Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe (2024)

This Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe uses just a few simple ingredients and comes together to make a great comforting dinner!

Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe (1)

Growing up, I thought my mom was the best cook. And, don’t get me wrong, she knew her way around the kitchen and even developed a lot of her own recipes (like her crazy popular Crab Pasta Salad). But I was thinking the other day and realized that she made a lot of boxed casserole dinners. But I swear, now looking back, that one of the reasons I thought she was such a great cook was because of the love she infused into the food. She really did feel so much love and joy in making dinner for us.

#GOALS

So today I’m going to teach you how to make an Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole without a box. This recipe is seriously so simple and easy that you can do make it and still answer math questions, clean out back packs and break up fights at the same time.

How to Make a Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe

There are just a few simple steps to this recipe.

  1. Make some egg noodles. You need to cook them before you put them in the casserole dish, but while they cook you can do everything else.
  2. In the casserole dish (no need to get another bowl dirty), mix together the condensed cream of chicken soup (either homemade or store bought), milk, seasonings, tuna and peas.
  3. Add the noodles when they are done, bake.
  4. Add the topping at the very end.

Four simple steps and very little hands on time. I made this for my family after a Cross Country meet and it was a no fuss dinner perfect for a busy weeknight.

Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe (2)

Make this Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole Ahead of Time

If those steps all sound like too much right after you take the kids to soccer practice, or when you are walking through door from work, no fear. You can make this tuna casserole ahead of time. Just stop right before you put it in the oven (skipping the topping making step too).

Cover it and store it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. When you are ready to eat it, throw it in your preheated oven. Then make your topping.

Freezing Tuna Noodle Casserole

You can also freeze it and make it later! If you are doing that, make it up until the topping step in a disposable oven proof container. Wrap it in two layers of aluminum foil. Freeze it for up to three months.

When you are ready to cook it, take it out of the freezer, remove the foil, and bake it for 35 minutes at 400 degrees or until the middle is warm and the sides are bubbly. Top with your bread crumbles or cracker crumbs and bake for another 10 minutes.

We use a disposable container so that it can go right from freezer to hot oven without cracking. If you use a ceramic or glass container, put it in the cold oven and then turn it on. You will need to bake it for slightly longer than 35 minutes.

Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe (3)

Making this Recipe from Scratch

There is absolutely no shame in making tuna casserole using store bought condensed soup. You can really use any flavor you want but I would recommend condensed cream of chicken or condensed cream of mushroom soup. But if you want to make this from scratch, try my homemade condensed cream of chicken soup. It makes the exact amount you need for this recipe.

Bread Crumbs or Crackers for Topping

I feel like this is going to be a do we call it ‘soda’ or do we call it ‘pop’ conversation. Bread crumbs or crackers for topping your tuna noodle casserole recipe?

The good news is I’m going to tell you how to do it either way. And both are delicious.

For a bread crumb topping, chop up two pieces of bread. Use a food processor to crumble them and make them fine pieces. Toss with melted butter and add to your easy tuna noodle casserole at the every end. This is delicious but a little putsy.

For a cracker topping, crush a cup worth of Ritz crackers (about 16 crackers). Toss them with melted butter and then throw them on the tuna casserole at the end.

Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe (4)

How much does this Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole Make?

This casserole is on the smaller side and makes about 5 1/2 cups. The nutritional information is for 1 heaping cup (about 6 ounces).

Other Delicious Casseroles

If your family thrives on casseroles, try some of these other delicious ones:

This Baked Ziti was just posted yesterday and I am craving it all over again.

My Southwestern Chicken and Rice Casserole is easy and so comforting.

This Philly Cheesesteak Casserole is a viral recipe so many people have loved, and that has angered the entire city of Philadelphia.

If you make my easy tuna noodle casserole recipe or any of my other recipes, please leave me a comment and let me know!

Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe (5)

Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe (6)

5 from 2 votes

Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe

Serves: 5 servings

(tap # to scale)

Prep: 18 minutes minutes

Cook: 25 minutes minutes

Total: 43 minutes minutes

This Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe uses just a few simple ingredients and comes together to make a great comforting dinner!

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Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 cups dry egg noodles or 4 ounces (see note about cooking)
  • 10 ounces condensed cream of mushroom soup or homemade condensed cream of chicken soup
  • 10 ounces canned tuna in water drained and flaked
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • 2 slices white bread cut up and then broken down to crumbs in a food processor (see note)
  • 1 tablespoon melted better

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Spray a 1 1/2 quart baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.

  • Cook the noodles according to package instructions.

  • Mix the condensed soup, milk, tuna, salt and pepper together in the prepared casserole dish. Then stir in the peas and the cooked noodles.

