Old Fashioned Tuna Casserole is a warm memory, like a hug from an old friend. It’s a classic recipe that takes you back to a kinder and simpler time.
This tuna casserole is creamy and cheesy making it so satisfying. This casserole is an easy addition to your meal rotation.
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Why this Old Fashioned Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe is a Keeper
This old-fashioned tuna casserole recipe is great because it’s a quick and easy classic that everyone loves.
- 40 Minute Meal: Including bake time, this casserole will be done in about 40 minutes to make this easy recipe.
- Easy Ingredients: All the ingredients might already be in your pantry or fridge. So it is a quick and easy dinner. Your kids will like tuna when it is made this easy.
- Family Friendly: Everyone loves a classic easy tuna noodle casserole recipe.
- Adaptable: Can this recipe make it low-fat or low sodium. You can make topped with crushed potato chips you can make a tater tot casserole version too.
If you’re looking for more casserole recipes, try these Baked Pierogi Casserole, Jiffy Cornbread Casserole and Spaghetti Casserole with Meatballs
Can I Make this Classic Tuna Casserole Recipe Ahead of Time?
You can make the best tuna casserole recipe several days ahead. Heat by following the baking instructions or freeze for meal prep.
Ingredient Notes for Old Fashioned Tuna Casserole
You will need only a few simple ingredients that are all easy to find at your local grocery store. If your family loves macaroni and cheese then you will love this tuna version.
- Canned Drained Tuna: Instead of using canned tuna, try fresh tuna!
- Noodles: Wide egg noodles are the best noodle for this classic recipe.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
Variations and Substitutions for Classic Tuna Noodle Comfort Food
- Use Canned Soup Mix: Instead of making your own sauce you can use cream of celery soup, cream of chicken soup, cream of mushroom soup or cheddar cheese soup.
- Sour Cream: If you’d like, add a little sour cream in your casserole for some more flavor.
Special Equipment Needed for this Classic Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe
- Casserole Dish: A casserole dish will be best to make and bake this recipe in.
Pro Tip
Use other canned meat such as ham, salmon or chicken.
How to Make Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe
This classic tuna casserole with mushroom soup can be done in an easy 5 steps. This tuna casserole is an easy way to make dinner. Made with simple ingredients and perfect for people who love tuna.
These are the basic steps for making Old Fashioned Tuna Casserole. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions.
1. Prep
Preheat oven to 375 degrees, spray a 13×9 baking dish with cooking spray and cook the noodles; save some pasta water.
2. Cook Veggies
Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a pan over medium-low heat. Stir in the onion, celery, and garlic and cook for 5 minutes or until tender.
3. Make the Sauce
Make a roux with 4 tablespoons of butter and flour. Whisk until smooth. Slowly whisk in milk and cook for 5 minutes. Add grated cheddar cheese.
If sauce is too thick, stir in reserved pasta water until sauce is desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Assemble the Tuna Fish Casserole
Add tuna and peas, onion mixture and cooked egg noodles to the sauce. Transfer to the prepared casserole dish.
5. Bake the Casserole
Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and mix with bread crumbs. Sprinkle the crumbs over the casserole with egg noodles and bake for 25 minutes or until bubbly and lightly browned.
Recipe FAQs for Old-Fashioned Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe
Expert Tips to Make Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe
You will love this recipe because it is so versatile. Make tuna casserole with these simple alternatives.
- This Recipe Can be Doubled: Increase the ingredients proportionately and split it into two dishes before baking.
- Add Different Ingredients: Not a fan of peas, use carrots, leeks or mushrooms. Or make a chicken casserole.
- Variation Tip: No need to use egg noodles, elbow macaroni or any other pasta or shells can be used.
- Cheese: Feel free to use a different shredded cheese such as parmesan or gruyere.
- Top Casserole with Potato Chips: Try adding ritz crackers or sprinkle crushed potato chips on top for a salty crunch. Add the potato chips or crackers to the breadcrumbs or use alone. Cheese and crushed potato chips on top of the casserole makes a wonder crunchy topping.
- Alternate cooking method tip: Make this cheesy tuna casserole recipe in the instant pot/Pressure cooker. It cooks for 10 minutes and then transfers to broil the topping until brown and crunchy.
More Tuna Related Recipes
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Old Fashioned Tuna Casserole
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Ingredients
- ½ cup Butter, divided
- 16 ounces Egg noodles, cooked and drained (reserve 1/2 cup cooking water)
- ½ Medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 Celery stalk, finely chopped
- 3 cloves Garlic, minced
- ¼ cup All purpose flour
- 2 cups Milk
- ½ cup Cheddar cheese, shredded
- ½ teaspoon All purpose seasoning
- 5 ounces Albacore tuna , tuna packed in water
- 1 cup Frozen peas, thawed
- ¼ cup Panko bread crumbs
- 2 tablespoons Butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 13×9 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a skillet over medium-low heat. Stir in the onion, celery, and garlic, and cook 5 minutes or until tender.
- Melt 4 tablespoons butter in a medium saucepan, and whisk in flour until smooth. Gradually whisk in milk and continue cooking 5 minutes, until sauce is smooth and slightly thickened.
- Add cheddar cheese. If sauce is too thick, slowly stir in reserved pasta water until sauce is desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper.
- Stir in tuna, peas, onion mixture and cooked noodles. Transfer to the baking dish.
- Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter and mix with bread crumbs, and sprinkle over the casserole.
- Bake 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until bubbly and lightly browned.
Christina’s Notes
- Add Different Ingredients: Not a fan of peas, use carrots, leeks or mushrooms.
- Mix up the Protein: Different fish such as canned salmon can be used or even make with crab, shrimp or chicken.
- Variation tip: No need to use egg noodles, elbow macaroni or any other pasta or shells can be used.
- Cheese: Feel free to use a different cheese such as parmesan or gruyere.
- Alternate cooking method tip: Make this recipe in the instant pot/Pressure cooker. It will take less than ten minutes and then transfer to a baking pan and broil the topping until brown and crunchy.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.
How much is one package of egg noodles? One commenter put 12 oz. My package of noodles is 16 oz. How much is the suppose to be?
I use one standard bag which is 16 ounces.
This is amazing. Pure comfort food.
This is such a classic comfort dish. I can’t decide if my favourite part is the noodles or the cheesy breadcrumb topping!
How many ounces of egg noodles are in the recipe? The recipe says 1 ounce which must be a mistake.
It is 1 package. usually 12 ounces.
My mom use to make this all the time when we were kids. It is a true classic, thanks for the recipe.
I am looking for the nutritional values of the dish and could not find them. I need to make low sodium dishes for my husband. Thank you
Sorry, but at this time, I don’t have the nutritional info for my recipes.