If you are hungry and need fast yet appetizing food, then tuna noodle casserole can be a lifesaver. The recipe we will discuss in this post is super easy to make and is loaded with nutrition. This recipe is popular as one of the most favorite American cuisines. This belly-warming recipe is loved by the generations for many reasons. It is easy to make, delicious, and affordable. Furthermore, you can be creative with the tuna noodle casserole recipe and use your veggies leftovers in making the recipe. Let’s cook!

About The Recipe

The recipe can be made with simple ingredients, such as canned tuna, peas, mushrooms, noodles, and homemade creamy sauce. You can also use toasted breadcrumbs and veggies as it gives you the freedom to be creative when making tuna noodle casserole. It is a handy recipe, so keeping canned tuna stored can always help you with a quick meal. You can also make quick Tuna Macaroni Salad and Classic Tuna Melt.  

Variations

You can introduce different vegetables and substitute the tuna with the chicken. Besides, you can also use whole wheat noodles. There are no strict mandates when making the recipe. Just have fun! 

Things You Need To Consider When Making Tuna Noodle Casserole

Now that you have planned to go with the tuna casserole recipe, here are a few important considerations you should keep in mind: 

  • You can start by making a simple white sauce in the first place. It can eliminate the need for the canned soup in the recipe.
  • Add your favorite veggies to the recipe. This recipe uses peas and mushrooms, but you are free to swap them out for carrots, broccoli, asparagus, etc.
  • Also, you can replace the egg noodles with whole wheat if you wish.
  • You can also replace the tuna fish with chicken or salmon if you don’t like it.
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Ingredients 

Now that you are prepared to start, you need to make sure to keep the below-ingredients handy: 

  • 6 oz of no-yolk noodles, Ronzoni Healthy Harvest, or brown rice pasta for gluten-free
  • 1 3/4 cups fat-free chicken broth
  • 1 cup 1% milk
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • Two cans of 5 oz tuna in water, drained (I used albacore)
  • 50% or 4 oz of reduced-fat sharp cheddar, I used Cabot
  • cooking spray
  • One medium onion, minced fine
  • 10 oz sliced baby Bella mushrooms
  • 1 cup frozen petite peas, thawed
  • 3 tbsp flour, gluten-free use rice flour
  • 3/4 cups fat-free chicken broth
  • 1 cup 1% milk
  • 1 oz sherry, optional
  • 2 tbsp parmesan cheese
  • 2 tbsp whole wheat seasoned breadcrumbs

Once you have all the above-listed ingredients, you can proceed further with the tuna casserole procedure. You can choose the alternatives of the ingredients as per your own taste. There is no hard and fast rule for it. 

Step By Step Instructions 

Now we have reached that section of the post, where we will discuss the step-by-step procedure to make the delicious tuna casserole recipe. Follow the below-described steps with the utmost care and attention:  

  1. In the first place, you need to cook noodles in salted water until they remain firm, or undercook for 2 minutes. Once you are done, set the noodles aside.
  2. Proceeding further, melt the butter in a large deep metal cooking pot. After that, add onions and cook on moderate heat for 5 minutes until soft. 
  3. Next, add the flour and a pinch of salt and mix it well. Cook it for 2-3 more minutes on medium-low heat.
  4. Now preheat the oven to 375° and spray 9 x 12 casserole with butter-flavored cooking spray.
  5. Moving ahead, whisk in the chicken broth until it gets combined well. Change the heat from low to medium and whisk well for 30 seconds, then add the milk and boil it. 
  6. When the tuna noodle casserole is boiling, you can add peas, sherry, and mushrooms to it. Add salt and pepper in the right proportion and simmer on medium heat until the recipe thickens. 
  7. Now add drained tuna, and stir it for another minute.
  8. Remove from heat and add the reduced-fat sharp cheddar. Mix it well until it melts, and then add the noodles to the sauce and mix well until evenly spread. 
  9. After that, pour it into the casserole and put some parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs on top of it. Apply a little more cooking spray on the top and bake it for about 25 minutes.
  10. Finally, Place under the broiler for a few minutes until the crumbs get crisp. 
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How To Freeze A Tuna Casserole?

If you are thinking about how to freeze a tuna noodle casserole, there are two ways of doing it. One is the make-ahead freeze method, and the other is the freezing of leftovers. 

Make-Ahead Method

In this method, you need to prepare everything until it gets ready for baking except the Parmesan and breadcrumbs. Once you are done, transfer the mixture to a freeze contained or bag. Before serving the recipe, you need to defrost it overnight in the refrigerator. Now top it with Parmesan and bread crumbs and bake it for ready to eat. 

The Left-Over Method

In this method, you can freeze the leftover, oven-baked tuna. To get it done, you need to flash-freeze the leftover in the original baking dish for a few hours. Once it becomes solid, remove it from the dish and move it into a freezer bag. Put it back in the freezer and follow the same procedure as above to make it ready to get served. 

How To Make The Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe Thick? 

If you want the recipe to be thick, then keeping it for a longer time in the oven can help. Besides, you can apply about ¼ cup of extra Parmesan cheese to thicken the recipe. 

Final Words!

If you want a super-fast yet fulfilling recipe, then tuna noodle casserole is a suitable recipe for you. In this post, you can learn the procedure to make and store this recipe. Besides, you can also find some handy hacks related to it. If you like reading our posts, then paying a visit to our blog section can help you to get blogs on topics related to all walks of life.