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    Home » Recipes » Main Dishes » Tuna Casserole

    Tuna Casserole

    Published: Oct 17, 2022 · Modified: Jan 23, 2023 by Sherri · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

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    white plate with tuna casserole with eggs noodles, peas and cheesy cornflake topping with text overlay reading easy tuna casserole.

    Learn to make my favorite homemade Tuna Casserole with egg noodles, flakes of chunky tuna, and peas in a creamy sauce and a buttery topping made from crispy crunchy cornflakes!

    Love creamy casseroles? Be sure to try this Creamy Chicken Casserole or this Bacon Ranch Chicken Casserole too.

    white plate with tuna casserole with egg noodles, peas and a crunchy topping.

    Table of contents

    • Best Tuna Noodle Casserole
    • Ingredients/shopping list
    • Variations/ Substitutions
    • How to Make this Casserole Recipe
    • Tips
    • FAQ’s

    Best Tuna Noodle Casserole

    Tuna noodle casserole is about as American as pecan pie is and as comforting as loaded baked potato soup!

    This is what people mean when they talk about homestyle classic comfort food. Tuna casserole is the kind of dish that gets passed down generations and while some people make theirs without canned soup, or toss in whatever veggies they have, I prefer to keep mine as traditional as possible and make it with mushroom soup and crushed cereal on top. It’s the best!

    It’s tried and true for a reason and because it’s super simple to make and cost-effective, it’s accessible to everyone, making it a family favorite on any occasion. Including potlucks, dinner parties, and for quick and easy busy weeknight dinners.

    wooden spoon scooping a big spoonful of tuna casserole out of a casserole dish.

    You can serve tuna casserole in smaller portions as a side dish or a main dish complete with protein, carbs, and veggies. I sometimes will make two and freeze one for later or deliver a freezer meal to a friend in need.

    Everyone loves a classic tuna casserole which makes it a hit every time!

    Ingredients/shopping list

    several bowls with ingredients for tuna casserole - canned tuna, onion, celery, egg noodles, butter, frozen peas, cream of mushroom soup, crushed cornflakes and shredded cheese.
    • Egg noodles: Egg noodles are lighter than traditional pasta noodles made with semolina flour and water. They’re available in the pasta section of the grocery store and are the same you’d use to make beef stroganoff.
    • Butter: The butter is used for cooking the aromatics and veggies and because there is salt already present in the soup, use unsalted butter. That way you can control the amount of any extra added salt.
    • Onion, celery, and garlic: These are cooked down to form the flavor base of the entire casserole.
    • Tuna: Packed tuna in water. Canned tuna is relatively inexpensive, however, some brands will cost more depending on quality. If you’re looking at sustainable practice when it comes to fishing, you will want to look for that on the label.
    • Cream of mushroom soup: A condensed soup that will add flavor and thick creamy consistency to the sauce. You can easily make your homemade cream of mushroom soup if you don’t prefer canned soups.
    • Milk: Needed to thin out the soup a bit to make it less of a condensed soup and more of a sauce that’s easily pourable. Use any milk you have on hand, but the higher the fat content the richer the sauce will be.
    • Shredded cheddar cheese: Freshly grated cheddar will melt nicely in this casserole adding to the creamy cheesiness. If you like sharp cheddar, use it! It’s a great balance to the richness.
    • Frozen peas: No need to thaw them first, just toss them into your tuna casserole as is!

    For the tasty topping, I use a combination of crushed cornflakes, cheese, melted butter, and parsley.

    Variations/ Substitutions

    1. Swap the cornflakes for buttery crackers instead. Ritz crackers or Club crackers are great for this.
    2. Instead of peas, use frozen chopped broccoli or sliced mushrooms.
    3. If you can’t find egg noodles, or prefer to use what you have, elbow macaroni or rice are both great replacements.
    4. Add 2 Tablespoons of Parmesan cheese to the tuna casserole topping.
    5. You can add 1 Tablespoon of chopped pimentos if desired.
    6. Replace ½ cup of the shredded cheddar cheese with 4 ounces of cream cheese for added creaminess with a tangy element.
    7. Use Panko bread crumbs or regular breadcrumbs for the topping rather than crushed cornflakes.
    8. Swap the butter for olive oil to saute the veggies.
    9. Use cream of celery soup or cream of chicken soup in place of cream of mushroom.

    How to Make this Casserole Recipe

    Here’s how to make this delicious tuna casserole from scratch with simple pantry ingredients and a few easy steps!

    cast iron pan with diced onions and celery cooking.

    Step 1: In a nonstick skillet, melt butter over medium heat and sauté the onions, celery, and garlic until tender.

    big glass bowl with peas, shredded cheese, cream of mushroom soup mixed together with cooked diced onions and celery on top.

    Step 2: In a large bowl, add the drained tuna, soup, milk, cheddar cheese, peas, and cooked veggies.

    cooked egg noodles in a big glass mixing bowl.
    egg noodles mixed in creamy soup and peas mixture in a big glass bowl.

    Step 3: Cook the noodles al dente per the package directions and then add the cooked noodles, and salt to the tuna mixture and mix well to combine.

    rectangle casserole dish with unbaked creamy tuna casserole mixture spread into it.

    Step 4: Transfer that mixture to a prepared 13 x 9 baking dish and spread it into an even layer.

    four glass bowls with crushed cornflakes, melted butter, shredded cheese and parsley.
    glass bowl with crushed cornflake cereal, shredded cheddar cheese and chopped parsley.

