Chicken Tetrazzini –Pat [This is for cheese lovers] Sooo good and easy to make.
3 C or 1 lb. Chicken breast. She uses boneless, skinless chicken breasts
½ lb. Spaghetti broken in half and cooked according to package directions She uses Angel Hair Pasta
4 T Butter
1/4 to ½ C onions
8 oz pkg sliced mushrooms: Fresh best but can use canned (Pat often uses canned mushrooms undrained.)
1/3 C all purpose flour
1 ½ C Half and Half
3 T white wine. No cooking sherry.
3/4 t Kosher or table salt
1/4 t black pepper
14 ½ oz. Can Chicken broth or the broth you cooked chicken in as needed to make adequate amount of sauce.
½ C grated Parmesan cheese. Uses the Kraft green can.
Not in original recipe but Pat adds:
1 jar pimento undrained
2--3 C Shredded sharp cheese.
2 stacks Ritz crackers–Optional
1 stick butter, melted, pour over crumbled Ritz crackers.
Cook chicken in water: Boil with salt until no longer pink internally. Let cool and shred or chop finely.
Prepare spaghetti, drain and set aside.
If cooking same night, preheat oven to 350̊.
Saute 4 minutes or until onion is clear: Butter, onion and mushrooms.
Sprinkle with flour.
Add the Half & Half. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 2 minutes, stirring constantly. It makes a white sauce. If sauce is too thick, add chicken broth to desired consistency. Must be careful to not curdle the Half & Half so make certain the heat is reduced.
Remove from heat.
Add white wine, spices, pimento [juice and all], Parmesan cheese as well as 1 to 2 Cups Sharp Shredded cheese. Adjust cheese to personal preference.
Gently toss together, chicken and spaghetti and stir into mixture.
Spoon into a sprayed 9 x 13 shallow baking dish. [Can be frozen at this point for use later or divided in half for use one now and one later.] Can be made a day or two in advance and kept in refrigerator until time to bake.
*Top with buttered Ritz crackers crumbled if baking immediately.
Bake about 20 minutes at 400 degrees or until crackers are slightly browned and warmed throughout.
*If baking from frozen state, set out to let adjust to temperature somewhat. Preheat oven to 350̊
Add cracker crumbs after it has been baking about 25 minutes. Bake for a total of 45 minutes. Freezes great and makes great leftovers.