This is the good old fashioned chicken tetrazzini that you grew up with without all the work! All the ingredients (including uncooked noodles) go into your slow cooker and then you turn and walk away…it’s that easy. Make it even easier by using a store-bought rotisserie chicken.
When I was growing up my mom would make a casserole called Chicken Tetrazzini all the time. It had spaghetti noodles, chicken, celery, mushrooms and cheese. When I went away to college I typed up all of my mom’s recipes that I liked and put them in a little folder. Chicken tetrazzini was one of them. After I got married, my husband often requested this recipe but it had so many steps and pots that I didn’t like to make it very often. NOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED! I’m am so happy to report that I figured out a way to make this comforting casserole in ONE POT!
Have you seen these amazing “one pot” meals floating around the internet? I’ve see several and I love the idea! I know they are traditionally made on the stovetop but I wondered if I could make them in my trusty slow cooker. And in fact I could! Hooray! No need to preboil the noodles. No need to saute the celery. Just pile the ingredients in the slow cooker turn to high and walk away for 90 minutes. Come back, sprinkle the cheese on top and serve! Voila! This creamy, cheesy spaghetti dish will have you saying mmmmmm!
One Pot Chicken Tetrazzini in the Slow
Cooker
Cooker
Makes 6 servings
Ideal slow cooker size: 6 quart
Cooking time: 90 minutes
8 oz thin whole wheat spaghetti, uncooked
1 cup heavy cream
2 1/4 cup water
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1-2 cups sliced mushrooms (I prefer lots of mushrooms, but if you’re hiding them from
the kids go with closer to 1 cup)
the kids go with closer to 1 cup)
1 cup finely diced celery
2 Tbsp butter
1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese (you could also use parmesan cheese or even mozzarella)
Salt and pepper to taste
1. Lay spaghetti flat on the bottom
of your 6 quart slow cooker. Pour cream on top of the
spaghetti. Then pour water on top. Sprinkle the salt, pepper,
garlic powder and onion powder on top of the liquid.
of your 6 quart slow cooker. Pour cream on top of the
spaghetti. Then pour water on top. Sprinkle the salt, pepper,
garlic powder and onion powder on top of the liquid.
2. Sprinkle the mushrooms and celery
evenly over the spaghett/liquid.
evenly over the spaghett/liquid.
3. Cut the butter into 8 cubes and
spread evenly.
spread evenly.
4. Layer the chicken evenly on top.
5. Cover and cook on HIGH for 90
minutes. Sprinkle the cheese on top and let it melt for about 5 more
minutes. Salt and pepper to taste and serve.
minutes. Sprinkle the cheese on top and let it melt for about 5 more
minutes. Salt and pepper to taste and serve.
P.S. Make sure to join in all the one pot wonder fun on Pinterest!
Follow Karen Petersen’s board One Pot Meals on Pinterest.
Hi! Haven’t made it in slow cooker yet, but I will try it… I remember my mother making this dish (on the stove) 60 years ago!! Yummy!! What a treat! I think she had sliced green stuffed olives in there. Ever heard of this? ☺️
That sounds good actually! I hope you like it!
Every time I make this the noodles don’t get cooked and I have a lot of liquid left. What am I doing wrong?
what a waste of time and ingredients. i had doubts about cooking any pasta in a slow cooker and i now know to avoid that in the future. cook your pasta in boiling water and bake this in the oven the old fashioned way
Hi Karen,
Can you adjust this to the new Instant Pots out not I just love them.
I have been using your recipes and I have to tell you I have not had one
we have not loved. I even bought my daughters a pot and I triple copy recipes for our 3 ring binders. Thank you so much. I would love this spaghetti one for the Instant Pot also.
Vickie
Oh thanks so much Vickie, this note was so fun for me to read! I need to make this into an Instant Pot recipe soon. I love tetrazzini! I will do it this weekend. I have all the ingredients 🙂
I, too, would love to see an IP version of this great sounding recipe! Would anything change if one used turkey breast?
This recipe is great! We don’t eat mushrooms so I substituted a bag a frozen peas and it was delicious!
👍
Good idea!
I made this today and will know how it turns out when I get home. I broke up a lb. (average box) of regular white spaghetti and then I tossed it around with a stick of melted butter and threw it in the crock pot (hoping that might help with the noodles sticking). Then I poured in a tall (average box) of half and half and an average box of turkey stock (32 oz. I think?). I added one medium diced onion, three chopped cloves of garlic, two celery diced, 1.5 cup of frozen peas and lots of mushrooms (like 8-10 average sized). Then I threw in about 2-3 cups of left over turkey. I have no idea how it will turn out…I hope it’s good! 🙂 I may add a splash of sherry…don’t know yet. If I don’t do the sherry, then I will just top with shredded cheddar…I have four boys who I am pretty sure are going to love this dish…YUM!!
crossing my fingers for you!
I used 12 oz of regular spaghetti noodles and doubled the amount of spices, mushrooms & chicken. I used 2 c half n half and 3 c water. I also substituted frozen peas for the celery. The flavor was delicious although there was some clumping with the noodles. Next time, I think I need to make sure the noodles are separated well or I’ll need to stir the noodles and sauce 30 min into the cook time and then add the chicken & veggies. Good, easy, tasty recipe though…
Good tips! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Could you also cook this on low?
I'm sure you could. I would cook for 3 hours on low. Let me know if it works out!
Is it critical that the spaghetti be whole wheat? If so, I will just go with my usual recipe, precooked spaghetti; sauteed mushrooms, celery and onion; and 45 min in oven with sauce. I did make the crockpot chicken in anticipation of this tetrazzini, and it was great! Made pulled BBQ chicken last night, but the chicken was delicious even without the BBQ sauce.
no, it's not critical. that's just how I make it. It will take less time to cook the white noodles though so keep that in mind….
🙂
This didn't work well for me – even with whole wheat noodles they turned a little sludgy (I think from not starting to cook at a vigorous boil. Love the idea though. Need to ponder alternatives…
oh that stinks, I'm sorry!
This sounds so good! I've always stayed away from slow cooker recipes that include pasta because I think it gets too mushy, but with pre-cooked chicken and only 90 minutes…this sounds like a winner!
I know right? That is true usually about pasta but this one works. I'm so happy about it!!!