Classic Tuna Casserole Recipe

This classic tuna casserole uses a scratch made sauce (no canned soup mixes here), fresh mushrooms and plenty of cheese. Topped with panko bread crumbs and plenty of melty cheese, it’s an old-fashioned comfort food dinner you’re sure to love!

Hi friends!

Today I’m sharing an easy canned fish recipe. It’s classic tuna casserole!

This recipe is scratch made, meaning no canned soup mixes here.

It’s seriously easy to prepare and uses a bunch of pantry staples (or commonly found fridge items).

Whether you’re enjoying as a weeknight dinner or Sunday supper, this old-fashioned tuna casserole is sure to disappear fast!

How To Make Tuna Casserole

Full details are in the recipe card below, but here are the basics:

1. In a pan, cook some finely minced onion and celery in a little olive oil until softened. Then add sliced mushrooms and give those a little cook. Season the veggies with some salt and pepper.
2. Add butter. Once that is melted, sprinkle over flour. Stir in to form a paste (this will help thicken things for your sauce mixture).
3. For the sauce component: Pour in veggie broth and your mixture will instantly become thick. Then add milk (a little at a time) and cook until thickened. Add more milk (until it’s gone) and as each batch thickens. Once it’s done, it will be thick and coat the back of a spoon. You can turn off the heat now on your stovetop.
4. Mix in cooked egg noodles, drained canned tuna and frozen peas (no need to thaw). Tip: If you want things saucier, feel free to add a little extra splash of milk here.
5. Top everything with some panko bread crumbs and cheese.
6. Bake until warm and the cheese has melted. You can garnish with parsley if you like.

What Can I Use Instead of Peas?

Don’t have peas on hand or prefer not to use? No worries!

Peas add a veggie component (plus a lovely pop of colour). However, instead of peas, you can add some steamed broccoli, cauliflower or corn.

Serving Suggestions

This classic tuna noddle casserole recipe is nice and hearty as is, but if you want to add some sides, garlicky green beans or a simple green salad would be lovely.

Tips and Variations

• Use canned tuna packed in water. If you don’t have that and only have tuna packed in oil, no worries! Simply rinse and drain the excess oil from the tuna.
• Use a good melting cheese, like a young or medium cheddar, pizza mozzarella, fontina, Gruyere, fontina or provolone (or a combination of your favourites). A little Parmesan is nice, too, for an extra punch of flavour.
• Don’t have fresh mushrooms on hand? Try drained canned mushrooms instead.
• Dill or thyme would be a lovely addition to this casserole.
• For the milk component of this casserole, I’ve made with dairy and even non dairy (almond milk). Use what you enjoy best or have on hand. Keep in mind, that the more milk fat your dairy has, the richer the sauce will be.

More Canned Tuna Recipes

• Cheesy Tuna Melt
• Tuna Potato Patties
• Tuna Quesadillas

If you make this old-fashioned tuna casserole, be sure to leave a comment below!

Classic Tuna Casserole Recipe

Dawn | Girl Heart Food

This classic tuna casserole uses a scratch made sauce (no canned soup mixes here), fresh mushrooms and plenty of cheese. Topped with panko bread crumbs and plenty of melty cheese, it's an old-fashioned comfort food dinner you're sure to love!

5 from 4 votes

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Total Time 55 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Servings 6 servings (with a side) or 4 larger servings

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Ingredients

 

• 6 ounces egg noodles, about 170 grams or 3.5 cups before cooking
• 1.5 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 yellow onion, peeled and finely minced
• 1 rib celery, finely minced
• 5 ounces baby bella mushrooms or button mushrooms, sliced (about ⅓ pound)
• ¼ cup butter
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup low sodium vegetable broth
• 2 cups milk
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
• 2 (6-ounce or 170-gram) cans tuna in water, drained well
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 2 tablespoons unseasoned panko bread crumbs
• 4 ounces shredded cheddar cheese, about 1 cup
• Chopped parsley, garnish to taste (optional)

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit for use later.
• Cook egg noodles according to package instructions (just a minute or so shy of full cook time). Drain.
• Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a 12-inch heavy-bottomed oven-safe sauté/deep pan over medium heat on the stovetop.
• Add onion and celery and cook, stirring often, until the veggies have softened, about 5 minutes.
• Add sliced mushrooms, stirring occasionally, and cook for 3 minutes. Season with a pinch each of salt and pepper.
• Add butter and melt.
• Once butter has melted, sprinkle over flour and stir in. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes to form a paste.
• Stir in vegetable broth.
• Add milk (about ½ cup at a time) and cook, stirring often, allowing the mixture to thicken slightly before adding more milk. You want to cook the mixture until it's thickened slightly and coats the back of a spoon. This could take about 8 to 10 minutes in total.
• Season with salt, black pepper and cayenne pepper.
• Turn off heat and add cooked egg noodles and drained tuna. Stir in.

  Note: If you want, you can grease a new baking dish. But, for ease of cleanup, I simply prepare and bake in the one dish.
• Stir in frozen peas.

  Note: If you want a saucier consistency, stir in a little more milk.
• Top with panko bread crumbs and shredded cheddar cheese.
• Transfer the pan to the preheated oven and bake, uncovered, for 15 to 20 minutes or until the filling is bubbly and the cheese has melted. Garnish with fresh parsley (if desired). Serve and enjoy! Serves 4 large servings or 6 servings with a side.

A note on times provided: appliances vary, any prep and/or cook times provided are estimates only.

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Keyword canned fish recipe, easy casserole recipe, tuna casserole without canned soup

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