This tuna casserole with egg noodles is easy to make comfort food. It’s a classic go-to recipe when I need something quick and tasty for dinner!
If you love dinner recipes with noodles, try this beef noodle soup or make chicken noodle soup, too!
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Easy Tuna Casserole with Egg Noodles
Today, we’re exploring the classic tuna noodle casserole – an easy and satisfying recipe. With its creamy textures, savory tuna, and crunchy topping, this dish delivers a comforting meal.
Casseroles are a great dinner option and easy tuna casserole with egg noodles just like my chicken noodle casserole and chicken broccoli rice casserole fits the bill perfectly!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It’s simple and hearty: The magic lies in the simplicity of this recipe, a creamy base, perfectly cooked egg noodles, and the savory goodness of flaky tuna is satisfying!
- It’s versatile and easy to customize: Customize it to suit your preferences – add extra cheese for indulgence or throw in your favorite veggies.
- It’s convenient and quick to prepare: A perfect solution for busy nights, this tuna casserole recipe is a breeze to whip up. Plus, it can be a freezer-friendly meal.
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make this easy tuna casserole with egg noodles.
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Sauce: Combining butter, onion, garlic, flour, and half and half and white cheddar cheese will give you a thick and creamy sauce.
- Egg noodles: These egg noodles are the classic choice for this casserole. They are hearty with a satisfying texture.
- Tuna: I recommend the Kirkland brand of canned tuna for its amazing flavor. You can add more than one can if you want more tuna flavor. Chunk light tuna or solid white albacore tuna are also family favorites.
- Frozen Peas: I love the peas for their burst of sweetness and vibrant color.
- Seasonings: I use my homemade Italian Seasoning, Kosher salt, and black pepper.
- Topping: For the crunchy topping, I recommend using Panko breadcrumbs mixed with melted butter and lemon zest.
How to Make Tuna Casserole with Egg Noodles
Prepare egg noodles according to directions. Drain and set aside.
In a skillet, melt butter, sauté onions, and add garlic until translucent. Whisk in flour until golden, then slowly pour in half and half, simmering until thickened. Stir in shredded white cheddar until smooth, creating a velvety sauce.
Combine tender egg noodles with drained tuna, frozen peas, Italian seasoning, kosher salt, and black pepper in the skillet. Transfer skillet to oven, topping the casserole with a mix of Panko breadcrumbs, melted butter, and optional lemon zest.
Bake in preheated oven until bubbly and golden brown. Sprinkle with optional chives or chopped parsley for a fresh finish.
Tips and Variations
- Cook the noodles just until al dente. This prevent them from overcooking while in the oven. Brush up on all tips for cooking pasta noodles.
- I recommend grating your cheese fresh from a block. It’ll melt easier and have an overall better taste.
- Vegetable variation: Mixed vegetables like carrots, corn, or broccoli are fantastic additions. Mushrooms are also great.
- Topping: Create a buttery, crispy topping like I do in poppy seed chicken or broccoli and cheese casserole by crushing butter crackers (like Ritz crackers).
Serving Suggestions
This tuna noodle casserole recipe goes really well with lots of different sides. Here are some of the ways my family likes to turn it into a full meal:
- Salad: Any side salad works. A Caesar salad with crisp fresh romaine lettuce, savory Caesar dressing, and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese creates the perfect sidekick to creamy rich tuna casserole.
- Bread: Soft, warm dinner rolls or sliced french bread are perfect for sopping up any leftover sauce.
More family-friendly casserole recipes to try: taco casserole, meatball casserole, and tater tot casserole!
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Easy Tuna Casserole with Egg Noodles
Video
Ingredients
- 3 Tablespoons butter
- 1 cup minced onion
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 3 Tablespoons flour
- 3 cups half and half
- 8 ounces dry wide egg noodles
- 1 (5 ounce) can tuna , drained
- ¾ cup frozen peas
- 1 teaspon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ cup shredded white cheddar cheese , see note
Topping
- 2-3 Tablespoons panko breadcrumbs
- 1 Tablespoon butter , melted
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest , optional but recommended
Optional: chives or chopped parsley
Instructions
- Preheat oven. Preheat the oven to 425°F.
- Boil egg noodles. In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the egg noodles and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain.
- Saute onion and garlic. Melt 3 Tablespoon butter in a large cast iron skillet (or oven safe skillet) over medium heat. Add 1 cup minced onions and cook for about 2 minutes and then add in 2 teaspoons minced garlic. Cook until translucent. Whisk 3 Tablespoons flour on top, until lightly golden.
- Finish sauce. Slowly stir in 3 cups half and half and simmer until slightly thickened, about 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in 1/2 cup cheese. Stir until smooth.
- Combine. Stir in the cooked noodles, 1 can tuna, 3/4 cup peas, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper until well combined.
- Topping. In a small bowl, mix 2-3 Tablespoons panko breadcrumbs, 1 Tablespoon melted butter and 2 teaspoons lemon zest. Sprinkle on top of the casserole.
- Bake. Bake 20 minutes, or until bubbly. Move to the top rack or broil the last minute if you want a golden top. Garnish with chives if desired.
Notes
- Feel free to make the sauce cheesier by adding 1/2 cup extra cheese to the sauce, if desired.
- Use whatever cheese you like, such as sharp cheddar, pepper jack or Swiss.
- I love to add fresh herbs to the sauce like thyme or parsley if I have it on hand.
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Recipe FAQs
While canned tuna is the convenient and traditional choice for this recipe, you can use fresh tuna if you prefer. Cook and flake the fresh tuna before adding it to the casserole.
Certainly! Feel free to experiment with your favorite cheeses. Sharp cheddar, pepper jack, or Swiss would all be delightful choices.
Yes, many variations of a classic old fashioned tuna noodle casserole use canned soup such as cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup instead of making the sauce from scratch. You’ll need to reduce the added half and half by about half.
You can certainly transfer the mixture to a casserole dish if your skillet isn’t oven-safe. Simply mix everything in a regular skillet, then transfer the contents to a greased baking dish before adding the topping and baking in the oven.
Absolutely! This casserole is a freezer-friendly meal. Prepare it up to the point of baking, cover tightly, and freeze. When ready to enjoy, simply thaw and bake according to the instructions.
Store any remaining casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Whether reheating from the refrigerator or freezer, you can warm up your casserole in the oven or microwave. Either cover with foil and bake at 350°F until heated through or heat in short intervals in the microwave stirring in between.
Categorized as: 30 Minute Meals, 30 Minute Meals, American, Casseroles, Dinner, Freezer-Friendly, Kid-Friendly, Meal Prep, Nut-Free
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
I am not typically a big tuna fan, but the tuna blended in with the other flavors well, so that the tuna on it’s own was not the overpowering ingredient/flavor. A good family dinner! – Recipe Tester
Best ever love it ❤️
I’m so glad you love the casserole!! :)
Loved this dish❣️ My very picky eater son even liked it😋
I’m so glad you enjoyed the casserole Brenda!
One of my most favorite recipes ever! Perfect for a weeknight meal!!
Adding lemon zest to this was a great idea! It added a whole different flavor that I never thought of!