Creamy Instant Pot Turkey Tetrazzini

Instant Pot Turkey Tetrazzini with Leftovers is the ultimate solution for transforming holiday turkey into a mouth-watering, creamy pasta dish. This incredible tetrazzini recipe is prepared with tender noodles and wholesome vegetables, all cooked effortlessly in a single pot, guaranteeing a delightfully easy and satisfying meal.

Are you searching for an incredibly easy and flavorful leftover turkey recipe after Thanksgiving or Christmas? Look no further! Our Instant Pot Turkey Tetrazzini recipe is an absolute game-changer. In just under 10 minutes of active cooking time, you can prepare a delicious, comforting meal for your entire family, all in one pot with minimal prep work. This truly is my kind of Instant Pot recipe, making holiday meal planning and post-holiday cleanup a breeze!

Effortless Instant Pot Turkey Tetrazzini: Your Go-To Leftover Meal

One of my biggest pet peeves is food waste, especially after a big holiday feast. That’s why, year after year, I dedicate myself to discovering and sharing innovative ideas for using up those delicious leftovers. While our classic leftover turkey casserole has always been a family favorite, this year it was time to introduce a fresh, equally beloved dish to our rotation. This Instant Pot turkey tetrazzini not only saves your precious turkey but also saves you time and effort in the kitchen, proving that delicious meals don’t have to be complicated.

Key Ingredients for Your Creamy Turkey Tetrazzini

Creating a truly magnificent Instant Pot Turkey Tetrazzini starts with fresh, quality ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need, along with some insights into why each component plays a vital role in this classic comfort dish:

1. Diced Leftover Turkey: The star of our show, this is likely why you’re here! Using pre-cooked, diced turkey (both white and dark meat work beautifully) is what makes this recipe perfect for post-holiday feasting. It imparts a rich flavor and tender texture that’s hard to beat.
2. Uncooked Egg Noodles: For an all-in-one pot recipe, medium to wide egg noodles are ideal. Their quick cooking time and ability to absorb the creamy sauce make them perfect for pressure cooking. If you prefer longer, traditional spaghetti-style noodles, consider boiling them separately for optimal texture, or break them into smaller pieces before adding to the pot.
3. Frozen Peas: While optional, frozen peas add a lovely pop of color, a hint of sweetness, and essential vegetable goodness. They cook quickly and perfectly in the Instant Pot, blending seamlessly into the creamy sauce.
4. Mushrooms: I personally adore using quartered baby bella mushrooms in Instant Pot casseroles. Their firm texture holds up well under pressure, providing a satisfying bite and earthy flavor that complements the turkey beautifully. Feel free to use your preferred mushroom variety.
5. Garlic Salt and Pepper: These fundamental seasonings form the flavor base of our tetrazzini. Garlic salt adds a robust, savory depth, while freshly ground black pepper brings a subtle warmth. Adjust to your taste!
6. Chicken Broth: Using chicken broth instead of plain water is crucial for adding profound flavor to the dish. It serves as the liquid base for cooking the noodles and infusing every bite with savory notes. Vegetable or even beef broth can be substituted if preferred.
7. Heavy Cream: This is where the magic happens, transforming the broth into a luxuriously rich and velvety sauce. Heavy cream ensures a creamy, indulgent texture that defines classic tetrazzini. For a slightly lighter option, half-and-half can be used, though it will result in a less dense sauce.
8. Shredded Cheese (Optional but Highly Recommended): While technically optional, a generous amount of shredded cheese (a blend of cheddar and Monterey Jack or mozzarella is fantastic) truly takes this dish over the top. It melts into the sauce, adding incredible richness and a comforting, cheesy pull.
9. Crispy Fried Onions (Homemade or Canned): Sprinkled on top of each serving, these crispy onions provide a delightful crunch and an extra layer of savory flavor. Don’t skip this step – it adds a wonderful textural contrast and elevates the entire dish!
10. Diced Onion: A simple diced onion, sautéed or added directly to the pot, provides an aromatic foundation, enhancing the overall flavor profile of the tetrazzini.

