Baked Creole Tetrazzini

By Jerrelle Guy

Published Feb. 8, 2026

Baked Creole Tetrazzini
Kelly Marshall for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Samantha Seneviratne. Prop Stylist: Paige Hicks.
Total Time
1 hour
Prep Time
10 minutes
Cook Time
50 minutes
Rating
5(260)
Comments
Read comments

There are a few recipes throughout my life that stick out in my mind, and my Auntie Nae’s special recipe for her spicy Creole tetrazzini is definitely one. I finally recreated the recipe for my new cookbook “We Fancy: Simple Recipes to Make the Everyday Special” (S&S/Simon Element, 2026). At least I think I did? She’d make her noodles so peppery and creamy, and here, I try to keep in that same spicy spirit with not only a generous bit of black pepper, but also Creole seasoning and a little bit of cayenne, too. If you’re scared, don’t be: The cream cheese helps temper some of that heat. My favorite thing about this recipe is that I’ve spent years on a winding, wondrous journey trying to figure out how to recreate it from memory. If you like, toss ½ pound cubed chicken or sliced mushrooms into the pot with the sizzling butter and spices and cook until browned, or, for color, fold in ½ pound halved grape or cherry tomatoes right before sending everything into the oven.

Featured in: Cooking Fancy Isn’t About Expensive Ingredients. It’s a Mind-Set.

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Ingredients

Yield:8 servings
  • Kosher salt
  • 1pound dried spaghetti
  • 4tablespoons unsalted butter or olive oil
  • 2teaspoons Creole seasoning (such as Tony Chachere’s)
  • 2teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1teaspoon dried thyme or oregano
  • 1teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper, plus more as needed
  • ½ teaspoon ground cayenne
  • ½ teaspoon ground paprika, plus more for sprinkling
  • 3cups whole milk
  • 4ounces plain full-fat cream cheese, cut into small pieces
  • 1cup shredded Cheddar, plus more for sprinkling
  • Finely chopped parsley leaves, for sprinkling
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (8 servings)

429 calories; 19 grams fat; 11 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 5 grams monounsaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 49 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams dietary fiber; 7 grams sugars; 15 grams protein; 431 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Heat the oven to 375 degrees.

  2. Step 2

    Boil the noodles: Bring a large Dutch oven or other ovenproof, heavy-bottomed pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the spaghetti and cook according to package instructions, then drain them into a colander and return the pot to the stove.

  3. Step 3

    Toast the spices: Heat the pot over medium-high. Melt the butter and, once it begins to foam and sizzle, add the Creole seasoning, garlic powder, thyme, black pepper, cayenne and paprika, and cook for about 30 seconds, stirring constantly, until fragrant. Add the cooked pasta, tossing to coat.

  4. Step 4

    Make the cream sauce: Pour in the milk, then add the pieces of cream cheese, stirring until the cream cheese has fully melted. Add the Cheddar and toss until it’s melted and a thick sauce coats the noodles. Taste and add more salt and pepper as needed.

  5. Step 5

    Bake and serve: Arrange the pasta evenly in the pot and sprinkle over a little more cheese and paprika for color. Cover the pot and transfer it to the oven to bake for 20 minutes, removing the lid after 10 minutes to lightly brown and set the top. Remove the pot from the oven, sprinkle with parsley and allow to cool slightly before serving.

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Ratings

5 out of 5
260 user ratings
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Comments

Lynn at Southern Fried French

Sorry Auntie Nae, but I whomped this up a bit. But it seems like the kind of recipe you can fool around with. I threw in some sautéed veggies, including onion and garlic. I took out one of the 3 cups of milk and put an egg and some ricotta instead. I added more cheese, why not. It was very delicious. It must've been because the two of us ate four servings.

Kelly

I forgot to add...made as 1/2 recipe in a 10 inch cast iron pan and it was perfect 👌

Elle

Tony Chachere’s Seasoning is a standard ingredient in our household. It makes everything better- from popcorn to soups, eggs to veggies. Can’t wait to try this!

brushjl

nothing special and very heavy

Indymark

Added a little pasta water after adding the cream cheese made the sauce just right. I tossed in some leftover rotisserie chicken for some extra protein. Definitely make again! Next time I’ll probably add some onion as well for a pop of flavor.

deb

I made this exactly according to the recipe. My cayenne was from Penzey’s and it was the perfect kick (I like heat). This was very tasty but I agree with a few others that the sauce could be a little looser. Maybe do the appropriate increase in ratios of spice, cream cheese with another 1/2-2/3 cup of milk? Not sure.

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