Tuna Casserole • Best Tuna Casserole Recipe {video} • Two Purple Figs

November 8, 2024

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This Tuna Casserole is the last word cozy consolation meals. Flakey Tuna, mushrooms (no cans!), peas, cheese, a luscious sauce, egg noodles and a zesty lemon panko topping with caramelized lemons. Critically that is the last word Tuna casserole recipe to make!

A hand using a large spoon to scoop up some tuna casserole showing the texture of the noodles and tuna and the crunchy topping

Now we have a THING for Tuna right here. So many Tuna Recipes to discover and critically, all SO GOOD! So this tuna casserole recipe is lengthy overdue right here. Let’s begin by saying that I didn’t admire tuna casserole for years, and I knew precisely why. So I’ve examined so many recipes to determine a manner across the canned soup and a manner so as to add a delicate taste of lemon.

While you do this recipe, you’ll know precisely what I imply. Take it from a tuna lover who tried so some ways to make this the perfect model it may be!

So What’s a Tuna Casserole?

The tuna casserole is likely one of the hottest recipes within the US, and it rose to fame within the 1950’s. A that point every thing creamy, wealthy and velvety was coming to life. Casseroles had been the factor.

This recipe was a type of cheap options to dinner and comfy meals. All you wanted was a can of mushroom soup, some noodles, canned tuna, canned peas, cheese and crushed potato chips for topping. Such an inexpensive meal that requires pantry gadgets solely, nothing perishable. Most households would have all these components of their pantry at any given time.

In order time advanced, some have stored the recipe as it’s, and others have swapped some gadgets. The commonest swap was the canned peas into recent or frozen peas. This was some time in the past when a number of folks started to draw back from canned veggies.

Ultimately the chips made the swap too with panko or any breadcrumbs. And eventually, the canned soup. This was our first precedence when testing for this recipe. We made a luscious basic bechamel sauce with recent mushrooms and it was the perfect factor ever!

Let’s get began with the perfect tuna casserole recipe, the components, video and tips on how to under!

Why You’ll LOVE This Tuna Casserole Recipe

No canned Soup, ever. Whereas this might be the basic quaint manner, there’s a manner round it. A manner that’s way more tastier and more healthy for you! Imagine me you received’t miss that canned stuff!
We caramelize some lemon slices within the butter earlier than making the sauce after which add loads of lemon zest to the panko topping. The richness of the caramelized lemon and brightness of the lemon zest topping take this casserole to a different stage!
This recipe is fabulously made prematurely, it’s additionally freezer pleasant and a potluck favourite.
Flavors are elevated. We flavored the creamy sauce for the tuna casserole with herbs and caramelized lemon, and the identical with the topping. So many lovely flavors right here whereas highlighting the tuna!
Wonderful textures! The luscious creamy sauce, completely cooked noodles. flakey tuna, peas, mushrooms and the crunch topping all come collectively like a dream!
A tuna casserole is a type of dinners or cozy meals that makes use of essentially the most easiest of components. Nothing fancy and nothing that requires a visit to a speciality retailer.

Components You’ll Want

Ingredients on a large marble for tuna casserole. Caned tuna in a bowl, cheese in a bowl, some milk, some butter in separate bowls, the egg noddles uncooked in a bowl, sliced mushrooms on a board with diced onions, some garlic minced, a bowl of dijon mustard, some frozen peas in a bowl,some lemon slices, a bowl of seasoned panko, some half n half in a cup

Tuna. We’re preserving with the basic style and comfort of a tuna casserole and so we’re utilizing canned tuna. You should definitely purchase high quality canned tuna, ideally packed in lemon or water not oil. Additionally be sure that to empty that fish rather well earlier than utilizing right here. Whereas you should use our Tuna Steak Recipe, we really feel the feel and taste is finest with canned.
Noodles. Once more maintaining with the classics right here, we used the great previous no yolks noodles. Make sure that to prepare dinner them tremendous al dente as they’ll prepare dinner additional within the oven.
Béchamel components. Butter, flour, milk or half n half. You may add in some inventory to interchange part of the milk or half n half for a lighter casserole recipe.
Seasoning. We use a bled of oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt and pepper. We mix all of them collectively and that is the principle seasoning we use for the sauce, the topping and as we prepare dinner it.
Veggies. Frozen inexperienced peas are a fantastic substitute for the canned and even for recent generally. We additionally use recent mushrooms for this recipe as a substitute of the canned stuff. So flavorful and wonderful texture!
Flavorings. Our fundamentals embrace onions, garlic and recent herbs like thyme.
Lemon. We use lemon zest and lemon slices right here for a special stage of lemon taste.
Panko Combination. You should use common breadcrumbs, however we use panko combined with seasoning (above), recent herbs, chilli flakes and lemon zest.
Cheese. The basic cheddar cheese is what we use. Nonetheless you should use gruyere or every other mushy melting cheese.