Unlock More Flavor: Delicious Tetrazzini Variations

The beauty of this Instant Pot tetrazzini recipe lies in its versatility. While it’s perfect for utilizing leftover turkey, don’t limit yourself to just holiday season! You can easily adapt this dish to become a year-round family favorite:

• Chicken Tetrazzini: Swap the diced turkey for pre-cooked rotisserie chicken, leftover baked chicken, or even canned chicken for an equally delicious and quick meal. This makes it an ideal weeknight dinner.
• Tuna Tetrazzini: For a budget-friendly and pantry-staple option, canned tuna (drained) works wonderfully. It offers a distinct flavor that many find incredibly comforting and nostalgic.
• Other Pressure Cookers: Absolutely! Whether you have a Crockpot Express or a Mealthy pot, this recipe translates perfectly. We’re all about equal opportunity pressure cooker lovers here, so feel free to use whichever appliance you have.

This particular recipe is crafted from scratch, featuring more of a homemade cream of mushroom base (though without actual cream of mushroom soup). I firmly believe this approach yields a superior flavor and allows you the flexibility to adjust seasonings precisely to your liking, ensuring a truly personalized comfort food experience.

Mastering Instant Pot Turkey Tetrazzini: Step-by-Step Guide

Creating this creamy, comforting turkey tetrazzini in your pressure cooker is surprisingly simple. Follow these steps for a perfect one-pot meal:

• Prepare Your Protein: First, ensure your leftover turkey is diced into bite-sized pieces. This ensures even cooking and makes for easier eating. Both white and dark meat are excellent, or use a combination. As mentioned, pre-cooked chicken breasts are a fantastic alternative.
• Layer the Ingredients: Add the diced turkey (or chicken) to the bottom of your Instant Pot. Next, add the quartered mushrooms. Remember, you don’t want them too small, or they might become mushy under pressure.
• Season Generously: Sprinkle in the garlic salt, pepper, and any other seasonings you enjoy. This foundational seasoning is key to a flavorful dish.
• Add Vegetables and Noodles: Pour in your frozen peas. Then, carefully layer the uncooked egg noodles on top of the other ingredients. Avoid stirring at this stage to prevent a “burn” notice, as denser items like noodles can stick to the bottom.
• Introduce the Liquid: Pour in the chicken broth, ensuring it mostly covers the noodles. Gently press the noodles down with a spoon just until they are submerged. Again, resist the urge to stir everything together, as this can impede proper pressure building and lead to sticking.
• Pressure Cook to Perfection: Secure the Instant Pot lid and set the steam release valve to the sealing position. Cook on high pressure for just 3 minutes. Once the cooking cycle is complete, perform a quick release of pressure according to your Instant Pot’s manual.
• Achieve Creamy Richness: Carefully remove the lid. Now it’s time to stir in the heavy cream and shredded cheese. Gently fold all the ingredients together until the cheese is melted and the sauce is wonderfully creamy.
• Thicken and Serve: Remember, this comforting dish will naturally thicken as it sits. For an even thicker consistency, you can place the lid back on the pot, slightly ajar, and let it rest for about 4-5 minutes. Serve hot, topped generously with extra parmesan cheese and those delightful crispy fried onions. The longer it rests, the thicker and more cohesive the casserole will become.

The cooking time of 3 minutes is specifically for small egg noodles. If you opt for spaghetti noodles, they would need to be broken into three equal parts and should still not be stirred in. However, for the best results in this specific tetrazzini, I highly recommend using egg noodles. For spaghetti, I’d suggest trying my dedicated Instant Pot spaghetti recipe.

Freezing and Storing Instant Pot Turkey Tetrazzini

One of the fantastic benefits of this recipe, especially when using pre-cooked meat, is its flexibility for meal prep and storage. Yes, you absolutely can freeze turkey tetrazzini!

