Delicious Ham Tetrazzini is a scrumptious twist on a classic. Rich creamy sauce mixed with pasta, ham and mushrooms makes a delicious comfort meal for your family. This casserole dish is a great way to use up leftover ham from the holidays.
You've heard of chicken tetrazzini, right? Well this is ham tetrazzini. I've used ham instead of the chicken. This is a perfect dish to use up leftover ham.
Easter is next weekend and we will be eating a huge baked ham. I'm certain there will be leftovers and I'm already planning my week with leftover ham recipes. We will be eating this delicious tetrazzini again! Also on the weekly menu will be baked ham and cheese sandwiches, ham and scalloped potatoes and ham and cheese biscuits. I wonder if I'm going to need a bigger ham!
It's okay to actually plan for leftovers especially when it's this delicious.
Could I add additional vegetables to this dish?
You bet. This tetrazzini would be delicious with peas or asparagus. For the peas, just add a cup of frozen peas right into the mixture when you add the mushrooms and ham. If adding asparagus, use steamed asparagus and cut into small pieces. Gently fold the asparagus into the creamy mixture.
How do I make Tetrazzini?
- Cook spaghetti
- Saute mushrooms
- Make a roux
- Add milk and allow to thicken
- Add chicken stock
- Stir in mushrooms and ham
- Add cooked spaghetti
- Pour into a greased casserole dish
- Top with Parmesan cheese
- Bake until bubbly and golden
- Let rest 10 minutes before serving
How do I make a roux?
A roux is a butter and flour mixture that is used to thicken the sauce. To make the roux, melt butter in a pan. Stir in flour. Let mixture cook for 2-3 minutes over low heat. This helps remove any raw flour taste.
Can I make this ham casserole ahead of time?
Yes, this can be made ahead of time. Follow recipe as directed. Add to a casserole dish. Allow dish to cool and then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Remove from refrigerator at least 15 minutes prior to baking. Remove plastic wrap and bake as directed, increasing baking time by 15 minutes.
A few notes:
- Use a hearty spaghetti. I used regular spaghetti noodles, not thin spaghetti or angel hair pasta. You could also use fettuccine noodles.
- Don't add salt until after you've added all the other ingredients. Some chicken stocks already have salt and the ham may is salty too. You might not need to add any salt at all.
- When sauteing mushrooms, allow the mushrooms to brown. This browning adds extra flavor.
- After sauteing the mushrooms, use the same pan for making the roux. Do not wipe pan out before making the roux. Just whisk all those brown bits right into your roux.
- Be certain to spray your casserole dish prior to using. You don't want anything to stick.
- If your casserole dish is really full, place dish on a baking sheet before putting in the oven. If your casserole oozes over, the baking sheet will catch all the drips making cleanup easier.
If you haven't planned your Easter meal yet, check out this Easter Recipe collection. It has everything you need from breakfast to dessert!
More delicious main dish meals
- Baked Chicken and Rice Casserole
- Spinach Stuffed Shells
- Penne Pasta Bake
- Chicken Broccoli and Rice Bake
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Ham Tetrazzini
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 oz spaghetti noodles
- 2 cups ham (cubed)
- 1 cup mushrooms (sliced)
- 6 Tablespoons butter
- ⅓ cup flour
- 1 ½ cups milk
- 1 ½ cups chicken stock
- 1 pinch ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon thyme
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- salt (to taste)
- 1 Tablespoon sherry wine (optional)
- ½ cup Parmesan (grated)
Instructions
- Cook Spaghetti noodles according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
- Add 2 tablespoons butter to a saute pan. Add mushrooms. Cook until browned. Remove from pan. Do not wipe or rinse pan.
- With same pan add 4 more tablespoons butter. When melted, add flour. Stir over medium low heat for 2-3 minutes.
- Slowly add milk while whisking flour mixture. Continue whisking until mixture begins to thicken.
- Add chicken stock and combine.
- Add nutmeg, thyme and pepper. Continue cooking over medium heat until mixture is heated through.
- Stir in sherry (if using) and add mushrooms and ham.
- Taste mixture. Add salt if needed.
- Combine mixture with spaghetti noodles and then place into a lightly greased casserole dish (9x13 inch).
- Top with Parmesan cheese
- Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 25-30 minutes until mixture is bubbly and top is golden.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- White wine can be used in place of the sherry wine or it can be omitted altogether.
- To make ahead of time follow directions through placing in casserole dish. Allow to cool, then cover and refrigerate. When ready to bake, remove from the fridge at least 15 minutes prior to baking. Remove cover. Bake as directed adding up to 15 minutes of additional baking time.
- May add frozen green peas or cut steamed asparagus to dish prior to baking, if desired.
Dave says
After reading some other comments about being somewhat bland, I kicked it up a notch or two. Added sautéed celery and onion after cooking the mushrooms. Added some roasted pepper and garlic spice with the nutmeg and thyme. A few dashes of Louisiana Hot Sauce and a very tasty casserole emerged. Cooked this in the BBQ as it was too hot to cook inside!
Kathy says
I'm cooking outside on the grill right now too for the same reason - too hot inside! Glad you made this recipe work for you. 🙂
Christy (The Gourmet Country Girl) says
I love pasta dishes but my husband is not a fan, so I am always looking for pasta recipes that he will like. He loved this one! I made this recipe but divided it into two pans (I froze one for later since it is just the two of us). He only wanted me to dish him up a half portion because he 'doesn't like pasta'). After he finished his half portion, he went back to the pan and dished the rest up for himself and finished the pan! I love this recipe because it is so creamy, but I was really impressed with the flavor profile. Usually I pair thyme with poultry, but it worked so well with the leftover ham in this tetrazzini that I will be saving this recipe as a favorite for future dinners. This is truly one of the BEST pasta dishes I have had in a long time!
Kathy says
Wow!!! Thanks so much for the lovely comment! So fun that you found a dish that your husband loves too. Now he can't say he doesn't like pasta anymore! 😉 It's a good thing you froze half for later, because I think he'll be asking for it again soon!
Kathy 🙂
Brenda P Boyd says
Just an FYI - I think the Steps 2 and 3 are not accurate when you double the recipe and use 16-oz of pasta. 4 T of butter with .67 cup of flour is not enough to thicken 6 cups of liquid. I had to make extra roux separately and I stirred it in and cooked longer to make it thicker. Same for triple recipe too.
Gaye says
We liked this version very much! We now have our official ham tetrazzini recipe. I did double it, after reading other comments. Used extra parmesan sprinkled on top. I still put it all in a 9 X 13 casserole; it fit, but it bubbled right up to the top, almost overflowing. But it just made it look even more appealing to eat!
Kathy says
Glad you doubled it and had enough!
Thank you! 🙂