This cheesy tuna casserole is layered with tons of flavor. From the tuna and egg noodles to the creamy sauce and melted cheese, every part is delicious. You're going to love eating this tuna casserole almost as much as you'll love making it!
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The Best Cheesy Tuna Casserole
This cheesy tuna noodle casserole combines simple ingredients and transforms them into something amazing.
It has the perfect combination of canned tuna, tender egg noodles, and sweet peas with the perfect balance of spices. Everything's tossed in a rich and creamy sauce and covered in a layer of ooey-gooey melted cheddar cheese.
The result is a satisfying, comforting, and cheesy casserole everyone will love. Plus, it couldn't be easier to make and takes just 30 minutes from start to finish!
This cheesy tuna noodle casserole recipe is perfect for those hectic weeknight dinners when you need something quick and easy. You can serve it as is or with these Bisquick cheddar bay biscuits to soak up the creamy homemade sauce.
Why This Recipe Works
It's easy to make. All you have to do is make the cream sauce, pile the rest of the ingredients into your casserole dish, and let it bake in the oven. It takes just 10 minutes to prepare and is foolproof!
A winning combination. The flavors and textures of the tuna, noodles, and peas go so well with the sauce and cheddar cheese. Every bite will leave you wanting more!
Customizable. Just like this tuna and rice casserole, this recipe is easy to modify. You can add, swap, or switch up whatever you want to make it uniquely yours.
A guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Whenever I make this casserole for a family dinner or get-together, it's always a hit. Even the pickiest of eaters will be going back for seconds!
Ingredients
I know the ingredient list for this tuna casserole recipe without soup looks long, but I promise everything's very straightforward. You might even have a few ingredients on hand!
Check out everything you'll need to make cheesy tuna noodle casserole:
- 12oz. cooked egg noodles
- 2 canned tuna in water
- 4 tbsps. olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic
- 4 tbsps. all-purpose flour
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 1 ½ cups milk
- 1 tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. black pepper
- 1 tsp. sweet paprika
- 2 cups cooked peas
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
You can use many of these ingredients to make my other tuna noodle casserole recipe. It's got a similar flavor but is topped with crushed crackers to make a crispy topping, so if you love tuna casserole, give that classic tuna noodle casserole a try next!
How To Make Cheesy Tuna Casserole
1. Prep work: Preheat the oven to 350°F and coat a 9x13 inch casserole dish with olive oil or nonstick cooking spray. Set it aside for later. Cook the egg noodles if you haven't done so already.
2. Make the cream sauce: Add a little olive oil to a saucepan and set it over medium heat. Once the pan is hot, add the minced garlic and flour, and whisk constantly for 1 minute. Slowly add the vegetable broth and milk to the pan and continue whisking until they're smooth and fully incorporated. Bring this mixture to a simmer and cook until the sauce has thickened.
3. Make the casserole filling: Remove the pan from the heat and add the cooked peas, canned tuna, sweet paprika, salt, and black pepper. Give everything a good mix until it fully combines.
4. Assemble the casserole: Add the cooked noodles to the pan and stir them into the tuna mixture. Transfer everything to the prepared casserole dish and sprinkle the cheddar cheese on top of the casserole.
5. Bake and serve: Bake uncovered for 15-20 minutes or until the casserole is fully heated and the cheese is melted. Serve the casserole warm, and enjoy!
Tips To Make The Best Recipe
- Swap vegetable broth and the flour for cream of mushroom soup, cream of chicken soup, or cream of celery soup for a different flavor and a more convenient casserole.
- Cook the pasta to al dente since it will continue to cook in the baking dish.
- Use solid white albacore tuna for a mild, more meaty textured dish.
- Experiment with adding ingredients like garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, or parmesan cheese for extra flavor.
- Add extra veggies like chopped carrots, spinach, bell peppers, or sliced mushrooms for an even healthier casserole.
- Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top of the casserole to make it an even cheesier tuna noodle casserole recipe.
- Top the casserole with panko bread crumbs or crushed potato chips coated in melted butter for a crispy topping.
How To Store Cheesy Tuna Noodle Casserole
In the fridge: You can store any leftover tuna noodle casserole in the fridge in the baking dish with a lid on it or in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
In the freezer: Allow the leftover tuna casserole to cool completely, then transfer it to a freezer-safe container or freezer-safe bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
Reheating: To reheat leftover tuna casserole, bake it in the oven at 350°F for about 10 minutes or until warm. If reheating from frozen, thaw the casserole in the fridge overnight before reheating, or just add more cooking time.
More Recipes
- Salmon casserole
- Shrimp casserole
- Chicken cauliflower casserole
- Cheesy tater tot casserole
- Bacon cheeseburger casserole
Cheesy Tuna Casserole
This cheesy tuna casserole is layered with tons of flavor. From the tuna and egg noodles to the creamy sauce and melted cheese, every part is delicious. You're going to love eating this tuna casserole almost as much as you'll love making it!
Ingredients
- 12oz. cooked egg noodles
- 2 canned tuna in water
- 4 tbsps. olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic
- 4 tbsps. all-purpose flour
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 1 ½ cups milk
- 1 tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. black pepper
- 1 tsp. sweet paprika
- 2 cups cooked peas
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Coat a 9x13-inch casserole dish with olive oil. In a saucepan over medium heat, add olive oil. Once hot, add minced garlic and flour, and whisk constantly for about 1 minute.
- Slowly add the vegetable broth and milk, whisking until incorporated and smooth. Bring to a simmer, and cook until the sauce has thickened.
- Remove from the heat, and add cooked peas, tuna, sweet paprika, salt, and black pepper, stirring to combine.
- Mix the cooked noodles with the tuna sauce in the prepared casserole dish.
- Sprinkle the cheddar cheese on top of the casserole.
- Bake uncovered for 15-20 minutes or until the casserole is heated through.
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size:
2 cupsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 644Total Fat: 22gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 131mgSodium: 926mgCarbohydrates: 69gFiber: 5gSugar: 0gProtein: 43g
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