Old Fashioned Tuna Casserole

Ditch the Tuna Helper today! This Easy Tuna Casserole is loaded with comforting soft pasta, cheesy sauce, flavorful tuna, and chunky bits of vegetables that are sure to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters!

This budget-friendly recipe is perfect for any midweek family meal, calling for pantry-staple ingredients. While it may not look like the fanciest of dishes out there, this tuna pasta bake sure does tick all the boxes of an irresistible wholesome meal. 

This 1950s tuna casserole that pretty much our parents and grandparents grew up on is one of the ultimate comfort food casseroles. If you are looking for a bit of nostalgia and a budget-friendly comfort food dinner, then you’ll love this tuna noodle casserole

Jump to:

• Why You’ll Love This Tuna Casserole
• Why This Recipe Works
• What You’ll Need To Make Tuna Casserole
• How To Make Tuna Casserole
• Recipe Tips
• Variations
• What To Serve With Tuna Pasta Bake
• FAQs
• Recipe
• ⭐ Reviews

Why You’ll Love This Tuna Casserole

• This Easy Tuna Casserole is a classic dinner option that’s healthier and tastier than any Tuna Helper!
• The creamy cheese sauce and soft pasta with tuna offer a delicious textural contrast to the corn, peas, or other vegetables you decide to add to this cheesy tuna casserole.
• It’s an ideal dish to make in bulk and freeze for easy midweek meals, potlucks, or when preparing to feed a hungry crowd. 

Why This Recipe Works

• This tuna pasta bake recipe includes step-by-step instructions with photos for making the casserole from scratch. There’s no chance that you’ll get lost along the way. 
• Most of the ingredients used in this recipe are common pantry staples otherwise they can be easily sourced from any local grocery store.
• You don’t need to scroll too far before coming across helpful recipe tips and tricks to make this family-favorite meal. 
• I’ve been making this tuna pasta casserole at home for years which means that you can trust that I’m guiding you from tried and true techniques and processes. 
• Recipe variations have been included in case you want to mix things up, or try something new to keep things interesting for yourself and the family. 

What You’ll Need To Make Tuna Casserole

Equipment

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• Electric Can Opener
• Mixing Bowl
• Wooden Spoon
• Large Casserole Dish with Handles

Tuna Pasta Bake Ingredients

Below I discuss the ingredients and possible substitutions in case you don’t have a specific ingredient. However, if you are looking for the specific measurements of each ingredient, be sure to scroll down to the bottom of this article, just above the comments, for the printable recipe card, which includes all the ingredients and the specific amounts of each one.

• Pasta – While I’ve used bow tie pasta, you can use spiral pasta too or any pasta that you prefer the most.  
• Butter – Salted. If you only have unsalted butter on hand, simply add a pinch of salt to the dish. Oil can also be used in place of butter if you prefer.
• Onion – Diced yellow or white onion works well in this recipe.
• Garlic – You can use cloves of garlic that you mince yourself or use pre-minced garlic for convenience.  
• Flour – I’ve used all-purpose flour but you could use gluten-free flour if you prefer. The flour helps to thicken the sauce.
• Milk – You can use whole milk or low-fat milk. Whole milk will certainly boost the flavor and creaminess of the casserole. 
• Cheddar cheese – Shredded. I find that shredding cheese from a block always provides better flavor and melts better too. This is most likely because pre-shredded cheese is coated with ingredients to extend the shelf life and reduce its taste and ability to melt well. Use whatever cheese you enjoy the most – Monterey Jack cheese, Colby Jack, Mozzarella, Parmesan, or Swiss cheese are all great options. 
• Tuna – Canned in water and well-drained. If you’re looking to reduce your sodium level, be sure to check the ingredients label for a reduced-sodium option. You could also use tuna in oil for a richer taste and texture but be sure to drain it well too. 
• Sweet corn – Canned and drained. Frozen corn can also be used. 
• Sweet peas – Canned and drained. Frozen peas can also be used.
• Parsley – Freshly chopped.

How To Make Tuna Casserole

1. Heat the butter in a large saucepan. Add the onion and garlic and cook for 4 minutes.
2. Whisk in the flour and cook for an additional minute, then whisk in the milk till smooth.
3. Continue to stir and cook till the milk has thickened a little.
4. Add 2 cups of cheese and stir till melted.
5. Stir in the tuna, corn, and peas and heat through.
6. Stir in the pasta.

1. Pour the pasta into the casserole dish
2. Top with the remaining ½ cup of cheese.

1. Place in the oven and bake for 20 minutes until bubbly and the cheese has melted.
2. Remove and cool for 5 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with parsley.