    Step 5: Make the topping by combining the cereal, cheese, and parsley in a small bowl then pour melted butter over the top and stir until evenly coated. It should resemble wet sand.

    rectangle casserole dish with creamy tuna noodle mixture topped with a crunchy topping.

    Step 6: Sprinkle it over the top of the tuna casserole dish and bake for 20 minutes until the topping is golden brown.

    Serve with additional shredded cheese on top and a sprinkling of fresh parsley. Enjoy!

    Tips

    • Don’t get caught up on which tuna to buy. I like albacore tuna in water but feel free to use any variety you’d like.
    • Try making tuna casserole with cream of chicken soup and canned chicken for a completely new take!
    • As best as you can, use at least half and half, or whole milk. Even evaporated milk would be great. You want the richness from the fat!
    • Don’t forget to drain your can of tuna. Otherwise, your tuna casserole will be runny.

    FAQ’s

    How to store leftover tuna casserole?

    Keep it in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

    Can I freeze it?

    Yes! That’s one of the best things about any casserole! If you know you’re going to freeze it ahead of time, make it in a disposable foil tray. Otherwise, transfer it to a freezer-friendly container. Be sure to seal it well to avoid freezer burn and keep it frozen for up to 2 months.

    How to reheat tuna casserole?

    If it’s frozen, you want to make sure to thaw it overnight. You can bake it straight from frozen, but it’ll take much longer to heat through. Heat it at 325 degrees until the entire casserole is warmed through. You may want to add a bit of fresh topping so that you get back that crunch!

    If you like this recipe, please leave us a comment and rate the recipe below. You can also find us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Instagram!

    plate full of tuna casserole with egg noodles and peas topped with a crunchy cornflake topping and cheese.

    Best Easy Tuna Casserole

    Learn to make my favorite homemade Tuna Casserole with egg noodles, flakes of chunky tuna, and peas in a creamy sauce and a buttery topping made from crispy crunchy cornflakes!
    5 from 3 votes
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    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dinner
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 447kcal
    Author: Sherri Hagymas

    Ingredients

    • 1 pound egg noodles
    • 1 tablespoon butter
    • 1 small onion finely diced
    • 2 stalks celery finely diced
    • 2 cloves garlic minced
    • salt to taste
    • 2 cans tuna packed in water
    • 10.5 ounces Cream of Mushroom soup 1 can , 10.5 ounces
    • ¾ cup milk
    • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
    • 1 cup peas frozen

    For the topping

    • 1 cup cornflakes crushed
    • ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
    • 1 tablespoon parsley
    • 2 tablespoons melted butter

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 375° F and grease a 13×9 baking dish
    • In a large pot, boil water for egg noodles.
    • Cook the noodles for half the time listed on the package directions.
      1 pound egg noodles
    • Then drain the noodles into a colander in the sink and rinse them with cold water.
    • Melt butter in a non stick skillet and add onion, celery, and garlic and saute until tender
      1 tablespoon butter, 1 small onion, 2 stalks celery, 2 cloves garlic
    • In a large bowl, add the tuna, soup, milk, cheddar cheese, peas, cooked vegetables, cooked noodles and salt and mix together thoroughly.
      2 cans tuna, 10.5 ounces Cream of Mushroom soup, ¾ cup milk, 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, 1 cup peas, salt to taste
    • Pour into prepared baking dish and spread into an even layer.
    • In a small bowl, add the crushed cornflakes, cheddar cheese and parsley.
      1 cup cornflakes
    • Pour the melted butter over the mixture and stir until evenly coated.
      ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese, 2 tablespoons melted butter, 1 cup cornflakes
    • Sprinkle the topping evenly over the top of the entire casserole.
    • Bake for 20 minutes or until the topping is golden brown.
    • Garnish with additional shredded cheese and parsley if desired.
      1 tablespoon parsley

    Notes

    Swap the cornflakes for buttery crackers like Ritz or Club crackers.
    Swap the peas for frozen cut broccoli.
    Swap the egg noodles for elbow macaroni or rice.
    Add 2 tablespoon of parmesan cheese to the topping
    Add a tablespoon of chopped pimento’s if desired.
    Mix in 4 ounces of cream cheese for ½ cup of the shredded cheddar.
    Use Panko bread crumbs or regular breadcrumbs for topping.
    Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
    Freeze in freezer safe container for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator. Then place it in a baking dish and reheat at 325° F until heated through. Add additional crumb topping is desired.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 447kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 99mg | Sodium: 587mg | Potassium: 403mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 714IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 219mg | Iron: 3mg

    Nutritional Disclosure

    Nutritional facts are estimates and are provided as a courtesy to the reader. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. Nutritional values are calculated via a third party. Changing ingredients, amounts or cooking technique will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.

    Tried this recipe?Mention @ToSimplyInspire or tag #ToSimplyInspire!

    Sharing of this recipe to social media is both encouraged and appreciated. Please share the direct link back to the recipe. Copy/Pasting and/or screenshots of the recipe to any social media is strictly prohibited. Content and photographs are copyright protected

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    Sherri Hagymas leaning on a counter with a white coffee mug

    Hi there! I’m Sherri I love creating a variety of easy recipes that anyone can make and enjoy! From healthy to comforting, I hope you find something that inspires you!.

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