  • While the casserole bakes break down your bread and toss with melted butter. (See note about making this recipe easier).

  • Bake for 20 minutes. Top with bread and butter mixutre and bake for 5 more minutes or unitl the bread is golden brown.

  • Serve and enjoy!

Notes

You want to cook your egg noodles according to package instructions, subtracting 2 minutes from the boiling time. For example if your package says to cook for 10 to 12 minutes, you want to cook your noodles for 8 minutes.

If you want to make this recipe easier, skip the bread and make this with 1 cup of broken down Ritz crackers that have been tossed with 1 tablespoon melted butter.

Serving: 1cup Calories: 257kcal (13%) Carbohydrates: 28g (9%) Protein: 17g (34%) Fat: 8g (12%) Saturated Fat: 3g (19%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g Monounsaturated Fat: 2g Cholesterol: 56mg (19%) Sodium: 913mg (40%) Potassium: 257mg (7%) Fiber: 2g (8%) Sugar: 3g (3%) Vitamin A: 30IU (1%) Vitamin C: 5mg (6%) Calcium: 38mg (4%) Iron: 12mg (67%)

Author: Lisa Longley

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe (7)

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Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe

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Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Do you cook noodles before putting them in a casserole? ›

Do you cook the noodles before adding them to the casserole? Yes, you should cook the egg noodles until they're al dente before combining with the other ingredients.

What is tuna noodle 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? ›

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.

Should you rinse pasta for a casserole? ›

The answer is simple: No, you should not rinse pasta. You should never rinse pasta, noodles, or macaroni if it is going to be added to a sauce and served.

Should I cook my noodles in the sauce? ›

First, in authentic Italian cuisine, the sauce is always tossed with the pasta before it ever hits the plate. Just before the sauce is done cooking, the hot pasta is added to the saucepan. Generally speaking, we recommend cooking the pasta in the sauce together for about 1-2 minutes.

Why doesn't canned tuna need to be cooked? ›

Once the cans are filled and sealed, they also undergo processing, which the USDA explains is the method by which commercially canned goods are heated to 250 degrees Fahrenheit to destroy harmful microorganisms. From there, the vacuum seal prevents new bacteria from forming.

What's the best pasta to use for tuna casserole? ›

Egg noodles is the pasta of choice for Campbell's, which is a company commonly associated with casseroles thanks to its line of condensed cream soups. Campbell's recipe also calls for milk, chopped pimiento, frozen green peas, canned tuna, butter, and breadcrumbs.

Is all canned tuna cooked? ›

There are around eight different commercial varieties that range in size from the small skipjack tuna to the large bluefin, and it is one of the most widely eaten fish in the world. Tuna can be eaten fresh – either raw or cooked – and canned (which is always pre-cooked).

How do you thicken tuna casserole? ›

Make a cornstarch slurry for a fast and easy thickener.

Use one tablespoon of cornstarch per cup of liquid you would like to thicken. Stir out all the lumps. A few minutes before your casserole is done, add it a little at a time until you are happy with the thickness. Then, let the casserole finish baking.

How many days can you eat tuna casserole? ›

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.

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? ›

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.

Is it OK to freeze tuna noodle 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.

What can I add to tuna to make it less dry? ›

Add a little moisture to the mix

Unless your tuna comes in a pouch, chances are high that it's preserved in water and in a can. Once water is removed from a meat that's already dry on its own, the result is a sinewy and unappetizing protein surrounded by aluminum. Mayonnaise is, by far, the most popular addition.

Do you have to boil egg noodles before baking? ›

Fresh egg noodles do not require pre-boiling, but dried egg noodles do. Fresh egg noodles are made with eggs and flour, and they are typically cooked in a matter of minutes. Dried egg noodles are made with the same ingredients, but they are dried before packaging.

Can you put uncooked pasta in the oven? ›

PREHEAT oven to 425 degrees. COMBINE uncooked pasta, 1 jar of Sauce and 1 jar of water in a 13 x 9 inch baking pan. Cover with aluminum foil. BAKE 30 minutes.

Do you use cooked or uncooked noodles for lasagna? ›

You don't need oven-ready lasagna noodles. Regular lasagna noodles should cook just fine. If you prefer, you can boil lasagna noodles as the box instructions suggest and then make the lasagna as described. Don't add any extra water if you choose this method.

Do you boil ziti before baking? ›

Tightly covering the baking dish in aluminum foil forces the pasta to steam-cook in the marinara sauce, which eliminates the need to pre-boil the noodles. Most baked ziti recipes call for three cheeses: mozzarella (for cheese pulls), ricotta (for creaminess), and Parmesan.

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