghetti, cooked and cooled
  • 3 tbsp. butter
  • 1 onion diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 pt. cremini mushrooms, sliced
  • 3 tbsp. flour
  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 2¼ cups chicken broth (reduced sodium)
  • 1½ cups heavy cream
  • 8 oz. whipped cream cheese
  • 2 cups gruyere cheese, grated
  • ¼ cup parmesan cheese
  • 2 cups crushed unsalted kettle chips

Also works with

Any game bird

Special equipment

Dutch oven

Preparation

  1. Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F.
  2. Melt the butter in a heavy dutch oven on the stove. Add the onion, garlic, and thyme. Allow these ingredients to cook, without browning, for 3 to 4 minutes or until the onion is translucent.
  3. Add the mushrooms to the pan along with a pinch of salt, and a few grinds of black pepper. Cook until all the water has been released from the mushrooms and the mixture has reduced in size significantly.
  4. Sprinkle in the flour and begin stirring the mixture to ensure the bottom does not burn. Cook for 1 minute then add in the cream and stock.
  5. Once the stock mixture is hot add in the raw turkey breast. When the sauce begins to bubble around the edges, add in the cream cheese and half of the shredded gruyere and parmesan cheese. Keep stirring until the mixture is completely melted.
  6. Season this well with salt and pepper, then add the cooked spaghetti and mix well. Pour the contents of the Dutch oven into a 9x13” ceramic baking pan and spread out into a single layer.
  7. Top the mixture with the remaining cheese and the crushed potato chips.
  8. Place this in the oven and bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until the mixture is bubbling and the top is golden brown. Remove from the oven and wait 10 minutes before serving.

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Turkey Tetrazzini

Recipe by: Kevin Gillespie
  • Duration

    1 hour

  • Serves

    4 to 6
Chef’s notes

This Midwestern classic has all the hallmarks of 1950s cooking, including the abundant use of cheese and cream. The end result is pure comfort food goodness. Despite being incredibly simple to make, this dish definitely is a balancing act of seasoning. Just remember that lots of sauce when it goes into the oven means that you won’t have dry pasta when it’s finished.

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs. wild turkey breast, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 (12 oz) box dry spaghetti, cooked and cooled
  • 3 tbsp. butter
  • 1 onion diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 pt. cremini mushrooms, sliced
  • 3 tbsp. flour
  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 2¼ cups chicken broth (reduced sodium)
  • 1½ cups heavy cream
  • 8 oz. whipped cream cheese
  • 2 cups gruyere cheese, grated
  • ¼ cup parmesan cheese
  • 2 cups crushed unsalted kettle chips

Also works with

Any game bird

Special equipment

Dutch oven

Preparation

  1. Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F.
  2. Melt the butter in a heavy dutch oven on the stove. Add the onion, garlic, and thyme. Allow these ingredients to cook, without browning, for 3 to 4 minutes or until the onion is translucent.
  3. Add the mushrooms to the pan along with a pinch of salt, and a few grinds of black pepper. Cook until all the water has been released from the mushrooms and the mixture has reduced in size significantly.
  4. Sprinkle in the flour and begin stirring the mixture to ensure the bottom does not burn. Cook for 1 minute then add in the cream and stock.
  5. Once the stock mixture is hot add in the raw turkey breast. When the sauce begins to bubble around the edges, add in the cream cheese and half of the shredded gruyere and parmesan cheese. Keep stirring until the mixture is completely melted.
  6. Season this well with salt and pepper, then add the cooked spaghetti and mix well. Pour the contents of the Dutch oven into a 9x13” ceramic baking pan and spread out into a single layer.
  7. Top the mixture with the remaining cheese and the crushed potato chips.
  8. Place this in the oven and bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until the mixture is bubbling and the top is golden brown. Remove from the oven and wait 10 minutes before serving.