Easy Tuna Casserole Recipe (2024)

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4.45 from 9 votes

by SkinnyMs.

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Published: November 25, 2018 Last Updated: June 23, 2022

This cheesy casserole is delicious!

Easy Tuna Casserole Recipe (2)

Sometimes, you need a comforting meal that makes you feel like you’re having a cheat day. Don’t feel bad about it: We found a way for you to have your comfort without sacrificing nutrition! Ooey, gooey, cheesy baked perfection is what you’ll get with this Easy Tuna Casserole recipe. It mimics the delicious, creamy taste of tuna casseroles from days gone by, but this lightened-up version is much healthier than anything that was whipped up in your grandmother’s kitchen. Best of all, it is packed full with tuna, so you’ll enjoy the benefits of omega 3 fatsand lean protein while warming up with this delectable dish.

Traditional tuna casseroles have a tendency to be greasy, fattening, and all-around unhealthy. They also gets a bad rap for being an “old-fashioned” dish, or something most people have little use for these days. Despite its less-than-stellar reputation, sometimes you get a hankering for the comfort foods from your childhood! That’s when it’s time to turn to this Easy Tuna Casserole recipe.

Cheesy and Delicious

Easy Tuna Casserole Recipe (3)

You won’t believe that a meal this cheesy could also be healthy! Our Easy Tuna Casserole recipe is the perfect recipe to turn to when you’re looking for a tuna meal that’s out of the ordinary. Tuna is a great source of lean protein, but plain old tuna salad gets boring time after time. It’s also not alwaysthe right option when the weather is cold and blustery.

Mixing tuna with noodles and cheese gives this dish a rich, indulgent feel without all the unappealing aspects from other tuna casserole recipes. Instead of regular macaroni (which uses refined white flour), we opt for whole-wheat noodles. They contain plenty of complex carbohydrates to keep you feeling fuller for longer. We also snuck some veggies into the dish–mushrooms and peas–but don’t worry, this dish is so cheesy no one will notice!

Easy Tuna Casserole Recipe (4)

The other big change we made was to ditch the condensed soup. Most traditional casserole recipes use canned condensed soup, like cream of mushroom or cream of chicken. While there’s nothing wrong with cooking using that ingredient, it does happen to be very high in fat and sodium. Instead, we used low-fat cream cheese and milk to get the same result with significantly more nutrition.

If you are looking for a fun dish to bring to a party or office event, or you know your kids will love a gooey tuna casserole, try our Easy Tuna Casserole recipe. It’s a great lightened-up version of the comfort classic that everyone expects.

4.45 from 9 votes

Easy Tuna Casserole Recipe

This tasty and budget-friendly meal is perfect for a busy weekday, with nutritious ingredients both kids and adults will enjoy.

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Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Total Time 45 minutes minutes

Yield 6 people

Serving Size 1 cup

Course Dinner

Cuisine American

Author SkinnyMs.

Easy Tuna Casserole Recipe (5)

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Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

  • 4 cups whole wheat noodles cooked, macaroni was used in this recipe, egg noodles also will work
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 yellow onion small, diced
  • 8 ounces mushrooms sliced, white or button (wipe clean)
  • 9 ounces solid white albacore tuna cans, in water, shredded (add tuna and water)
  • 1 cup green peas frozen
  • 8 ounces cream cheese low-fat, softened
  • 1 cup milk low-fat
  • 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese reduced-fat, shredded (recommend block cheese)

Instructions

  • Preheat over to 375 degrees.

  • Note:If desired, add additional cheese to the top of the casserole before baking.

  • Cook noodles according to instructions on the package or al dente.

  • In a medium skillet add oil and sauté onions and mushrooms over medium-low heat until mushrooms begin to release moisture, about 10 minutes. In a large mixing bowl, combine sautéed onions and mushrooms and all remaining ingredients, reserving 1/2 cup cheddar cheese for the top.

  • Add the tuna mixture to a 3 quart casserole dish or 9" baking pan, top with the 1/2 cup of remaining cheddar cheese. Bake 15 minutes covered and 10 minutes uncovered, or until cheese is hot and bubbly.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 437kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 65mg | Sodium: 600mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 9g |

SmartPoints (Freestyle): 13

Keywords Budget-Friendly, High Protein, Kid-Friendly, Seafood

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Easy Tuna Casserole Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is tuna casserole made of? ›

After all, this dish is the original dump-and-bake dinner. Just stir tuna, cooked noodles, cream of mushroom soup and a few other pantry items in a baking dish, sprinkle with buttered bread crumbs and pop it into the oven.

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 do you moisten leftover tuna casserole? ›

Alternatively, Foods Guy recommends adding a splash of water or chicken stock to your casserole and covering it with plastic wrap before microwaving, which will add new moisture and lock in the steam, ensuring a perfectly moist reheated tuna casserole.

Who makes frozen tuna casserole? ›

Tuna Noodle Casserole Frozen Meal | Official STOUFFER'S®

How do you thicken tuna casserole? ›

Tuna casserole is thickened by making a roux out of butter, olive oil and flour, then whisking in milk and chicken broth. The sauce is simmered until thickened to desired consistency. The sauce will reduce and thicken as it simmers, so for a thicker sauce, simply simmer longer.

Should you cook canned tuna? ›

If you're a fan of canned tuna, you'll be happy to know it's safe and ready to eat straight out of the can since it is pre-cooked for your convenience. Canned tuna is a wonderful seafood option, considering not everyone has access to fresh fish, not to mention it's super affordable.

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 do you moisten a 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.

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

Keep food cold by nesting dishes in bowls of ice or use small serving trays and replace them often. Discard any cold leftovers that have been left out for more than 2 hours at room temperature (1 hour when the temperature is above 90 °F).

How long is leftover tuna casserole good for? ›

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

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.

Where does Walmart get their tuna? ›

Pacific Island Tuna was formed in October 2021 as a partnership between TNC and the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Pacific Island Tuna now supplies Great Value canned tuna to Walmart.

Is it OK to freeze tuna 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.

Why is frozen tuna pink? ›

The carbon monoxide reacts with the muscle pigments to form a very stable complex, carboxymyoglobin. The CO-treatment permanently turns the red tuna to an unnatural, watermelon pink color as a result of this process.

What is a casserole made out of? ›

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 casserole dishes made of? ›

“A casserole dish and a baking dish are the same thing: an oven-safe piece of cookware, usually made of ceramic, porcelain, or glass,” says Anthony Contrino, an Emmy Award–winning culinary producer and food stylist. "They can come in various shapes, with the most common being rectangular, oval, or square.

Where does tuna casserole come from? ›

Although most associated with 1950s Middle America, this iconic bootstrap recipe first popped up in the Pacific Northwest in 1930.

What is actually in canned tuna? ›

A: Tunas belong to the fish species “Thunnus.” There are many species of tuna, but only three that are commonly found in cans or pouches: skipjack, yellowfin and albacore. Skipjack and yellowfin are considered “light meat” tunas and albacore is “white meat” tuna.

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