The Barefoot Contessa Turkey Tetrazzini Recipe: Cozy Comfort Magic

Turkey tetrazzini represents the ultimate comfort food for those craving a creamy, luxurious pasta dish that transforms leftover poultry into something magical.

Home cooks adore this classic casserole for its rich, velvety sauce and satisfying textures that blend perfectly cooked pasta with tender meat.

The recipe combines hearty ingredients that promise warmth and nostalgia in every delectable bite.

Its origins hint at a sophisticated Italian-American culinary tradition that elevates simple ingredients into an extraordinary meal.

Sophisticated yet approachable, this dish brings restaurant-quality flavor right to your family’s dinner table.

Layers of complex flavors develop through careful ingredient selection and precise cooking techniques.

Prepare to impress your loved ones with a meal that feels both elegant and wonderfully homemade:

Tips for Creamy Turkey Tetrazzini

• Butter Brilliance: Choose high-quality butter to elevate the rich, creamy flavors of your turkey tetrazzini, ensuring each bite is deliciously luxurious.
• Mushroom Magic: Slice mushrooms thinly and sauté until they're dry to concentrate their earthy flavor and prevent excess moisture in the final dish.
• Smart Wine Swap: Dry sherry makes an excellent stand-in for Madeira, delivering a similar depth and complexity to your sauce without compromising taste.
• Perfect Pasta Technique: Slightly undercook the pasta before baking, as it will continue to soften in the oven, maintaining a perfect al dente texture.
• Layer Like a Pro: Create uniform layers of pasta, turkey, and sauce to guarantee a balanced and delectable portion in every single serving.

Storage Know-How for Turkey Tetrazzini Leftovers

• Vacuum Seal: Protect the Turkey Tetrazzini's moisture and flavor by vacuum sealing individual portions in airtight bags. Remove excess air to prevent freezer burn and maintain the dish's original texture. Perfect for meal prepping or preserving leftovers for future quick dinners.
• Layer with Parchment: Separate stacked portions with parchment paper before freezing to prevent clumping and make it easier to grab single servings. This method keeps the creamy sauce intact and prevents the pasta from sticking together during storage.
• Portion Control: Divide the Turkey Tetrazzini into single-serving containers before refrigerating or freezing. These compact portions reheat quickly, reduce food waste, and provide convenient grab-and-go meals for busy weeknights or lunch preparations.

Tetrazzini Variations to Try

• Seafood Sensation: Replace turkey with succulent shrimp or crab meat for a luxurious maritime version that brings coastal flavors to the classic dish.
• Vegetarian Comfort: Swap turkey with roasted seasonal vegetables like zucchini, bell peppers, and eggplant, creating a hearty plant-based alternative packed with robust flavors.
• Chicken Classic: Substitute turkey with tender, diced chicken breast for a traditional protein option that maintains the recipe's creamy, comforting essence.
• Spicy Southwest Style: Add diced green chiles, sprinkle cumin, and top with pepper jack cheese to transform the tetrazzini into a zesty, southwestern-inspired casserole with a kick of heat.

End of the Tray: Turkey Tetrazzini

Culinary magic unfolds with Barefoot Contessa’s turkey tetrazzini, where comfort meets sophistication in one delightful dish.

Layers of tender linguine and succulent turkey intertwine with a luxurious cream sauce that whispers gourmet elegance.

Madeira-infused mushrooms add depth and complexity to this classic casserole, creating a symphony of flavors.

Parmesan and bread crumbs crown this masterpiece with a golden, crispy finish that promises pure satisfaction.

Mediterranean inspirations dance through each carefully crafted bite, inviting diners on a memorable gastronomic journey.

Passionate cooks and casual kitchen adventurers alike will find pure delight in this irresistible recipe – so grab those ingredients, share the love, spread the joy, and let this tetrazzini become your next dinner sensation.

Why Barefoot Contessa Turkey Tetrazzini Is So Comforting

• Creamy Comfort Classic: This turkey tetrazzini delivers ultimate comfort food satisfaction with its rich, velvety sauce and hearty combination of tender turkey and pasta, perfect for warming up chilly evenings.
• Gourmet Technique Meets Simplicity: The recipe transforms basic ingredients into an elegant dish using professional cooking methods like making a roux sauce and layering ingredients, which elevates home cooking without complex skills.
• Wine-Enhanced Flavor Depth: Madeira wine adds sophisticated, nuanced taste to the mushrooms, creating a deeper, more complex flavor profile that makes this classic casserole stand out from typical weeknight meals.
• Versatile Crowd-Pleaser: This one-dish wonder works brilliantly for family dinners, potlucks, or using up leftover turkey, providing a delicious solution that pleases both adults and kids with its creamy, cheesy goodness.

Ingredients for Barefoot Contessa Turkey Tetrazzini

Main Ingredients:

• Turkey: Tender, diced meat providing the main protein and hearty flavor for the dish.
• Linguine: Classic pasta that creates a satisfying base and absorbs the rich sauce.

• Heavy Cream: Adds luxurious richness and smooth texture to the sauce.
• Parmesan Cheese: Sharp, salty cheese that provides a crispy golden topping with deep umami flavor.
• Butter: Crucial for sautéing, creating sauce base, and adding richness throughout the recipe.

