Description
Creamy Ina Garten turkey tetrazzini celebrates comfort with a luxurious pasta dish from American culinary tradition. Parmesan-coated noodles and tender turkey create a satisfying meal you’ll savor to the last delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups cooked turkey, shredded or diced
- 4 slices bacon, fried and cut into bits
- 1.5 lbs (680 g) thin spaghetti, broken in half
- 1 lb (454 g) white mushrooms, quartered
- 1 cup white wine
- 4 cups turkey or chicken broth, plus extra for thinning
- 8 oz (227 g) cream cheese
- 1 cup finely chopped black olives
- 1.5 cups frozen green peas
- 4 tbsps butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 0.5 tsp salt, plus extra to taste
- ⅓ cup flour
- 1 cup grated Monterey Jack cheese
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Preparation Prelude: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C), setting the stage for a perfectly baked casserole.
- Pasta Performance: Cook spaghetti in salted water until just shy of fully cooked, remembering it will continue to soften during baking.
- Aromatic Foundation: In a large pot, melt butter over medium-high heat. Introduce garlic and sauté until its fragrance fills the kitchen, then add mushrooms with a pinch of salt, cooking until they caramelize and release their moisture.
- Flavor Intensity: Deglaze the pot with white wine, allowing it to reduce by half, concentrating the culinary essence. Dust flour over the mixture, stirring to eliminate raw flour notes and create a robust thickening base.
- Sauce Symphony: Gradually whisk in turkey broth, creating a silky smooth sauce. Incorporate cream cheese cubes, stirring until they partially melt, leaving tantalizing creamy pockets throughout.
- Harmonious Blend: Fold in Monterey Jack and Parmesan cheeses, crispy bacon, black olives, green peas, and cooked turkey. Season with salt and pepper to elevate the flavor profile. Combine with spaghetti, ensuring each strand is luxuriously coated – adding turkey broth if the mixture seems too dense.
- Baking Crescendo: Transfer the creamy mixture to a baking dish, crown with panko breadcrumbs for a crisp texture, and bake for 20 minutes until the casserole bubbles vigorously and the breadcrumbs transform into a golden-brown crown.
- Finishing Touch: Let the dish rest briefly, allowing flavors to meld and intensify before serving, creating a truly memorable culinary experience.
Notes
- Pasta Perfection: Cook spaghetti just shy of al dente to prevent mushiness during baking, ensuring a perfectly textured final dish.
- Flavor Layering: Sauté mushrooms until golden brown to develop deep, rich umami notes that elevate the entire casserole’s taste profile.
- Sauce Smoothness: Whisk broth gradually and consistently to avoid lumps, creating a silky sauce that coats every ingredient beautifully.
- Crispy Topping Technique: Sprinkle panko breadcrumbs evenly for a guaranteed crunchy golden crust that adds textural contrast to the creamy casserole.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 590
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 920 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 62 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg