What to do with the Thanksgiving leftovers? Here’s one classic suggestion: the infinitely flexible Turkey Tetrazzini!

Almost every element in this recipe is optional, except for the turkey and the pasta. You can cook the vegetables in olive oil instead of butter. You could add other veggies. You can substitute yogurt or milk for the creams. You can adjust the amount of liquid up or down, within limits. Change the spices. Make or do not make a crunchy topping.

It’s almost impossible to make this not-delicious.

 Ingredients:

12 oz pasta, long or short

3 cups cooked turkey, shredded or diced

1/2 cup butter, divided (some optional)

1/2 cup onion, diced

1/2 cup mushrooms, sliced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

2 cups chicken or turkey broth

1 cup heavy cream

1/2 cup sour cream

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided (some optional)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 cup breadcrumbs (optional)

2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional)

Instructions:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.

• Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.

• In a large skillet, melt 1/4 cup of butter over medium heat. Add the onion, mushrooms, and garlic, and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes.

• Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in the broth and bring to a simmer, allowing the sauce to thicken.

• Stir in the heavy cream, sour cream, 1/2 cup of Parmesan, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Continue to cook until the sauce is smooth and creamy.

• Add the cooked chicken and pasta to the sauce, stirring to combine. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish.

• (Optional: In a small bowl, melt the remaining butter and mix with breadcrumbs and the remaining Parmesan. Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture evenly over the top of the casserole.)

• Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the top is golden and the casserole is bubbly. Sprinkle with fresh parsley before serving, if desired.