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Cheesy Chicken Tetrazzini

This version of chicken tetrazzini is made more wholesome by replacing canned cream soup with a homemade cheese sauce and incorporating lots of good-for-you veggies. Cheesy and delicious!

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound dried spaghetti broken into halves
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1/2 cup red bell pepper chopped
  • 1/2 cup yellow bell pepper chopped
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 8 ounces button mushrooms sliced
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 8 ounce can sliced water chestnuts drained
  • 2 cups chopped cooked chicken
  • 1/2 cup frozen peas
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheddar

For the sauce

  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 1/3 cup flour
  • 3 cups milk at room temperature
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

Instructions
 

  • Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil; season generously with a pinch of salt. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain pasta and set aside.
  • While pasta cooks, melt the butter in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the peppers and onion to the pan and season with the 1/2 teaspoon salt. Saute until softened, about 4 minutes. Add the mushrooms and thyme to the pan, and continue to saute until mushrooms are softened and have given up most of their moisture, about 4 minutes more. Stir in water chestnuts, and saute about 1 minute more. Remove pan from heat.
  • For the sauce, melt the 4 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for about 2 minutes, or until mixture is bubbly and flour is toasty. Slowly add the milk, whisking vigorously the prevent any lumps. Stir in the salt, pepper and Dijon mustard. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until the sauce is thick enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon. Remove from heat and stir in nutmeg.
  • To assemble the casserole, stir together the pepper filling, the chopped cooked chicken, frozen peas, pasta and sauce in a very large bowl. Transfer mixture to a greased lasagna pan and sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup shredded cheddar. Bake at 350 for about 25 minutes, or until filling is bubbly and cheese is melted.