Description
Hearty classic tuna noodle casserole brings comfort and nostalgia to dinner tables across America. Creamy pasta, tender tuna, and crispy breadcrumb topping create a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Components:
- 2 (6-ounce) cans tuna, drained
- 2 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese
- 1 (10.5-ounce) can cream of mushroom soup
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 tablespoons butter
Pasta and Vegetables:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) wide egg noodles
- 8 ounces (226 grams) sliced fresh mushrooms
- 2 cups chopped broccoli (about 1/2 pound or 226 grams)
Liquids and Seasonings:
- 1/3 cup (79 milliliters) milk
- 1 tablespoon cream
- 1 tablespoon salt (for pasta water)
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
Topping:
- 1 cup crushed potato chips
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 400F (200C), ensuring a hot environment for the casserole.
- Fill a large pot with water, salt generously, and bring to a rolling boil. Cook egg noodles until nearly tender, approximately 2 minutes less than package recommendation. Introduce chopped broccoli during the final 2 minutes of cooking. Drain thoroughly in a colander.
- In a dry skillet over medium-high heat, caramelize mushroom slices without oil. Cook until moisture evaporates and edges turn golden brown, roughly 5-10 minutes. Reserve to the side.
- Melt butter in a large oven-safe pan over medium heat. Sauté chopped onions until they become translucent and soft, about 5 minutes.
- Combine drained pasta and broccoli with cooked mushrooms, tuna, cream of mushroom soup, cheddar cheese, milk, and cream in the pan. Season with salt and pepper, gently mixing to distribute ingredients evenly.
- Transfer the mixture to a 9×13 inch baking dish if not already in an oven-proof pan. Distribute crushed potato chips uniformly across the surface.
- Slide the casserole into the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes, targeting a golden-brown topping and bubbling edges as indicators of doneness.
Notes
- Pasta Perfection Choose wide egg noodles for the best texture and classic flavor that absorbs the creamy sauce beautifully.
- Mushroom Magic Dry sautéing mushrooms intensifies their umami flavor and prevents excess liquid in the casserole, ensuring a rich, concentrated taste.
- Protein Flexibility Swap tuna with canned chicken, shredded rotisserie chicken, or plant-based alternatives like chickpeas for dietary preferences and variety.
- Crispy Topping Experiment with different crunchy toppings like breadcrumbs, crushed cornflakes, or gluten-free crackers to add exciting texture and accommodate dietary needs.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 750 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 53 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg