Homemade Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe (2024)

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

Homemade classic tuna noodle casserole, the quintessential American dish made from scratch and under $10 to make, the kids love it!

Homemade Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe (1)
Tuna Noodle Casserole

Tuna casserole is classic comfort food! The ingredients are simple – canned tuna, mushrooms, peas, noodles in a homemade creamy sauce (without canned soup) finished with toasted breadcrumbs. Keeping canned tuna on hand is a great way to whip up quick lunches and dinners like the classic Tuna Melt or Tuna Macaroni Salad.

Homemade Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe (2)

I love a bowl of this healthier tuna noodle recipe. Lots of recipes call for canned cream of mushroom soup, cream of chicken soup or cream of celery soup. This recipe is made from scratch, with real ingredients, no canned soups and it’s so good.

Ingredients:

  • Noodles – for the noodles you can use no-yolk noodles, elbow pasta, penne pasta or brown rice pasta for gluten free
  • White Sauce – butter, onion, all purpose flour or gluten free flour mix, chicken broth and milk, plus optional sherry, for more flavor
  • Mushrooms – sliced baby bella mushrooms or white button mushrooms
  • Vegetables – Frozen petite peas or use peas and carrots
  • Canned Tuna – canned albacore or chunk light tuna in water, drained
  • Cheese – reduced fat sharp cheddar cheese
  • Topping – whole wheat seasoned breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese
  • Fresh Parsley – for garnish

How to make homemade tuna casserole from scratch

  1. Cook noodles in a large pot if boiling salted water until al dente, or slightly under cooked by 2 minutes. Set aside.
  2. Melt the butter in a deep, large skillet. Add onions to the melted butter and cook on medium heat until soft, about 5 minutes.
  3. Add the flour and a pinch of salt and stir well, cooking an additional 2-3 minutes onmedium-low heat
  4. Preheat oven to 375F. Lightly spray 9 x 12 casserole with cooking spray.
  5. Slowly whisk in the chicken broth until well combined, increasing heat to medium andwhisking well for 30 seconds, then add the milk and bring to a boil.
  6. When boiling, add sherry, mushrooms and petite peas, adjust salt and pepper to taste and simmer on medium, mixing occasionallyuntil it thickens (about 7 to 9 minutes).
  7. Add drained tuna, stirring another minute.
  8. Remove from heat and add the reduced fat sharp cheddar cheese and mix well until it melts. Add the noodles to the sauce and mix well until evenly coated.
  9. Pour the mixture into casserole and top with Parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs. Spray a little more cooking spray and top and bake for about 25 minutes.
  10. Place under the broiler a few minutes to get the crumbs crisp (careful not to burn).

Variations

  • Veggies: You can easily adapt this with different vegetables, try it with frozen peas and carrots, broccoli, etc
  • Swap out canned tuna: If you don’t like tuna fish, you can use leftover chicken breast or salmon.
  • Noodles: Use whole wheat noodles or gluten-free in place of white noodles
  • Pasta: Elbow macaroni can be used in place of egg noodles
  • Add some minced garlic or garlic powder with the onions. Feel free to adjust salt and black pepper to your taste.
  • Optional Topping Ideas: Top with baked, crushed potato chips, french-fried onions or crushed ritz crackers in place of parmesan and panko.

Can you freeze a tuna casserole?

Yes, there’s two ways to freeze it. A make-ahead method which is great for a busy weeknight meal, or you can freeze the leftovers.

For the make-ahead method, prepare everything up to the point of baking in the baking dish. Once you’ve combined everything with the exception of the breadcrumbs and Parmesan, cover tight with plastic wrap, then foil and label it with the name and date. To cook, defrost in the refrigerator overnight, top with Parmesan and bread crumbs and bake.

Leftover, oven-baked tuna casserole can also be frozen. To do so transfer the leftovers to an airtight container then freeze. To cook, thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat.

Is Tuna Casserole good the next day?

Yes, you can reheat tuna casserole the next day. For storage, refrigerate in an airtight containter up to 4 days.

Homemade Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe (3)Homemade Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe (4)Homemade Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe (5)Homemade Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe (6)Homemade Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe (7)

More Canned Tuna Recipes:

  • Chickpea Tuna Salad
  • Tuna Lettuce Wraps with Avocado Yogurt Dressing
  • Canned Tuna Ceviche
  • Tuna Macaroni Salad
  • Italian Tuna and Brown Rice Salad

Homemade Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe (8)

Tuna Noodle Casserole

4.74 from 180 votes

8

Cals:318

Protein:27.3

Carbs:34.3

Fat:7

Tuna casserole, the quintessential American dish. Perfect for potlucks and under $10 to make. Made with canned tuna, mushrooms, peas and noodles in a creamy sauce (and no canned soup) finished with toasted breadcrumbs – so good!

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Prep: 10 minutes mins

Cook: 1 hour hr

Total: 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Print Rate Pin SaveWW Points

Yield: 6 servings

Serving Size: 1 /6th of casserole

Ingredients

  • 6 ounces no-yolk noodles, or egg noodles of choice
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 1 medium onion, minced fine
  • 3 tbsp flour, or gluten free flour
  • 1 3/4 cups fat free chicken broth
  • 1 cup 1% milk
  • 1 ounce sherry, optional
  • 10 ounces sliced baby bella mushrooms
  • 1 cup frozen petite peas, thawed
  • 2 5 oz cans tuna in water, drained (I used albacore)
  • 4 ounces 50% reduced fat sharp cheddar, such as Cabot
  • 2 tbsp parmesan cheese
  • 2 tbsp whole wheat seasoned breadcrumbs
  • fresh parsley, chopped for garnish

Instructions

  • Cook noodles in salted water until al dente, or slightly undercooked by 2 minutes. Set aside.

  • Melt the butter in a large deep skillet. Add onions and cook on medium heat until soft, about 5 minutes.

  • Add the flour and a pinch of salt and stir well, cooking an additional 2-3 minutes on medium-low heat

  • Preheat oven to 375°. Lightly spray 9 x 12 casserole with butter flavored cooking spray.

  • Slowly whisk in the chicken broth until well combined, increasing heat to medium and whisking well for 30 seconds, then add the milk and bring to a boil.

  • When boiling, add sherry, mushrooms and petite peas, adjust salt and pepper to taste and simmer on medium, mixing occasionally until it thickens (about 7 to 9 minutes).

  • Add drained tuna, stirring another minute.

  • Remove from heat and add the reduced fat sharp cheddar and mix well until it melts. Add the noodles to the sauce and mix well until evenly coated.

  • Pour into casserole and sprinkle the top with parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs. Spray a little more cooking spray and top and bake for about 25 minutes.

  • Place under the broiler a few minutes to get the crumbs crisp (careful not to burn).

Last Step:

Please leave a rating and comment letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business to thrive and continue providing free, high-quality recipes for you.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1 /6th of casserole, Calories: 318 kcal, Carbohydrates: 34.3 g, Protein: 27.3 g, Fat: 7 g, Saturated Fat: 4 g, Cholesterol: 34 mg, Sodium: 660 mg, Fiber: 3.6 g, Sugar: 6 g

Did You Make This Recipe?

Post a pic and mention @skinnytaste or tag #skinnytaste!

Follow Us Pin This Rate This

Categories:

  • Budget Friendly Meals
  • Casseroles
  • Dinner Ideas
  • Egg Free Recipes
  • Fish Recipes
  • Freezer Meals
  • Gluten Free
  • Kid Friendly
  • Pasta Recipes
  • Recipes
  • Weight Watchers – WW Recipes
Homemade 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.

Do you cook noodles before putting them in a casserole? ›

Do you cook the noodles before adding them to the casserole? Yes, you should cook the egg noodles until they're al dente before combining with the other ingredients.

Why is my tuna casserole so dry? ›

Tuna casserole can become dry due to overbaking or using an insufficient amount of sauce. To prevent dryness, it's essential to monitor the baking time closely, every oven is different! Take care to simmer the sauce so it's thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.

How many calories in a cup of homemade tuna noodle casserole? ›

Tuna Noodle Casserole With Vegetables And (mushroom) Soup (1 cup) contains 32.5g total carbs, 30.3g net carbs, 15.6g fat, 24.6g protein, and 372 calories.

