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Creamy Chicken Tetrazzini Recipe

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★★★★★

4.4 from 89 reviews

Creamy Chicken Tetrazzini is a comforting baked pasta casserole featuring tender chicken breasts simmered in seasoned broth, combined with spaghetti, creamy cheese sauce, spinach, and a crispy French fried onion topping. This hearty dish blends cream of chicken soup, Velveeta, sour cream, and multiple cheeses for a smooth, rich texture, finished with a golden, bubbly bake perfect for family dinners.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken & Broth

  • 2 large chicken breasts
  • 2 Tbsp Knorr chicken bouillon

Pasta

  • 16 oz spaghetti (broken in half before boiling)

Sauce & Seasonings

  • 2–3 Tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 medium onion (diced)
  • 1 Tbsp minced garlic
  • 2 (10.5 oz) cans cream of chicken soup
  • 8 oz sour cream
  • 8 oz Velveeta cheese (cubed)
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1½ cups reserved chicken broth (extra broth may be needed)
  • 1 tsp Tony’s Creole seasoning
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • Salt & pepper to taste

Add-ins & Toppings

  • 1 (10 oz) frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
  • 8 oz Colby Jack cheese (shredded, divided)
  • 4 oz mozzarella cheese (shredded)
  • About 3 oz French fried onions (crushed by hand)

Instructions

  1. Cook Chicken: Place the chicken breasts in a large stockpot filled about three-fourths full with water. Add the Knorr chicken bouillon and bring to a boil. Simmer until the chicken is cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F, approximately 15–20 minutes. Remove chicken and shred or dice into bite-sized pieces.
  2. Cook Pasta in Broth: Using the same pot with the chicken broth, break the spaghetti noodles in half and cook until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving at least 2 cups of the broth for the sauce, as you will need about 1½ cups but should keep extra on hand.
  3. Make the Sauce: In a skillet or Dutch oven, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat. Add the diced onion along with Tony’s Creole seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Sauté until the onion becomes translucent, about 5–7 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
  4. Pour in the heavy cream and stir. Add the cream of chicken soup and Velveeta cheese cubes. Stir continuously until the Velveeta cheese melts completely and the mixture is smooth. Incorporate about three-quarters cup of the reserved chicken broth and mix well.
  5. Once smooth, fold in the sour cream, thawed and thoroughly squeezed spinach, and half of the shredded Colby Jack cheese. Add more chicken broth as needed to reach a creamy, pourable consistency, usually about 1½ cups total broth works best.
  6. Assemble: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Spread the cooked spaghetti noodles evenly in the bottom of the dish. Layer the shredded chicken over the noodles. Pour the creamy sauce over the chicken and noodles, gently tossing in the dish to coat everything evenly.
  7. Sprinkle the remaining Colby Jack cheese and the shredded mozzarella evenly over the top. Lightly crush the French fried onions with your hands and sprinkle about 3 oz on top for a crispy topping.
  8. Bake: Cover the baking dish with foil and bake at 350°F for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, remove the foil and continue baking uncovered for another 20–25 minutes until the casserole is bubbly and the cheese topping is golden brown.
  9. Rest & Serve: Allow the casserole to rest for 10 minutes before serving to let the sauce thicken and set slightly for easy serving.

Notes

  • You can substitute fresh spinach for frozen—be sure to cook and squeeze out excess water before adding.
  • Keep some extra chicken broth reserved to adjust the sauce consistency if it gets too thick before baking.
  • For a spicier kick, add red pepper flakes along with the Creole seasoning.
  • This dish can be prepared a day ahead, assembled, refrigerated, and baked fresh the next day—add a few extra minutes to baking time if going straight from fridge to oven.
  • Leftovers keep well in the refrigerator for 3-4 days and can be reheated in the oven or microwave.

Keywords: Chicken Tetrazzini, creamy chicken pasta casserole, baked spaghetti with chicken, comfort food casserole, cheesy chicken pasta bake, spinach and cheese casserole

Find it online: https://famdishes.com/creamy-chicken-tetrazzini-recipe/