Recipe Tips

• If your sauce isn’t thick enough, add in some extra flour or cornstarch until you achieve the desired consistency.
• Cooking the pasta al dente is a great way to ensure that it’s perfectly cooked by the time the casserole has finished baking instead of being overcooked and mushy. 
• If you notice the white sauce starting to bubble, quickly reduce the heat to low and continue to stir the mixture until the sauce is silky with a creamy consistency. 
• Heating the milk before adding it to the roux will help create a rich and creamy sauce for this casserole. It’s an optional extra step but so worth it if you have the time. 
• Create some deliciously crunchy golden spots on the casserole by setting the casserole under the broil for 2-3 minutes over and above the baking time. 

Variations

• Use different vegetables for this tuna pasta casserole such as mushrooms, chopped tomatoes, baby spinach, green beans, roasted bell pepper strips, and chopped broccoli, or add these options to the corn and peas. 
• This dish can easily be enjoyed as a chicken pasta bake by using canned chicken or rotisserie chicken. 
• For a richer cheese sauce, add some heavy cream with the milk.  
• To make this pasta dish completely gluten-free, be sure to use gluten-free pasta instead of regular wheat-based pasta. 
• Add a slight kick of heat to the tuna pasta bake by incorporating some cayenne pepper. 
• I used bow tie pasta for this recipe but you can use another spiral pasta or any pasta that you enjoy the most. 
• Make this dish completely vegetarian by simply omitting the tuna and increasing the amount and variety of vegetables.  
• This recipe calls for cheddar cheese. Feel free to use your favorite cheese or a combination of cheeses for a slight variation. 
• Instead of canned sweet peas and canned corn, you can use frozen peas and corn that you thaw and steam before adding to the pasta casserole. 
• You can make extra sauce for this casserole if you prefer a very saucy pasta bake. 
• Canned tuna in oil can be used instead of tuna in brine. The oil increases the richness in flavor and texture but be sure to drain the tuna well whichever option you choose. 
• For added flavor, consider using garlic powder, onion powder, red chili flakes, or mustard to the casserole sauce. 

What To Serve With Tuna Pasta Bake

This tuna pasta bake casserole is incredibly filling and comforting all by itself which is why I often enjoy a serving without any side dish. 

If you do feel like adding a side dish, consider some cheesy garlic bread or a light green salad since this pasta dish is already quite carb-heavy. 

FAQs

HOW SHOULD I STORE TUNA PASTA BAKE?

You can store leftover tuna pasta bake in an airtight container or in the casserole dish, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Make sure that the casserole has cooled down completely before storing it. 

To reheat any leftovers, add single servings to the microwave for a minute or two or add larger portions to the oven for 10-15 minutes at 350F. 

CAN I FREEZE THIS TUNA PASTA BAKE?

Yes, you can! This tuna pasta bake can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat in the oven, covered with aluminum foil so that the pasta doesn’t dry out and the cheese doesn’t burn. 

HOW DO I MAKE THIS TUNA PASTA CASSEROLE GLUTEN-FREE?

One easy way to ensure that this meal caters to those with gluten sensitivities is to use a gluten-free pasta instead of normal wheat-based pasta. There are many options available at most stores and online. 

CAN I USE FROZEN PEAS AND CORN INSTEAD OF THE CANNED VARIETY?

I’ve used canned sweet peas and corn for added convenience – all I have to do is drain them and add them to the recipe!

If you only have frozen sweet peas and corn, go right ahead and use them. I do recommend that you cook your frozen peas and corn either by steaming them or boiling them before adding them to the casserole with the rest of the ingredients. 

If you don’t cook your frozen veggies before, they could cause the casserole to heat at a slower rate and you could risk the pasta drying out or the cheese burning. To get around this, cover the casserole with aluminum foil for the first 15 minutes of baking and then add 5-10 minutes of baking time onto the recipe, uncovering the casserole for the last 5-10 minutes. 

MUST I COOK MY PASTA SEPARATELY FROM THE OTHER INGREDIENTS?

Yes! It’s best to cook the pasta separately at first and then add the cooked pasta to the rest of the ingredients that will then be added to the casserole and baked.

Since the recipe involves baking time, it’s good to cook the pasta al dente since it will continue to cook while baking in the oven with the rest of the ingredients. If you cook the pasta all the way through before adding to the rest of the ingredients then there’s a risk that it becomes overly softened after being baked. On the other hand, if you simply add uncooked pasta to the casserole dish before baking, the pasta is likely to still be undercooked. 

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