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 5 components of a casserole? ›

Let's talk anatomy: A standard dinner casserole usually includes a protein, a starch, a vegetable, a sauce (or other binding ingredient), and cheese. But making a casserole is not an exact science, and you can definitely break away from this formula. Check out some fun side-dish casseroles and desserts below!

Is it better to cook casserole the day before or? ›

Make-ahead meals (especially baked casseroles) are terrific because you can completely assemble them in advance and bake them just before serving. They're the ultimate comfort food as they come bubbling hot and delicious straight from the oven to the table to the delight of family and friends.

Should I cook my noodles in the sauce? ›

First, in authentic Italian cuisine, the sauce is always tossed with the pasta before it ever hits the plate. Just before the sauce is done cooking, the hot pasta is added to the saucepan. Generally speaking, we recommend cooking the pasta in the sauce together for about 1-2 minutes.

Do homemade noodles need to dry before cooking? ›

Do homemade noodles have to dry before cooking? No! You can cook your fresh pasta right away in a pot of boiling water or broth if making soup. Fresh noodles only take about 3 minutes to cook, though.

How do you thicken tuna casserole? ›

How do you thicken tuna casserole? To thicken your tuna casserole, keep it in the oven for longer. This should thicken it right up. Mixing in an extra ¼ cup of parmesan cheese will also help bind it together.

How do you keep a casserole moist? ›

Pro Tip: Avoid Dry Casserole.

The best way to prevent it from drying out is to add a little bit of water, around ¼ cup, to the top of it. Allow the water to seep between the food and the sides of the baking dish. Cover with aluminum foil to seal in the moisture.

How many days can you eat tuna casserole? ›

Store your leftover tuna casserole in a shallow, airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. Reheat in the oven or in the microwave.

What is Tuna Noodle Casserole made of? ›

ingredients
  1. 10 12 ounces cream of chicken soup.
  2. 12 cup mayonnaise.
  3. 14 cup milk.
  4. 12 cup diced yellow onion.
  5. 12 cup diced celery.
  6. 6 ounces albacore tuna.
  7. 6 ounces cooked egg noodles.
  8. 14 cup shredded cheddar cheese.

How much is one serving of Tuna Noodle Casserole? ›

Tuna noodle casserole with cream or white sauce
Nutrition Facts
Portion Size224 g
Amount Per Portion376
Calories
% Daily Value *
29 more rows

Can you freeze cooked Tuna Noodle Casserole? ›

Lastly, you can freeze cooked tuna casserole if you cannot eat it within 3-4 days. Whether it's fresh out of the oven or leftovers, you can freeze it in an airtight container for up to 3 months. If straight from the oven, allow it to cool completely before sealing it so it doesn't continue to cook.

What does tuna pasta contain? ›

INGREDIENTS: Cooked Pasta [Water, Durum Wheat Semolina], Tuna (Fish) (13%), Cucumber, Sweetcorn, Low Fat Yogurt (Milk), Water, Rapeseed Oil, Crème Fraîche (Milk), Onion, Pepper, Red Wine Vinegar, Pasteurised Egg, Cornflour, Spirit Vinegar, Chives, Salt, Basil, White Wine Vinegar, Mustard Flour, Sugar, Egg Yolk, White ...

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 are the ingredients in tuna chunks? ›

Ingredients
  • Tuna [Fish],
  • Water,
  • Salt.

What method should be used to cool tuna casserole? ›

Proper cooling methods for food
  1. Separate food into smaller portions. A large pot of hot food put right into the fridge can become dangerous. ...
  2. Cover food loosely while it cools. ...
  3. Stir loose foods. ...
  4. Use an ice bath. ...
  5. Add ice as an ingredient. ...
  6. Use a blast chiller or tumbler.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Tyson Zemlak

Last Updated:

Views: 6133

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (43 voted)

Reviews: 82% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Tyson Zemlak

Birthday: 1992-03-17

Address: Apt. 662 96191 Quigley Dam, Kubview, MA 42013

Phone: +441678032891

Job: Community-Services Orchestrator

Hobby: Coffee roasting, Calligraphy, Metalworking, Fashion, Vehicle restoration, Shopping, Photography

Introduction: My name is Tyson Zemlak, I am a excited, light, sparkling, super, open, fair, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.