• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

The Toasty Kitchen

  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • FAQ
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • Recipes
    • Subscribe
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Entrées

    Homemade Cheesy Tuna Noodle Casserole

    Published: Apr 14, 2019 · Modified: Jun 14, 2022 by Heather · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · 704 words. · About 4 minutes to read this article.

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video
    Cheesy tuna noodle casserole recipe.
    Cheesy tuna noodle casserole recipe.
    Cheesy tuna noodle casserole recipe.
    Cheesy tuna noodle casserole recipe.

    Cheesy tuna noodle casserole is a nostalgic dish made with tuna, egg noodles, and a creamy, homemade sauce. This filling and comforting casserole feeds up to eight and is ready in less than 45 minutes.

    Wooden spoon scooping a serving of a noodle casserole.

    Cheesy tuna noodle casserole is a classic American dish that the entire family will love. This homemade casserole is made with egg noodles, canned tuna, peas, and a creamy, made-from-scratch sauce.

    This casserole is topped with cheddar cheese and a panko crust for maximum flavor and crunch. No canned soups here - the homemade sauce is flavorful and fresh, a big improvement from the processed stuff!

    Serve this cheesy tuna noodle casserole for an easy weeknight meal. It has a mild, creamy flavor that the entire family will enjoy!

    Ingredients and substitutions

    Ingredients to make a tuna casserole.

    Egg noodles can be any size, but I prefer medium. Or, any medium sized pasta will also work. Try using farfalle, shells, or macaroni.

    Chicken broth can be substituted with vegetable broth.

    Peas can be substituted with any frozen mixed vegetables or fresh frozen corn.

    Panko bread crumbs make the best crunchy crust, but can be substituted with traditional bread crumbs or crushed butter crackers (like Ritz brand).

    Filling a 9x13 white pan with casserole ingredients.

    What type of tuna should I use?

    For this recipe, I used solid white albacore tuna in water. I like to use this type of tuna for casseroles because the meat has a mild flavor and a texture similar to chicken.

    Albacore tuna is light in color and breaks apart into large chunks, so it doesn't get lost in the casserole. The downside of using albacore tuna is that it contains higher mercury levels. Because of this, it's suggested to only consume one serving of albacore tuna per week.

    Canned light tuna is another great option, as it is widely available and generally less expensive than albacore tuna. It also contains lower levels of mercury. Light tuna is pink in color, and shreds apart into smaller pieces. It may also have a more distinct 'fishy' flavor.

    Tuna can also be substituted with canned chicken or rotisserie chicken instead.

    Casserole with egg noodles, peas, and tuna.

    Leftovers

    Leftovers reheat well and will last for 2-3 days in the refrigerator, covered in a tightly sealed container.

    Dairy based and pasta casseroles generally do not freeze and thaw well, so I do not recommend freezing this recipe.

    Wooden spoon scooping a serving of a noodle casserole.
    Print Recipe
    4.84 from 53 reviews

    Cheesy Tuna Noodle Casserole

    Cheesy Tuna Noodle Casserole is a nostalgic dish made with tuna, egg noodles, and a creamy, homemade sauce. This filling and comforting casserole feeds up to eight and is ready in less than 45 minutes.
    Prep Time20 minutes
    Cook Time18 minutes
    Total Time38 minutes
    Servings: 8 servings
    Calories: 514kcal
    Author: Heather

    Ingredients

    • 12 ounces egg noodles
    • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
    • ½ medium onion diced
    • 2 cloves garlic minced
    • 4 tablespoon all-purpose flour
    • 2 cups chicken broth
    • 1 ½ cups milk
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • ¼ teaspoon paprika
    • 2 cups frozen peas
    • 12 ounces canned albacore tuna drained
    • 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese divided

