Cheesy Tuna Noodle Casserole

At $1.70 a serving, our Cheesy Tuna Noodle Casserole is the classic comfort food that has a modern spin with adding more vegetables and seasonings! If you never cared for a Tuna Noodle Casserole, you may like this version. My inspiration included ingredients currently in my pantry that are easily swapped for other ingredients of your choice. Easy to make with using one large casserole dish and a pot to boil the noodles. Mix all the ingredients together, spoon into the casserole dish and bake with a crunchy Panko breadcrumb cheese topping! Read on for step by step instructions and 9 helpful tips to inspire your own creation including low carb options! 

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Helpful Tips to Create Your own Tuna Noodle Casserole

1. Carrots: Use baby carrots for quick dicing or frozen to eliminate the prep. The carrots bake al dente with a slight crunch. If you prefer tender carrots, then consider cooking them partway before adding to the casserole. 
2. Sweet Peas: Use frozen sweet peas as the canned version becomes mushy once baked. 
3. Smoked Seasoning: We use Pampered Chef Smoky Applewood Rub in the cheese sauce and topping. It adds a wonderful flavor with its sweet and smoky flavor of natural applewood, garlic and chili peppers.
4. Milk: Half and Half is part of the recipe; however a different milk product can be substituted.
5. Panko Breadcrumbs: We used Panko Breadcrumbs to add a nice crunch to this casserole. However other options include Crackers, Potato Chips, and anything that finishes off the casserole.
6. Reducing Carbs: If you want to reduce the carbs consider reducing the amount of egg noodles, substitute cauliflower or zucchini noodles for the egg noodles.
7. Egg Noodles: Substitute any pasta including whole wheat noodles that you might have in the pantry.  
8. Vegetables: Other options include broccoli, mushrooms, and green beans.
9. Tuna: You can add more tuna to the casserole or even when reheating. 

How to Prepare the Cheesy Tuna Noodle Casserole

1. Vegetables: Chop the carrots and celery.
2. Frozen Vegetables: Remove the cauliflower and sweet peas from the freezer to thaw.
3. Egg Noodles: Cook the egg noodles until al dente’ – about 6 minutes. Drain but do not rinse the noodles.
4. Cheese Sauce: In a large bowl, mix together the cheese sauce ingredients of 10.5 oz Cream of Chicken Soup, Half and Half, Cheddar Cheese, Salt, Pepper, Basil, and Pampered Chef Smoky Applewood Rub.
5. Vegetables: Mix in the vegetables into the cheese sauce.
6. Tuna: Stir in the drained tuna.
7. Cooked Noodles: Add the cooked noodles to the casserole dish sprayed with non-stick spray.
8. Add Cheese Sauce: Slowly pour the sauce mixture over the noodles mixing the sauce into the noodles.
9. Bake: Cover and bake for 40-minutes in a preheated 400 degree oven.
10. Add Panko Topping: Remove cover and add the topping. Bake, uncovered for 10 minutes.
11. Serve: Top the Cheesy Tuna Noodle Casserole with fresh chives or other herbs.

Assemble Ahead of Time

You can assemble the Cheesy Tuna Noodle Casserole ahead of time and bake when ready to enjoy. 

• As a tip, after cooking the noodles, rinse them in cold water to stop them from cooking.
• Assemble the casserole except do not make the Panko breadcrumb topping. 
• When ready to serve, remove the casserole from the refrigerator while the oven is preheating. 
• Follow the instructions to bake the Cheesy Tuna Noodle Casserole and finish the casserole with the Panko Breadcrumb topping. 

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Cheesy Tuna Noodle Casserole

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At $1.70 a serving, our Cheesy Tuna Noodle Casserole is the classic comfort food that has a modern spin with adding more vegetables and seasonings!

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Course: Casserole, Dinner

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Cheesy Tuna Noodle Casserole

Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes minutes

Servings: 10 servings

servings

Calories: 417kcal

Author: Bernice

Cost: $1.70 a serving

Equipment

• Large Casserole Pan
• Pasta Pot
• Large bowl
• Medium size bowl, microwave safe

Ingredients

Pasta Ingredients

• 16 oz Egg Noodles wide

Cheese Sauce Ingredients

• 2 10.5 oz cans Cream of Chicken Soup or Cream of Mushroom
• 2 cups Half and Half
• 1 cup Cheddar Cheese shredded
• ½ tsp Salt
• ¼ tsp Pepper
• 1 tbsp Basil
• 1 tsp Smoked Seasoning

Vegetable Ingredients

• ½ cup Celery diced
• 1 ½ cups Carrots diced
• 1 ½ cups Cauliflower frozen chopped
• 1 ½ cups Sweet Peas frozen

Tuna Ingredients

• 3 5-ounce cans Tuna packed in water

Topping Ingredients

• 2 tbsp Butter
• ¾ cup Panko Bread Crumbs
• ¼ cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• 1 tsp Dried Basil
• 1 tsp Smoked Seasoning

Garnish Ingredients (Optional)

• Fresh Chives
• Fresh Basil

Instructions

Oven Instructions

• Preheat to 400 degrees
• Spray a large casserole dish with cooking spray

Preparation Instructions

• Chop the carrots and celery.
• Remove the cauliflower and sweet peas from the freeze to start to thaw.

Egg Noodles Instructions

• Cook the egg noodles until al dente’ – about 6 minutes
• Drain but do not rinse the noodles.

Topping Instructions

• Melt the butter in a medium size microwave bowl
• Mix in the Panko Bread Crumbs until evenly coated
• Mix in seasonings

Casserole Instructions

• In a large bowl, mix together the cheese sauce ingredients
• Mix in the vegetables and the drained tuna.
• Add the cooked noodles to the casserole dish
• Slowly pour the sauce mixture over the noodles mixing the sauce into the noodles
• Cover and bake for 40-minutes
• Remove cover and add the topping. Bake, uncovered for 10 minutes.

Recipe Notes

Calories are approximate and depend upon serving size and ingredients selected. Optional ingredients are not included in the calories. Cost per serving can vary based upon the price of ingredients. Optional toppings are not included in the cost per serving. The Panko topping can be made just before adding to the baked casserole.

Helpful Tips

1. Carrots: Use baby carrots for quick dicing or frozen to eliminate the prep. The carrots bake al dente with a slight crunch. If you prefer tender carrots, then consider cooking them partway before adding to the casserole.
2. Sweet Peas: Use frozen sweet peas as the canned version becomes mushy once baked.
3. Smoked Seasoning: We use Smoky Applewood Rub from Pampered Chef in the cheese sauce and topping. It adds a wonderful flavor with its sweet and smoky flavor of natural applewood, garlic and chili peppers.
4. Milk: Half and Half is part of the recipe; however a different milk product can be substituted.
5. Panko Breadcrumbs: We used Panko Breadcrumbs to add a nice crunch to this casserole. However other options include Crackers, Potato Chips, Cheese Crumb Mixture.
6. Reducing Carbs: If you want to reduce the carbs consider reducing the amount of egg noodles, substitute cauliflower or zucchini noodles for the egg noodles.

Nutrition Facts

Cheesy Tuna Noodle Casserole

Amount Per Serving (10 servings)

Calories 417 Calories from Fat 153

% Daily Value*

Fat 17g26%

Saturated Fat 9g56%

Cholesterol 88mg29%

Sodium 608mg26%

Potassium 685mg20%

Carbohydrates 49g16%

Fiber 4g17%

Sugar 4g4%

Protein 19g38%

Calcium 199mg20%

Vitamin C 18mg22%

Vitamin A 4148IU83%

Iron 2mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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