Tuna Noodle Casserole (Printable Version)

Creamy egg noodles with tuna, vegetables, and a golden crunchy parmesan topping.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Pasta and Fish

01 - 12 oz egg noodles
02 - 2 cans (5 oz each) solid white tuna in water, drained

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
04 - 1 cup cremini or white mushrooms, sliced
05 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
06 - 1 cup celery, diced
07 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Sauce

08 - 3 tbsp unsalted butter
09 - 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
10 - 2 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
11 - 1 cup whole milk
12 - 1/2 cup sour cream
13 - 1/2 tsp kosher salt
14 - 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
15 - 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard

→ Topping

16 - 3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
17 - 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
18 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
19 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (optional)

# Method:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
02 - Cook egg noodles in a large pot of salted boiling water until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
03 - Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and celery; sauté for 3 minutes. Add mushrooms and cook for 4 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute.
04 - Sprinkle flour over vegetables and stir to coat. Gradually add broth, stirring constantly. Add milk and bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring, until thickened, approximately 3 to 4 minutes.
05 - Remove skillet from heat. Stir in sour cream, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper.
06 - Fold in tuna, peas, and cooked noodles until evenly combined.
07 - Pour mixture into the prepared baking dish.
08 - In a small bowl, combine panko breadcrumbs, parmesan, and melted butter. Sprinkle evenly over casserole.
09 - Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until topping is golden and casserole is bubbling.
10 - Let stand for 5 minutes. Sprinkle with fresh parsley before serving.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • It comes together in under an hour but tastes like you've been cooking all day.
  • The crispy panko topping gives you that textural contrast that makes each bite interesting.
  • Fresh vegetables mixed with the tuna actually make you feel good about eating comfort food.
02 -
  • The biggest mistake is cooking the noodles fully, then cooking them again in the oven—stop while they still have a tiny bit of bite.
  • Sour cream must go in off heat, and mustard actually makes tuna casserole taste less fishy, not more mustard-y.
  • The cream sauce will seem thin when you fold in the noodles, but it thickens as it bakes and the noodles absorb liquid.
03 -
  • If you have time, sauté the vegetables a few minutes longer than the recipe says—deeper browning equals deeper flavor.
  • Taste the sauce before you fold in the noodles; this is your last chance to adjust salt, pepper, or mustard without it being mixed into everything.
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