Tuna Casserole is right up there with meatloaf and scalloped potatoes when it comes to comfort food. It’s been a family favorite for generations!
Flaky tuna is tossed with egg noodles, peas, celery, and mushroom soup. We top this with a buttery breadcrumb topping and bake it until it’s bubbly. Serve this easy recipe with some quick Homemade Buttermilk Biscuits and a side salad for the perfect meal!
We love belly warming casserole recipes. From Cheesy Chicken Casserole to Beef Taco Casserole, there is something so comforting about a bubbly warm meal from the oven.
It’s no surprise that this tuna noodle casserole has held its place at the top of so many family favorite recipes. It is easy to make, but it’s affordable, tasty, and versatile. Nearly any leftovers or any kind of veggies can be tossed right in! Be creative with this tuna fish casserole recipe!
It can go from prep to presentation in no time at all! Need a quick potluck entrée for work or a neighborhood event? This is hands down the best tuna noodle casserole recipe out there!
How to Make Tuna Noodle Casserole
The best part of this tuna casserole recipe is that it takes minimal effort to put together and once it’s in the oven, toss a simple caesar salad to round out the entire meal. Simply combine the ingredients while the noodles are cooking and mix everything together. Sprinkle on the crumb topping and pop into the oven!
Be sure to cook the noodles ‘al dente’ since they will continue to cook in the oven and you want to avoid mushy noodles! I make this tuna casserole with egg noodles, but you can use any kind of pasta you’d like. We use simple vegetables including onion, celery, and peas. This recipe is great with any veggies including leftover Green Beans, roasted carrots or steamed broccoli.
This tuna casserole recipe can be made ahead of time as well so it’s great to prep now and bake later. The creamy, cheesy, mushroom sauce that will satisfy even the pickiest of palates!
How to Freeze Tuna Casserole
It is super easy to freeze a casserole, before or after it’s cooked! It is important to fully thaw a frozen casserole before putting it in the oven to avoid overcooking some areas and undercooking others, especially if the casserole was uncooked to begin with. Just leave it overnight in the fridge to allow it to thaw safely and then bake until it reaches 165°F.
If the casserole is fully baked, let it cool completely before wrapping it and freezing it. Another great tip is to line assemble the casserole in a foil lined pan and freeze after it’s been fully wrapped and sealed. Save that casserole pan for another use! Properly wrapped and sealed casseroles can be frozen for up to 6 months without damaging flavor or texture.
Easy Tuna Casserole
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 cups egg noodles measured dry *approx 6 ounces
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 small onion diced
- 2 ribs celery diced
- ⅔ cup frozen peas thawed
- 5 to 6 ounces canned tuna drained
- 10.5 ounces condensed cream of mushroom soup
- ⅓ cup milk
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
Crumb Topping
- ½ cup panko bread crumbs
- 1 tablespoon butter melted
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 425°F. Combine topping ingredients and set aside.
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Boil noodles al dente according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water.
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Cook onion and celery in butter until tender, about 5-7 minutes.
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In a large bowl combine noodles, onion mixture, peas, soup, milk, cheese, tuna and parsley. Mix well.
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Spread into a 2qt casserole dish and top with crumb topping.
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Bake 18-20 minutes or until bubbly.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Casserole, Dinner
Cuisine American
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Any ideas on a substitution for peas? I’ve made this before and it was so delicious, but unfortunately my husband isn’t a fan of peas.
You can leave them out or replace them with another veggie that you enjoy.
This is the first tuna casserole I ever made. I enjoyed it very much. I will alter this recipe in the future with less tuna, less salt, and more cream base. The taste for me was very fishy and a hit too salty. Thank you for sharing this recipe, it was very easy and fun to make.
Keeper… Keeper… Keeper! The BEST and Easy Tuna casserole. I did not have any milk so I substituted 1/2 cup Sour Cream, no green peas used 1 cup Corn, no onions used 1/2 tsp onion powder & 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp dried parsley in both casserole and topping, and added @ 1/4 cup extra tuna. I will save this recipe FOREVER!. High praise to you!
Yum! Wish I could share the video of the sizzlin goodness. I was skeptical for some reason, but this is delish!!!
Casserole
Mmmmm I❤️Tuna casserole…definitely a reminder of childhood…I didn’t have any celery but I added minced garlic in w/ the onions in the frying pan & a bit of celery salt…my wife & son are picky eaters when it comes to mushrooms so I quartered them for easier removal & added fresh bacon pieces which my wife was very happy about…I like a pinch of dill on before I put the crumble topping on…my wife likes to make fresh bread crumb & makes them a bit bigger which adds more crunch, which she also likes…we had a fun time in the kitchen making this great mid week easy peasy dinner…definitely will share recipe w/ friends & fam
I added a little extra cheese on top! My best friend loved this casserole! Great recipe and will definitely make it again.
suggest add mushrooms as well if you love them like I do!
Very tasty! Will make again