Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe (2024)

By Stacy Williams

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Ready for an amazing casserole recipe that’s perfect for busy weeknights? Make this grown up tuna noodle casserole recipe for a classic comfort food filled with sautéed mushrooms, Colby jack or cheddar cheese, crispy fried onions and more! You’ll never turn your nose up at a bowl of tuna noodle casserole again!

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Does anyone else remember the days of tuna noodle casserole being served for dinner? It was that famous blue box, a can of peas and a can of tuna. I loved my Mom but bless her heart, she could not cook. As a result, we ate a lot of blue box and tuna for dinner.

I can’t even eat the blue box by itself these days for this reason.

Part of the reason why I can’t stand it is that these days, mytastes are a bit more complicated.I love food and when I eat, I want plenty of flavor; especially when I make a tuna noodle casserole recipe.

What Are The Ingredients in a Tuna Casserole?

That’s why this particular recipe uses what I would say are grown up ingredients. Egg noodles, olive oil, mushrooms, cream of mushroom soup and so on all come together to make a creamy sauce that may just make you want to lick the casserole dish!

I kid. Maybe.

Just be sure to let the skillet cool before you lick it.

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Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe (2)

Can I Make This Tuna Noodle Casserole with Chicken or Turkey?

If you don’t like the taste of tuna, you can easily swap it out and make this with chicken or turkey. The flavor stays the same no matter which one you use.

Tuna does tend to be a little cheaper though so if you’re looking to stretch your food budget, I would opt to keep tuna as the protein. However, if you do have a picky eater, there’s no worry about changing things up.

What Can I Top Tuna Noodle Casserole With?

The recipe itself calls for your casserole to be topped with fried onions. However, not everyone likes them or keeps them in their pantry. Luckily, you can top yours with things such as crushed potato chips, Italian seasoned bread crumbs or crushed Ritz crackers without changing the flavor too much.

Keep in mind that the onions do add some flavor to the final dish. If you change the topping, you will change the flavor somewhat. It just shouldn’t be enough to really matter much.

Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe (3)

How Long Can Tuna Noodle Casserole Sit Out?

Like any dish that includes seafood, you will want to store any leftover tuna noodle casserole in the refrigerator in an airtight container as quickly as possible once dinner is done. At the absolute max, it can sit out around an hour and half to two hours.

After that, you run the risk of it making your family sick from bacteria that can settle in the tuna.

Can I Make Tuna Noodle Casserole Ahead of Time?

Somewhat. There are things you can do ahead of time to make the prep work easier, but unless you are planning on freezer cooking, I suggest you make it fresh for the most part for the best flavor.

Prepwork such as dicing the onion and sauteeing the mushrooms can be done ahead. However, I would cook noodles and make the sauce only when you’re ready to put the casserole itself together.

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Can you freeze tuna noodle casserole?

Yes! This casserole recipe is freezer friendly too! If you’re planning on freezing it, use a 8 x 8foil baking pan with lidlike THESE. Make the tuna noodle casserole recipe as written but stop before adding the french fried onions and freeze instead.

It’s super simple!

How to Reheat Tuna Noodle Casserole?

To cook your frozen tuna noodle casserole, thaw completely before you bake it. Add the french fried onions after it’s thawed and bake as directed. Whether you freeze it or not, this tuna casserole recipe really does come together for a cheap family meal very quickly!

Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe (4)

Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe (5)

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4.91 from 10 votes

Grown Up Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe

Ready for an amazing casserole recipe that's perfect for busy weeknights? Make this grown up tuna noodle casserole recipe for a classic comfort food filled with sautéed mushrooms, Colby jack or cheddar cheese, crispy fried onions and more! You'll never turn your nose up at a bowl of tuna noodle casserole again!

Course Dinner

Cuisine American

Keyword Casserole, Colby Cheese, Dinner, Mushrooms, Tuna

Prep Time 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 40 minutes minutes

Servings 4 people

Calories 686kcal

Author Stacy Williams

Cost 10.00

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees then slice the mushrooms and dice the onions. Lightly grease your baking dish with cooking spray. Start water for pasta. While the water is heating, heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Once the oil is heated, add the onions and mushrooms and saute until the onions are translucent. After the onions are done, cook pasta until al dente (7 minutes or so).

    3 tbsp. Olive oil, 1/2 lg. White onion, 3-4 med. Bella mushrooms, 8 oz Egg Noodles

    Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe (6)

  • Add mushroom soup, cream cheese, sour cream, milk and garlic powder to the frying pan and heat until it’s hot. Season with salt and pepper to your tastes once its hot.

    4 oz Cream cheese, 1/2 c. Sour cream, 1 10.5 oz can Cream of mushroom soup, 3/4 c Milk, 1 tsp. Garlic powder, Salt, Pepper

    Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe (7)

  • Drain the pasta well and add to the pan and stir to mix. Make sure your pasta gets covered well.

    Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe (8)

  • Once you’ve mixed the pasta well, add the tuna (make sure it is well drained) or cooked chicken to your pan and mix it all up again. Pour the mixture into your baking dish.

    8 oz. Tuna

    Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe (9)

  • Add the shredded cheese on top.

    1 c Colby jack cheese

    Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe (10)

  • Sprinkle the french fried onions on top.

    1 c French fried onions

    Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe (11)

  • Bake at 375° F for 10 minutes or just until the onions are golden brown. Serve hot.

    Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe (12)

Notes

  • To freeze: Stop just before adding fried onions and freeze. To cook from frozen, thaw fully, add the onions and bake as directed.
  • Nutrition information is auto-calculated and may not be correct. Please use discretion if you have a special diet.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 686kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 42g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 151mg | Sodium: 453mg | Potassium: 443mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1035IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 371mg | Iron: 2mg

Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are the list of ingredients for tuna noodle casserole? ›

Use 2 cans soup, 1 cup milk, 1/4 cup pimiento, two 12-ounce cans tuna, 6 ounces (about 4 cups) egg noodles, 2 tablespoons bread crumbs and 1 tablespoon butter. Bake in a 2-quart casserole for 30 minutes or until hot, then for another 5 to brown the bread crumb mixture.

Why is my tuna casserole so dry? ›

A possible reason for this is that you added too much pasta or not enough liquid. The pasta absorbs liquid, so you should use a generous amount of sauce to keep the dish moist. Your tuna casserole can also become dry due to overbaking.

How to thicken tuna casserole? ›

Make a cornstarch slurry for a fast and easy thickener.

Use one tablespoon of cornstarch per cup of liquid you would like to thicken. Stir out all the lumps. A few minutes before your casserole is done, add it a little at a time until you are happy with the thickness. Then, let the casserole finish baking.

How do you moisten leftover tuna casserole? ›

Moisture Retention: Adding a splash of milk or broth can prevent the casserole from drying out. Covering the dish with aluminum foil also locks in moisture. Thawing: If the tuna casserole is frozen, it's essential to thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.

What is the main ingredient in a casserole? ›

In the United States, a casserole or hot dish is typically a baked food with three main components: pieces of meat (such as chicken or ground meat) or fish (such as tuna) or other protein (such as beans or tofu), various chopped or canned vegetables (such as green beans or peas), and a starchy binder (such as flour, ...

What are the 4 parts of a casserole? ›

Not every single casserole has all of them, but as a rule of thumb, here's what to look for: a starch, a binding agent or sauce, and a protein or vegetable. Many casseroles also have both vegetables and proteins, as well as a crunchy element to give some textural contrast, and cheese.

How do you keep a casserole moist? ›

Covering a casserole (whether with a lid or with aluminum foil) is important because it helps keep moisture and heat inside the baking dish. This encourages even baking throughout, ensuring that noodles come out perfectly al dente and cheese melts uniformly.

How to make a casserole less dry? ›

How do you moisten a dry casserole? Add a little water or milk to the top of the it before reheating. Allow the liquid to seep in between the casserole and the baking dish, without overflowing. Cover the top with aluminum foil.

What can I add to tuna to make it less dry? ›

Add a little moisture to the mix

But if you're averse to the white and creamy condiment or don't have it in your fridge, here are some other great options that add moisture and make tuna palatable: Oil. Olive, truffle, and even toasted sesame (which I use in my recipe below) are just a few drool-worthy examples.

How to tell if casserole is done? ›

Poking a casserole with a toothpick or a fork to see if it comes out clean is a helpful way to know what's happening in the center. Shaking the pan will also tell you if everything is cooked and set.

How to fix a runny casserole? ›

10 Tips To Fix Or Prevent Watery Casseroles
  1. Prep Vegetables Ahead Of Time. Vegetables boiling on a stove - Solstock/Getty Images. ...
  2. Add A Starch. ...
  3. Experiment With Pasta Or Grains. ...
  4. Take The Lid Off. ...
  5. Drain Fat From Meat. ...
  6. Choose A Dry Or Low-Fat Cheese. ...
  7. Sprinkle Seeds Into Your Bake. ...
  8. Remove Excess Liquid.
Oct 29, 2023

Why is my tuna noodle casserole dry? ›

Your tuna noodle casserole may also contain cheese, whole wheat flour, and other extras. Some of these ingredients, such as the pasta and flour, soak up moisture. Therefore, adding too little broth, milk, or sauce may cause the dish to turn out dry. The same can happen if the sauce is too thick.

Can I eat tuna casserole that was left out overnight? ›

If you reheat food that was forgotten on the counter overnight or was left out all day, will it be safe to eat? TWO HOURS is the MAXIMUM time perishable foods should be at room temperature (ONE HOUR at temperatures 90 degrees F and higher). This INCLUDES the time they're on the table during your meal.

Are you supposed to eat tuna casserole cold? ›

This tuna bake also freezes perfectly and is excellent eaten hot or cold the next day for lunch.

What are the 5 parts needed for a casserole? ›

According to food blog High Heeled Homemaker, your basic casserole requires five ingredients: a protein, starch, vegetable, sauce, and cheese. If you have those five ingredients in your casserole dish, congratulations; you just made a casserole, whether it's a beloved recipe or a concoction of your own creation.

What are the main ingredients in canned tuna? ›

Finally, despite being canned, many brands of canned tuna are minimally processed, containing only tuna, water or oil, and salt. Some brands may also add seasonings or broth for extra flavor. Canned tuna is an inexpensive, low calorie source of protein and other important nutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids.

What is tuna pasta made of? ›

Ingredients you'll need to make canned tuna pasta

Tuna in Olive Oil: Higher quality tuna in oil lends a richer, more nuanced flavor compared to water-packed tuna. Lemon Juice and Zest: Adds a fresh, zesty kick that brightens the overall dish. Salt and Pepper: Basic seasonings to enhance all the flavors.

What method should be used to cool tuna casserole? ›

Expert-Verified Answer

To safely cool a large batch of tuna casserole, divide it into smaller portions, put them in shallow containers, and refrigerate. Ensure the casserole's temperature drops to 70 degrees Fahrenheit within two hours and to 41 degrees or lower within six hours.

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