What do you do when you have a pack of chicken breast and absolutely no idea what to do with it? Baked chicken breast. DONE. Chicken Pot Pie. DONE. Chicken Alfredo. DONE. Chicken Fried Rice. DONE. Chicken everything. DONE. I’d run out of ideas when I remembered a delicious and yummy dish they would serve in school every blue moon: Chicken Tettrazinini (sometimes it was Turkey, too). The days the school cafeteria served either chicken or turtle tettrazini were my favorite. Like seriously, my favorite. I loved lunch on those days more than I loved the pizza or chili cheese fries lunch days.
I loved this dish in school, because my mom never made it at home. Honestly, I don’t even think a dish like chicken tettrazini was in her repertoire. She has a mean mental recipe arsenal, but one that didn’t include many cassorole, creamy, or savory dishes. As much as my mom and I are alike (well she’s an Earth sign, and I’m a Fire sign, but whatever), we differ immensely, like polar opposites, when it comes to sauce textures. She likes liquidity and runny, i.e au jus, I like thick and creamy, i.e basque. If she’d ever made a chicken tettrazini growing up, it would have been liquidity, although through no fault of her own, it just what she likes. Me on the other hand, I love thick, creamy, and with a lot of texture and body. Not to completely throw her under the bus, she did make chicken pot pie a time or two and lasagna, but she leaves those to me to do now.
Mom & I back in 2011
I’ll be the first to say that I’m not the biggest fan of chicken breast. I love me some drumsticks, and I’ll occassionally have some wings (Teriyaki flavor) from Zaxby’s. However, chicken breat just doesn’t do it for me. It tends to be boring no matter which way its prepared, and even worst, sometimes its just plain old dry. While versatile, many times I’m at such a lost for what to do with it. Now that’s probably a lck of creativity on my part, but most things that don’t motivate me, bore me. Chicken breast doesn’t motivate me. However, sometimes I have a lightbulb moment and I’m able to come up with something delicious made with chicken breast. So out of my blank (and bored) mind, came this delicious, creamy, and savory chicken tettrazini. It was a hit with the fam, even my non mushroom-loving husband and mom!
[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:16]
Yes, this recipe does take some time, but its totally worth it. As with any cassarole dish, it goes far, so its dinner for at least two nights. If not two nights, then you’ll have enough for leftovers for a hearty lunch the next day. So savory, so creamy, so good…just like in school!
This one really took me back! Hopefully it takes you back too. 🙂
So tell me! Did you have a favorite school lunch meal when you were in school? If so, what was it? – I’m all for the nostalgia!
xxoo,
You just took me way back because our school lunch had Turkey Tettrazini! I’d love to eat it again, and with chicken!
Oh yum. I can totally remember how it tasted, and that was school lunch! I imagine homemade would be better.
Yep, we had both chicken and turkey tetrazzini in school. I will tell you that homemade was totally better!
This sounds incredibly yummy. And I think everyone in my family would enjoy it. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Thanks so much! It really was so yummy! 🙂
That looks so rich and yummy. Thanks for sharing it on The Yuck Stops Here! recipe link up. Hope to see you again next week. Have a super weekend.
Thanks so much! Have a great weekend as well! 🙂
Ok this looks AMAZING! Tettrazini is one of my favorites and I like that this one is with chicken and whole grain pasta. Maybe I will try it this week! THANK YOU!
You’re so welcome! It was amazing! Definitely give it a go! 🙂
What an easy and delicious looking recipe!
Thanks for joining the Link Up this week!
Thanks so much! 🙂
Looks good!! I don’t make casseroles often and I am not sure why! I need to start again! They’re awesome for leftovers too!
Thanks so much!
I rarely make them either, and I have no issue why, lol!
[…] this isn’t one. If you didn’t check out my last recipe post you can do so here, it was delicious! But for real, the real reason for this post is to show how you can make a […]
Believe me, I’m so at that point. I’ve been making more “inventive” meals lately and since I”m not a great cook, I have to take my time with them. Some y husband likes, some he doesn’t. This will be on my “try list”. Thanks for sharing with Countdown in Style!
I tell you, it gets hard to stay creative with dinner! Fortunately, my husband isn’t picky, but I still feel the pressure. It’s like I don’t ever want him to say he’s bored with my cooking. I too have a try list, slowly chipping away, but always adding more!
[…] lunch ladies through my primary and secondary school years, and well college too! If you read my Chicken Tettrazini post, you know how nostalgic I get for school lunch. I think lunch and recess were literally my […]