Easy Tuna Casserole Recipe

White casserole dish filled with a tuna noodle casserole with a couple of sprigs of parsley on top with white salt and pepper shakers with a blue napkin in the background.

Easy Tuna Casserole Recipe

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

Course Main Dishes

Cuisine American

Keyword easy tuna casserole, tuna casserole, tuna noodle casserole, tuna pasta bake

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 20

Total Time 40

Servings

Calories 523kcal

Author Michele

Ingredients

16 ounces Bow tie pasta (or rotini pasta)
4 tablespoons salted butter
1/2 cup onion diced
3 cloves garlic minced
1/4 cup all purpose flour
2 cups milk
2 1/2 cups cheddar shredded
2 15 ounce cans tuna in water, drained
1 can sweet corn drained
1 can sweet peas drained
Parsley chopped

Instructions

Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain and keep warm.
Preheat the oven to 350° and spray a 2 quart casserole dish with cooking spray.
Heat the butter in a large saucepan, add the onion and garlic and cook for 4 minutes.
Whisk in the flour and cook for an additional minute, then whisk in the milk till smooth.
Continue to stir and cook till the milk has thickened a little, then add 2 cups of cheese and stir till melted.
Stir in the tuna, corn and peas and heat through, then stir in the pasta.
Pour the pasta into the casserole dish and top with the remaining ½ cup of cheese.
Place in the oven and bake for 20 minutes until bubbly and the cheese has melted.
Remove and cool for 5 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with parsley.

Video

Notes

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.

Nutrition