Weeknight Classic Tuna Noodle Casserole

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This old time classic tuna casserole will bring you right back to childhood. Budget-friendly and easy to double for a crowd!

A weeknight winner, this casserole is easy to whip up, has an amazing creamy sauce, topped with a crunchy mixture (made of bread crumbs and cheese. Making this is mostly hands-off, but you could easily make this ahead on a Sunday night, and pop in the oven when you get home from work on Monday! 

I’m a working mama and have a busy life, so this kind of dinner is PERFECT for us. Even better, is that for my family of 2 adults and 2 little boys (plus an extra adult every now and then – hi Alexis!) this recipe makes enough for leftovers for lunch the next day.

Most people I know grew up on this as a staple in their homes, so this is serious comfort food for you! Mom would whip it up and the whole family would grab a plate, and sit down to dinner together. I love the kind of dinner that you can get cooking, and then use the time it’s in the oven to do something else, like drink wine, um..read stories with the kids, ride bikes outside or fold a load of laundry.

I REALLY love the whole sitting down to dinner together part. A casserole just screams family, comfort, and deliciousness. There’s nothing like squabbling over the last spoonful of food. No? Must be just my family then!

How to make Tuna Noodle Casserole from Scratch:

(full, printable recipe below – just scroll!)

1. Preheat the oven to 400F.
2. In a large saucepan, cook the pasta in salted water for slightly less than it recommends on the package (around 2 mins less).
3. Drain pasta and set aside.
4. Meanwhile, add the breadcrumbs to a small bowl, and add the melted butter. Mix until well combined, then add half the cheese.
5. Pour the milk and soup into a large saucepan and mix well, stirring constantly.
6. Add the vegetables, the other half of the cheese and the tuna.
7. Heat over medium heat until JUST beginning to bubble around the edges.
8. Stir in the parsley if using, then remove from the heat.
9. Add the pasta to the tuna mixture and mix until well blended.
10. Pour into a 8 x 8 baking dish, and top with the bread crumbs/cheese mixture.
11. Bake at 400F for 30 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown.
12. Remove from the oven and let it stand for 5-10 minutes

Ingredients in the Best Tuna Casserole Recipe:

Simple ingredients, although I urge you to try this Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup vs using store bought!

• Pasta – any pasta will work. I like wide egg noodles, but have made this with rotini, and penne with great success
• Breadcrumbs – these can be fresh (throw some bread in the food processor or you can use the store bought kind
• Butter – I use salted butter, this goes in the breadcrumb topping and makes it all buttery and delicious
• Cheddar cheese – shred your own, some will go in the sauce, and some in the breadcrumb topping
• Milk – you can do whatever you want here – 2%, whole milk, even half n half if you so desire
• Cream of Chicken soup (click to make your own)
• Red & green bell peppers & celery – diced the same size. You can change these out for whatever you have on hand. Carrots, green beans, peas, corn – you get the idea. Right?
• Tuna – I use chunk light tuna in water (2 x 7oz cans)  

Kylee’s Notes/FAQs

• Can this be frozen? Nope! But it’s so fast to make, you really don’t need to, since you can whip it up on a weeknight.
• Can I use a different flavor soup? Yes, absolutely. Sub any kind of condensed creamed soup you like –cream of mushroom soup, cream of celery, cheddar cheese – you choose!
• What kind of breadcrumbs? Fresh breadcrumbs are awesome, but either fresh or store bought works great. I’ve also used ritz crackers mixed with parmesan cheese, or crushed potato chips – it really is up to you!
• Like cheese? Add more!
• Don’t have the same vegetables in your freezer? Play around with the vegetables – frozen corn, green beans, peas, carrots – are all good choices in this.
• What if my mixture is dry? If the mixture seems dry (it should be “sauce-y” before baking) add a little more milk

Try these other weeknight recipes:

• Chicken
  • Simple Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas (a huge family fave)
  • Creamy Mediterranean Chicken Skillet (you also need this one in your life
• Pork
  • Pork Schnitzel Recipe (my secret ingredient makes these AMAZING)
    Pan Roast Pork Tenderloin (30 minutes!)
  • Blue Cheese Crusted Pork Chops (To DIE for!!)
• Pasta
  • One Skillet Ham & Cheese Pasta
  • Creamy Sausage Pasta
  • The Best Baked Mac and Cheese (from Princess Pinky Girl)
  • Classic Easy Beef Lasagna (from Real Housemoms)
• See all weeknight recipes

WANT TO TRY THIS CLASSIC TUNA NOODLE CASSEROLE? 
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Classic Tuna Noodle Casserole

This old time classic tuna noodle casserole will bring you right back to childhood. Budget friendly and easy to double for a crowd!

5 from 4 votes

Print Pin

Course: Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Servings: 6 servings

Calories: 536kcal

Author: Kylee Cooks

Want to scale this recipe?Simply click on the serving amount and move the slider up or down - the recipe will automatically adjust!

Ingredients

• 8 oz pasta of your choice
• 1 cup breadcrumbs fresh or storebought
• 2 Tbs butter melted
• 1 cup grated cheddar cheese divided
• 1 cup milk
• 1 14 oz cream of chicken soup (click to make your own)
• ½ cup red bell pepper diced
• ½ cup green bell pepper diced
• ½ cup celery diced
• 14 oz chunk light tuna in water (2 cans)

OPTIONAL

• 1/4 cup Fresh parsley minced

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 400F.
• In a large saucepan, cook the pasta in salted water for slightly less than it recommends on the package (around 2 mins less).
• Drain pasta, and set aside.
• Meanwhile, add the breadcrumbs to a small bowl, and add the melted butter. Mix until well combined, then add half the cheese.
• Pour the milk and soup into a large saucepan, and mix well.
• Add the vegetables, the other half of the cheese and the tuna.
• Heat over a medium heat until JUST beginning to bubble around the edges.
• Stir in the parsley if using, then remove from the heat.
• Add the pasta to the tuna mixture, and mix until well blended.
• Pour into a 8 x 8 casserole dish, and top with the breadcrumbs/cheese mixture.
• Bake at 400F for 30 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown.
• Remove from the oven and let it stand for 5-10 minutes.
• Devour.

Notes

Kylee's Notes for Classic Tuna Noodle Casserole

• You can sub any kind of condensed creamed soup you like – mushroom, celery, cheese – you choose!
• Fresh breadcrumbs are awesome, but either fresh or store bought works great
• Add more cheese if you like it cheesier!
• Play around with the vegetables – frozen corn, green beans, peas, carrots – are all good choices in this.
• If the mixture seems dry (it should be "sauce-y" before baking) add a little more milk

 

Nutrition

Calories: 536kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 49mg | Sodium: 1032mg | Potassium: 406mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 990IU | Vitamin C: 26.1mg | Calcium: 222mg | Iron: 3.3mg

Tried this recipe?Mention @kyleecooks or tag #kyleecooks!