This tuna casserole is made with canned tuna, noodles and vegetables in a homemade creamy sauce. It’s topped with a crispy breadcrumb topping and then baked until hot and bubbly.
Tuna Casserole, but better than you remember!
Tuna casserole is a nostalgic recipe that reminds me of my childhood. My recipe is special because it’s made from scratch, without canned cream of soup. The creamy sauce takes just minutes to stir together on the stove. It makes this tuna casserole taste so much better than any canned soup version!
Casserole recipes, like Chicken Casserole, Hamburger Casserole and this tuna casserole, are some of my favorites to make for my family for dinner. Not only are they comforting, but once you put a casserole in the oven you have time to clean up the kitchen or prep a side dish while it bakes.
This is the best tuna casserole I have ever tasted!! Flavor explodes in my mouth with every delicious bite!! Thank you so much for creating this recipe!!😋😋😋😋😋
Dave L
Tuna Casserole Recipe Ingredients
- Egg Noodles: Egg noodles are the classic noodle used in tuna casserole. Their soft texture works really well here, just like it does in Chicken Noodle Soup.
- Butter: The butter has three purposes in this recipe: it adds richness and flavor, it’s used to sauté the onion and celery, and it combines with the flour to make a roux, which thickens the sauce.
- Onion and Celery: These two veggies provide lots of flavor.
- Flour: To thicken the sauce.
- Chicken Broth and Milk: Using a combination of broth and milk produces a sauce that is creamy without being too heavy. I recommend using whole milk to make the sauce rich and creamy.
- Salt, Pepper and Dried Thyme: To season the casserole.
- Frozen Peas and Carrots: You don’t need to thaw or pre-cook them before adding them to the pot.
- Canned Tuna: Be sure to buy canned tuna in water, not oil. Any type that you like will work; light tuna is lower in mercury than white albacore. Skipjack is a good, lower mercury option. Craving more tuna recipes? Try a Tuna Melt or Tuna Salad.
- Cheddar Cheese: To add irresistible cheesy flavor!
Don’t Skip the Crispy Topping
The crispy topping adds a nice texture variation to this tuna casserole and also keeps the tuna and noodles from drying out as it bakes. To make the topping, you’ll stir together panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese and melted butter. The butter ensures that the topping gets nice and crispy and golden brown in the oven.
How to Make Tuna Casserole
Here’s an overview of the recipe steps. Find the full recipe with measurements in the recipe card below.
Cook the egg noodles in boiling water according to package directions. Be careful to not overcook them, you don’t want them to fall apart in the casserole.
Sauté veggies and make the creamy sauce. In a large skillet, cook the onion and celery in butter until softened. Add the flour and stir for 30 seconds to cook off the raw flour taste. Then stir in the chicken broth, milk and seasonings. Cook for 2-3 minutes, until thickened. Remove the pan from the heat.
Stir in the frozen veggies, tuna, shredded cheddar cheese and cooked noodles. Pour the mixture into a 9×13-inch baking dish.
Add topping and bake. Stir together the topping ingredients and sprinkle the topping over the tuna casserole. Bake, uncovered, at 375° F for 15-20 minutes, until hot throughout and golden brown on top.
Serving Suggestions
Add this creamy, cheesy tuna noodle casserole to your dinner plans this week! Pair it with a salad and these flaky biscuits or try one or two of these side dishes:
- Bread: This Garlic Bread is quick and easy to make. If you have more time, you’ll love these Dinner Rolls.
- Salad: Make a basic Green Salad or a Fruit Salad.
- Vegetables: Roasted Carrots or Sautéed Broccoli pair well with this casserole.
More Easy Casserole Recipes
If you’re like me and love comforting casserole recipes, you’ll also want to try these must-make recipes:
Tuna Casserole
Ingredients
Casserole
- 8 ounces wide egg noodles
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 cup chopped yellow onion
- 2 ribs celery, chopped
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups low sodium chicken broth
- 1 ½ cups whole milk
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme, or 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
- 1 ½ cups frozen peas and carrots
- 2 cans (5 ounces each) tuna in water, drained
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, 4 ounces
Topping
- ¾ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
- chopped fresh parsley, optional, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375° F.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the egg noodles and cook according to package directions, being careful to not overcook them. Drain and rinse in cold water.
- Meanwhile, melt the 3 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Once melted, add the onion and celery and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 4-5 minutes.
- Add the flour to the skillet and stir for 30 seconds to cook off any raw flour taste. Then stir in the chicken broth and milk, followed by the salt, pepper and dried thyme. Cook, stirring often, for 2-3 minutes, until the sauce thickens.
- Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the frozen peas and carrots, tuna, shredded cheddar cheese and cooked noodles. Transfer the mixture to a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- To make the topping, in a medium bowl, stir together the panko, grated Parmesan and 1 tablespoon melted butter. Sprinkle evenly over the casserole.
- Bake, uncovered, for 15-20 minutes, until casserole is hot throughout and topping is golden brown. Serve, garnished with chopped fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
I originally shared this recipe in November 2022. Post updated January 2025.
This is the best tuna casserole I have ever tasted!! Flavor explodes in my mouth with every delicious bite!! Thank you so much for creating this recipe!!😋😋😋😋😋
This was THE BEST Casserole I have had in a long time AND bonus! No yucky canned soup! Thank you!
I made the Tuna Casserole. It was so good. Thank you!