Time for a cozy casserole recipe that is easy any night of the week. Try out my Tuna Noodle Casserole full of vegetables and cheese and topped with a buttery cracker crust.
School is in full swing. Fall is here. No better time to have a really cozy, comforting casserole recipe in your back pocket for busy nights. Or the weekend. Or to make sure there are leftovers in the fridge for busy nights. Whatever the case, this tuna casserole is for you!
What sets this Tuna Casserole apart from the crowd?
- Cheese! Don’t let the plain name fool you. This is a cheesy tuna noodle casserole. The creamy cheese sauce in this casserole takes this recipe to the next level.
- The buttery cracker crust really makes this casserole true comfort food.
The weather is finally cooling down after quite a heat spell here in Southwestern Michigan, and I think most of the Midwest. It’s taken a few weeks to get into the groove of the school year. With the move to the new house, our 11 yr old started a new school which isn’t nearly as close as the old one. He is going on the bus which is a new experience for him and even our 3-year-old started preschool. Little A can be a bit of handful but it’s actually been going well! Okay, enough about that now on to the tuna casserole recipe.
How do you make Tuna Casserole?
Cook the egg noodles according to package directions. When I add the noodles to the boiling water I also add the peas and carrots so they can cook at the same time.
Once they have cooked (around 12 minutes) remove from the pot and drain then add to a separate bowl. In the same pot that the noodles were cooked, we’re going to make a roux.
Making a roux for this tuna casserole is so simple and once you learn how to do it you will never use a box with cheese sauce already in it again. To the pot on medium heat add 1 Tbs of butter. Once it’s melted add the flour and stir until combined. Now add the milk. Stir to combine the butter and flour mixture then add the can of cream of chicken.
Finally, add 1/2 a cup of the cheese.
To the noodle mixture add the two cans of drained tuna. Mix all together then add into the pot of cheese sauce. Stir to combine so all the cheese gets into all the crevices.
In a greased 9×13 dish add the noodle casserole.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
In a bowl melt the remaining 1 Tbs of butter. Crush the sleeve of crackers into fine pieces then add to the melted butter. Sprinkle over the top of the casserole then top with the final 1/4 cup of cheese on top.
Bake for 10 minutes to melt the cheese.
Tips & Variations for Tuna Casserole:
- No tuna lovers in your house? Swap out for cooked chicken.
- Triple cheddar is what I used but feel free to use any cheese you like!
And here you are….
From our home in the Bottom Left of the Mitten to yours ~ Enjoy!
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Tuna Casserole
Ingredients
- 2 5 ounce cans albacore tuna drained
- 1 cup peas & carrots, frozen
- 12 ounces egg noodles cooked according to package directions
- 2 Tbs butter 1 Tbs for casserole and 1 Tbs for top
- 1 Tbs flour
- 10.5 ounce can cream of chicken soup
- 1 cup milk
- 3/4 cup triple cheddar cheese
- 1/2 sleeve Ritz Crackers
Instructions
- Cook the egg noodles according to package directions. When I add the noodles to the boiling water I also add the peas and carrots so they can cook at the same time. Once they have cooked (around 12 minutes) remove from the pot and drain then add to a separate bowl.
- In the same pot that the noodles were cooked we're going to make a roux. To the pot on medium heat add 1 Tbs of butter. Once it's melted add the flour and stir until combed. Now add the milk. Stir to combine the butter and flour mixture then add the can of cream of chicken. Finally add 1/2 a cup of the cheese.
- To the noodle mixture add the two cans of drained tuna. Mix all together then add into the pot of cheese sauce. Stir to combine so all the cheese gets into all the crevices.
- In a greased 9x13 dish add the noodle casserole. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
- In a bowl melt the remaining 1 Tbs of butter. Crush the sleeve of crackers into fine pieces then add to the melted butter. Sprinkle over the top of the casserole then top with the final 1/4 cup of cheese on top.
- Bake for 10 minutes to melt the cheese on top. Enjoy!
Last Updated on January 10, 2023 by Erin@BottomLeftoftheMitten
How long is this supposed to cook?
Hi Julie! Since the bulk of it cooks on the stovetop it only needs about 10 minutes in the oven to melt the cheese on top. Thank you!
I made this last night and it was delicious.
Wonderful! I’m glad you liked it. Thank you for sharing.
Is the cream of chicken soup a condensed and a 50/50 diluted soup?
Canned cream of chicken soup is condensed, adding the milk will thin it out.