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? ›

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? ›

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 to thicken tuna casserole? ›

Condensed cream of mushroom soup will create a thick sauce for tuna casserole, but only if you don't dilute the soup. If the tuna casserole looks a little thin after baking, mix in an extra 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Let the casserole bake, uncovered, for a little longer and it should thicken right up.

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.

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.

What method should be used to cool tuna casserole? ›

Refrigeration: Place the tuna casserole in airtight containers or covered dishes and place them in the refrigerator. Make sure to leave enough space for air circulation. Cooling the casserole in the refrigerator allows the heat to dissipate slowly and keeps the food safe from bacteria growth.

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 do you keep tuna moist when cooking? ›

Tuna dries out quite quickly and turns crumbly, so it should be cooked very briefly over a high heat in a frying pan, on a griddle or over a barbecue; or cooked under oil (confit), sous vide or simmered in a sauce.

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.

Do you put flour in casserole? ›

Some casserole recipes call for the liquid to be thickened, and this can be done in various ways. The most popular way is to add some flour to the casserole after the meat has been browned (so that it can mingle with the juices and fat in the pan) and before the liquid is added.

What to do when your casserole is too runny? ›

Thicken a meat casserole the most popular way with flour.

Add some flour to your pan after you've browned the meat and before adding any liquid. This way, the flour will soak up the juices and fat in the pan. Add about one teaspoon of flour at a time until you get the right thickness.

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.

How many days is tuna casserole good for? ›

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.

How to fix a dry casserole? ›

If you've already cooked your casserole and find out it's too dry, another easy fix is to warm some broth and then pour it over the top of your casserole. Cover the dish with aluminum foil to prevent the liquid from evaporating and wait for 10 minutes or so before serving.

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 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.

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 is the crunchy stuff in my can of tuna? ›

These small fragments are crystals of a substance know chemically as magnesium ammonium phosphate, commonly called "struvite." If you find glass-like crystals in your canned seafood, don't be alarmed. These are natural occurring minerals called struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate).

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