    Breadcrumb Topping

    • 1 cup panko bread crumbs
    • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a 9x13 casserole dish and set aside.
    • Cook egg noodles according to package directions for al dente pasta. Drain, pour noodles into 9x13 pan, and set aside. 
    • In a saucepan over medium heat, add butter. Once hot and melted, add diced onions. Cook until onions begin to brown and turn translucent. Add garlic and flour, whisking to incorporate, and cook for 1 minute. 
    • Add chicken broth and milk, whisking until incorporated and smooth. Bring to a simmer and cook until sauce has thickened slightly, about 3 to 4 minutes. 
    • Remove from heat and add salt, pepper, paprika, peas, tuna, and half of cheese, stirring to combine. Pour mixture over noodles and toss to coat.
    • Sprinkle remaining half of cheese on top of casserole. 
    • In a separate bowl, combine bread crumbs and melted butter. Sprinkle evenly over casserole. 
    • Bake uncovered for 15-18 minutes, or until casserole is heated through. Optionally, broil for 2 minutes to brown crust on top. Do not walk away from your oven while broiling, your crust will brown quickly.

    Equipment Recommendations

    • 9x13 Stoneware Baking Dish
    • Pyrex Liquid Measuring Cups
    • Measuring Spoons
    • SS 3-Quart Saucepan

    Notes

    • Leftovers will keep for 2-3 days in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator. Cream based sauces and pasta do not freeze/thaw well, so I do not recommend freezing leftovers.
    • Tuna can be substituted with canned chicken or cooked and shredded chicken.

    Nutrition Estimate

    Serving: 0g | Calories: 514kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 110mg | Sodium: 783mg | Potassium: 452mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 965IU | Vitamin C: 19.4mg | Calcium: 307mg | Iron: 2.6mg
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American

    More recipes

    • Chicken Noodle Casserole
    • Tuna Broccoli Alfredo Casserole
    • Beef Enchilada Casserole
    • Sausage Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole
    « Strawberry Sugar Cookies
    Dutch Cocoa Cookies »

    Share this recipe:

    Subscribe

    Get our newest recipes delivered to your inbox for free!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Betsy

      July 16, 2022 at 7:41 pm

      I followed this recipe to the letter and I thought it would be wonderful. It looked beautiful but had no taste whatsoever! I was very disappointed. Trying to think of some way to flavor it up!

      Reply
      • Heather

        July 16, 2022 at 7:55 pm

        Hi Betsy, did you by chance use a low sodium or sodium-free broth? Much of the flavor will come from the broth, as well as the sautéed onions, garlic, and spices. You're welcome to add more salt, pepper, and paprika, and stir to incorporate. Or, try adding some Cajun seasoning for some flavor and spice.

        Reply
    2. Ella

      June 30, 2022 at 5:21 pm

      As a young chef, I aprove of this delicious homemade cooked meal. I will for sure be making this again in the near future! Thanks for sharing this!

      Reply
    3. Amanda

      February 01, 2022 at 3:30 pm

      Best tuna noodle casserole I have ever made! This one is a keeper for sure! Thank you so much. I absolutely hate adding cream of _____ soup to anything. This is the way it should be made.

      Reply
    4. Rodriguez Tammy

      December 03, 2021 at 6:44 pm

      So good!!!

      Variations:
      I used whole wheat flour. I made my own bread crumbs from toasted whole wheat bread. I used ghee in place of butter. I used wide egg noodles. I cut recipe in half. Took a little longer to bake.

      All in all DELICIOUS! It is a keeper for sure.

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Heather of The Toasty Kitchen

    Hi, I'm Heather of The Toasty Kitchen. I love cooking with real, unfussy ingredients, and I want to help you make homemade meals with ease.

    More about me →

    Summer recipes

    • Grilled Broccolini
    • Basil Aioli
    • Grilled Strawberry Shortcake Kebabs
    • 20 Zucchini Side Dish Recipes

    Reader Favorites

    • Vanilla Sheet Cake
    • Homemade Cherry Pie Filling
    • Pan-Seared Ribeye with Garlic Butter
    • Whipped Buttercream Frosting

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About
    • FAQ
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Contact

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    As seen in

    logos of publications The Toasty Kitchen has been published in.

    Copyright © 2022 The Toasty Kitchen®