• Mushrooms: Earthy ingredient that adds depth and texture to the tetrazzini.
• Madeira Wine: Provides sophisticated, slightly sweet undertone to enhance mushroom flavor.
• Chicken Broth: Foundational liquid that creates a smooth, flavorful sauce base.

• Flour: Helps thicken the sauce and create a smooth consistency.
• Bread Crumbs: Adds crispy texture to the golden brown topping.

• Salt: Enhances overall flavor of the dish.
• Black Pepper: Adds subtle warmth and aromatic complexity.

Steps to Bake Barefoot Contessa Turkey Tetrazzini

Step 1: Warm Up the Oven

Crank the oven to a cozy 350°F. Grab a baking dish and give it a generous butter massage to prevent sticking.

Step 2: Sauté the Mushroom Magic

Grab a skillet and melt butter over medium heat. Toss in mushrooms and let them dance until they soften and turn golden. Splash in Madeira wine and let it sizzle away until almost vanished.

Step 3: Craft the Creamy Sauce

In a separate pan, melt butter and welcome flour into the party. Stir until the foam settles. Slowly pour in broth, whisking like a culinary artist. Bring to a boil, then simmer until the sauce thickens beautifully. Take off heat and stir in cream. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Step 4: Build the Tetrazzini Tower

• Diced turkey
• Cooked mushrooms
• Prepared sauce
• Cooked linguine

Fold turkey and mushrooms into the sauce. Layer your dish with linguine and sauce, creating delicious levels of comfort.

Step 5: Crown and Bake

• Parmesan cheese
• Bread crumbs

Sprinkle this magical topping over the dish. Dot with tiny butter pieces. Slide into the oven and bake for 45 minutes until bubbling and golden brown. For extra crispy perfection, broil briefly – but keep a watchful eye to prevent burning.

Serving Tip: Let cool for a few minutes before diving into this creamy, dreamy turkey delight!

Barefoot Contessa Turkey Tetrazzini Recipe

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4.7 from 19 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s turkey tetrazzini brings comfort to dinner tables with classic Italian-American charm. Creamy pasta, tender turkey, and a golden breadcrumb topping create a hearty casserole you’ll savor to the last delicious bite.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 2 to 3 cups leftover cooked turkey, cut into ¾-inch pieces
• ½ pound linguine, cooked to al dente
• ½ pound mushrooms, thinly sliced

Liquid and Creamy Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups chicken or vegetable broth
• ½ cup heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon Madeira wine

Seasoning and Binding Ingredients:

• 6 tablespoons butter, divided
• 4 tablespoons flour
• ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons dry bread crumbs
• Salt, to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

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Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and generously coat a 1-1/2-quart (1.4 liters) baking dish with of butter, ensuring complete coverage.
2. In a large skillet, melt of butter over medium heat. Sauté the mushrooms for 2-3 minutes until they soften and release their moisture. Pour in the Madeira wine and continue cooking until the liquid almost completely evaporates.
3. Create the creamy sauce by melting the remaining of butter in a separate saucepan. Sprinkle flour into the melted butter and whisk continuously for 1 minute after the initial foam subsides, creating a smooth roux.
4. Gradually incorporate the broth into the roux, whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Raise the heat to medium-high and bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce to low heat and simmer for 5 minutes until the sauce thickens to a velvety consistency.
5. Remove the sauce from heat and stir in the heavy cream. Season with salt and pepper to enhance the flavor profile.
6. Fold the diced turkey and sautéed mushrooms into the sauce, ensuring even distribution of ingredients.
7. Arrange half of the cooked linguine in the prepared baking dish, creating an even base layer. Pour half of the sauce-meat mixture over the pasta, making sure to cover it completely.
8. Repeat the layering process with the remaining linguine and sauce-meat mixture, creating a second uniform layer.
9. In a small bowl, mix the Parmesan cheese and bread crumbs. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the top of the tetrazzini, creating a golden, crispy topping.
10. Dot the surface with small pieces of the remaining tablespoon of butter to enhance browning and add richness.
11. Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until the dish becomes bubbly and develops a beautiful golden-brown color. For an extra crisp topping, broil for 2-3 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.

Notes

• Elevate Flavor with Premium Butter: Select high-quality butter to enhance the overall taste, bringing depth and richness to both sauce and mushroom components.
• Precision in Mushroom Preparation: Slice mushrooms ultra-thin and sauté until completely dry, concentrating their earthy flavors and preventing excess moisture in the final dish.
• Smart Wine Alternatives: Dry sherry makes an excellent substitute for Madeira, delivering a similar complex flavor profile without compromising the sauce’s integrity.
• Strategic Pasta Cooking: Deliberately undercook pasta slightly, ensuring it maintains a firm texture during the final baking process and prevents potential mushiness.
• Masterful Layering Technique: Create uniform layers that guarantee each serving delivers a perfectly balanced combination of turkey, sauce, and pasta elements.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 493 kcal
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 700 mg
• Fat: 26 g
• Saturated Fat: 15 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 40 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 24 g
• Cholesterol: 88 mg