This easy tuna casserole with egg noodles was always one of my mom's go-to recipes when I was growing up... And I can totally see why. Tuna noodle casserole is quick to prep, tasty, and versatile!
When I think of comfort food recipes from my childhood, this easy tuna casserole - made with canned peas, canned tuna fish, and cream of mushroom soup - is one of the very first that comes to mind!
If I'm being completely honest, I have to tell you it wasn't one of my favorite dishes growing up. I mean, I didn't dislike it...
But there were spurts when we ate it pretty often, and I guess I just got bored with it. But now that I'm older, I totally get why it was one of my mom's go-to recipes.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Tuna noodle casserole is made with just 6 ingredients.
- All 6 ingredients are staples that you most likely already have in your pantry.
- It's quick to prep, tasty, and versatile.
- AND that means more time with my family...
Like I said, I absolutely get why Mom loved it! And you know I'm a sucker for an affordable and delicious dinner idea.
"Easy and Delicious!"
Absolutely just as I remember it when my Mom made it!
Using Canned Veggies
A lot of people don't realize this, but did you know that the fresh fruits and vegetables that are in cans are harvested at the peak of ripeness? And then they're processed within four hours, meaning they're chock full of nutrients.
In addition, canned foods can also:
- Cut down on prep time, meaning less time in the kitchen and MORE time with my family,
- Help you get through the week with creative meals you can feel good about serving,
- AND reduce the amount of perishable fruits and vegetables that are purchased and then thrown away.
I know I'm guilty of that last bullet point more often than I'd like to admit... I mean, how many times have YOU reached into the fridge only to find your fresh produce has spoiled?
So lately I've been collecting a variety of recipe ideas made with canned goods, and I'm hoping we can cut back on the amount of waste we produce each week!
Easy Tuna Casserole Ingredients
As I mentioned earlier, this tuna casserole with egg noodles comes together with just six ingredients:
- 🫛 low-sodium canned peas
- 🐟 canned tuna in water
- 🍄🟫 canned cream of mushroom soup
- egg noodles
- 🍞 dry bread crumbs
- 🥛 whole milk
Plus, you'll need some butter to mix with the bread crumbs for the topping and a touch more to grease the baking dish.
But the real beauty of this tuna noodle casserole recipe is in its versatility. Don't like peas? Consider canned green beans or carrots instead.
Not a fan of tuna noodle casserole with cream of mushroom soup? Try it with canned cream of celery soup - it's what my mom always used in hers.
And she always topped her tuna casserole with potato chips, but I prefer this buttery bread crumb topping. Get creative and make it your own!
How To Make Tuna Casserole
Making this easy tuna casserole recipe is pretty straightforward, but I'll quickly walk you through my simple streamlined process for how to make tuna casserole...
- I start by turning the oven on to heat up to 400 degrees. While the oven is heating, I boil the egg noodles just to al dente - because they'll continue to cook in the casserole.
During this time, I also grease my baking dish and set it aside. Then I melt the butter and mix the bread crumbs into it to have the topping ready to go. - As soon as the noodles are done cooking, I drain them and stir them together with the tuna, peas, cream of mushroom soup, and milk. Spread this mixture into the prepared casserole dish, and put it in the oven to bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove it after the 20 minutes have passed, sprinkle the bread crumb mixture over the top, and place the dish back in the oven for another 5 minutes or until the bread crumb mixture is golden brown and the casserole is hot and bubbling.
That's it - we're talking prep to table in just about 35 minutes... If that's not weeknight easy, I don't know what is!
Classic Tuna Casserole Recipe
Wondering what to serve with a classic tuna casserole? A simple salad is always a great choice, and it's easy to throw together during that 20-minute uninterrupted baking time.
Add in some of these 2-ingredient biscuits or homemade garlic bread, and you've got the perfect meal for any day of the week!
Printable Recipe ↓
Easy Tuna Casserole With Egg Noodles
Ingredients
- 2 cups egg noodles - cooked to al dente and drained
- 2 (5-ounce) cans chunk light tuna in water - drained
- 1 (15-ounce) can peas - drained
- 1 (10.5-ounce) can cream of mushroom soup
- 1 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter - melted (plus extra for greasing dish)
- ⅓ cup dry bread crumbs
- kosher salt - to taste
- freshly ground black pepper - to taste
Instructions
- Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 400°F. While the oven is heating, boil 2 cups of dry egg noodles to al dente according to the package instructions. Grease a 2-quart baking dish and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, stir together the cooked egg noodles, soup, milk, peas, and tuna. Transfer the mixture to the prepared casserole dish.
- Stir the bread crumbs and melted butter together in a small bowl. Set aside.
- Bake for 20 minutes. Remove the casserole, sprinkle the bread crumb mixture over the top, and bake for another 5 minutes or until the bread crumb mixture is golden brown and the tuna casserole is hot and bubbling. Season with salt and pepper to taste when serving.
Video
Recipe Notes
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Frequently Asked Questions
Don't see your question listed here? Leave a comment below and I will respond ASAP!
If your tuna noodle casserole turns out dry, chances are you probably added too many noodles. This recipe calls for 2 cups of dry egg noodles cooked to al dente and drained. This is approximately half a bag if you're using No Yolks egg noodles.
To fix a dry casserole, you can stir in a little milk or chicken broth until you reach your desired consistency. Season with additional salt and pepper, as necessary.
You can store leftover tuna casserole in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
You can freeze tuna casserole before or after baking. However, be aware that it may slightly change the texture of the egg noodles. Allow the casserole to thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
Looking for other canned tuna recipes? These fried tuna patties are one of my most popular dishes! Crunchy and delicious on the outside, with a secret ingredient that keeps them tender and juicy on the inside...
You might also enjoy this super easy & healthy Mediterranean tuna salad without mayo, or this yummy 6-ingredient chicken salad recipe made with canned chicken breast chunks!
More Easy Casserole Recipes
If you like this tuna noodle casserole recipe, you might also enjoy these other delicious casserole recipes:
Did you make this recipe?
I'd love to see how your tuna casserole turns out... Tag me @Unsophisticook on Instagram or use the hashtag #Unsophisticook so I can check it out. Enjoy!
Heather Hammond says
Loved this recipe so much. Thanks!