• Freezing Uncooked (without noodles): If you want to prepare ahead, you could assemble the turkey, vegetables, seasonings, and broth (everything except the noodles and dairy) and freeze this mixture. Ensure it’s in an airtight container or freezer bag. When ready to cook, completely thaw the mixture in the refrigerator before adding the noodles, cream, and cheese and proceeding with the pressure cooker steps.
• Freezing Cooked Leftovers: Once the tetrazzini is fully cooked, allow it to cool completely. Transfer portions into airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 2-3 months. To reheat, thaw overnight in the refrigerator and then gently warm on the stovetop or in the microwave, adding a splash of milk or broth if the sauce has become too thick.
• Refrigeration: Leftovers will keep well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. The sauce will thicken considerably upon cooling, but a little stirring and a touch of extra liquid during reheating will bring it back to its creamy glory.

More Creative Ways to Enjoy Leftover Turkey

Beyond this incredible tetrazzini, there are countless delicious ways to utilize your leftover holiday turkey. Here are some of our favorite ideas:

• Whip up a comforting bowl of turkey pot pie soup – it’s like a deconstructed pot pie in a bowl!
• Our turkey burger boats offer a fun and interactive meal idea that kids and adults alike will love.
• Substitute pre-cooked turkey into other fantastic pasta dishes such as Instant Pot tuna casserole or Instant Pot chicken noodle casserole for a delightful twist.
• For a Mexican-inspired meal, turkey enchiladas are a flavorful way to reinvent your leftovers.
• And for something warm and soothing, our Instant Pot turkey soup, served with a dollop of sour cream, is absolutely fabulous.

Ready to make the best Instant Pot Turkey Tetrazzini you’ve ever tasted? I’ve provided a detailed, printable recipe below, complete with nutritional information. Seriously though, sometimes it’s best to ignore the numbers and simply enjoy this wonderful, comforting meal with your family!

4.86 from 7 votes

Instant Pot Turkey Tetrazzini

By
Justine

Instant Pot turkey tetrazzini is an ideal dish using leftover turkey or rotisserie chicken! Prepared with tender noodles and a variety of vegetables all in one pot, this creamy casserole is sure to become a family favorite.

Prep:

10 mins

Cook:

3 mins

Servings:
5

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Ingredients

• 1.5 c turkey, precooked, diced into bite-size pieces
• 1 c frozen peas, optional
• 1 c mushrooms, quartered, baby bellas are firmer and work the best
• 3 c broth, chicken, beef or vegetable
• 1 tsp garlic salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1/4 tsp salt, may add more later once done, to taste
• 1 c half and half
• 1.5 c cheese, optional but yummy, shredded cheddar and jack/mozzarella is great
• 12 oz egg noodles, extra wide egg noodles works best
• 1/2 onion, diced

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Instructions

1. Put your leftover diced turkey, diced onions, frozen peas, quartered mushrooms, and seasonings into your pot.
2. Pour your bag of egg noodles in and then pour your broth on top of them. Gently press noodles in so they’re mostly submerged into the liquid. Do not stir.
3. Close the lid and steam valve and set to high pressure for 3 minutes. Do a quick release when done.
4. Lift lid, gently stir contents, pour in half and half and cheese and gently stir all ingredients together again.
5. Put lid back on ajar just so cheese can melt and casserole can continue to thicken for about 4 minutes.
6. Lift lid, gently stir and serve or allow to sit for 5 more minutes to continue to thicken more before serving. The longer it sits the thicker it gets.

Video

A video demonstration of this Instant Pot Turkey Tetrazzini recipe would be embedded here.

Nutrition

Serving:
3oz
,

Calories:
515kcal
,

Carbohydrates:
54g
,

Protein:
27g
,

Fat:
22g
,

Saturated Fat:
12g
,

Cholesterol:
132mg
,

Sodium:
1424mg
,

Potassium:
390mg
,

Fiber:
2g
,

Sugar:
3g
,

Vitamin A:
870IU
,

Vitamin C:
1mg
,

Calcium:
322mg
,

Iron:
2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course:
Entree, Main Course

Cuisine:
American

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