Make Tuna Casserole

Put together the Sauce

lemon slices caramelizing in the bottom of the pot

We begin by infusing a wealthy deep lemon style which pairs so superbly with our recipe. To try this, simply add in lemon slices to some melted butter within the pot over medium warmth. Caramelize the lemon for 1 minute per aspect till golden, then take away from the pan.
Start the sauce in the identical pot the place the butter is infused with the lemon taste. Add within the onions and seasoning. You should use Italian seasoning mix or easy mix salt, pepper, oregano, onion and garlic powder and a few paprika.
As soon as the onions have cooked till mushy and translucent, you’re going so as to add in some sliced mushrooms and garlic. Whereas you should use white button mushrooms, we desire cremini. Prepare dinner the mushrooms with the onions till they’ve softened however not completely wilted down.
Now you’re going so as to add within the flour together with a tablespoon extra of butter. That is the bottom for the béchamel sauce and that is the way it will thicken up.
At this level it’s KEY to sauté the flour with the mushrooms and onions for a minimum of 1 minute or till barely golden. This step removes the uncooked flour style out of your sauce.
You’re now prepared so as to add within the liquid. We’re utilizing milk and half n half, this creates an excellent luscious and creamy tuna casserole recipe. You should use completely half n half for a richer end result, or use half inventory and half milk for a lighter recipe. We guarantee you both manner it is going to be scrumptious. Now be sure to season the liquid with the identical seasoning above.
Enhance the warmth barely to medium excessive and produce the combination to a boil whereas mixing. You’ll discover how the liquid will thicken and at that time, drop the warmth to medium low. Let the sauce bubble for 2-3 minutes to infuse with the flavors.
At that time you’re going so as to add the drained tuna, peas and cheese. Give it a mixture till all blended.

Prepare dinner the Noodles

It’s finest to prepare dinner them tremendous aldente. That’s as a result of the noodles will additional prepare dinner within the oven. We’ve used right here the basic no yolks noodles, however you may most positively use pasta or a gluten free possibility if wanted.

Assemble the Casserole

the noodles mixed into the post with the remaining ingredients and spread into a baking dish

The noodles are tossed into the pot and coated effectively with the sauce, tuna, peas and mushrooms. Now we pour the entire pot right into a 9 by 13 inch dish, and unfold the noodle tuna combination evenly into the baking dish. You should use the identical pot if that’s your choice.

Topping

topping ingredients all mixed in a bowl which is panko bread crumbs, thyme, chilli flakes lemon zest

That is frankly a MUST for the recipe, so please don’t skimp. The topping is a mix of panko bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, recent thyme, chilli flakes and lemon zest. An absolute taste and texture addition to your dish!
Sprinkle the topping evenly everywhere in the baking dish overlaying all of the tuna casserole. And to complete off, add the caramelized lemon slices ontop.

Baking the Casserole

The tuna casserole out of the oven with golden tops and perfectly cooked

Bake for about 25 minutes till it’s golden and bubbly. You need the crispy golden tops and bubbly insides.
As soon as out of the oven , we added some chopped chives (optionally available) and a touch of chilli flakes.
Be tremendous cautious about serving it straight away as it is going to be actually sizzling and bubbly. So give it about 10 minutes earlier than serving.

And there you’ve got absolutely the Tuna casserole filled with freshness and taste, and but simply as cozy.
close up of the baked tuna casserole showing very up close the texture of the golden panko and caramelized lemons

Suggestions For the Greatest Tuna Casserole Recipe

Use high quality canned tuna for the perfect tasting casserole recipe. Be sure to use the fish packed in water or lemon, not oil. The oil will make it onerous for the tuna to mix within the sauce. And eventually, be sure that to empty it effectively earlier than utilizing.
Frozen peas are a fantastic alternative for this recipe, higher than recent peas. Keep away from canned by all means.
Cremini mushrooms have a richer style in comparison with white button mushrooms, nonetheless you may nonetheless use them.
The selection of cheese is totally optionally available so long as it’s a mushy melting cheese.
For a richer recipe, use all half n half. And for a lighter style, use half inventory and half milk. Both possibility tastes nice!
The lemon slices add a wealthy candy lemon style to the sauce, whereas the zest on prime provides a brilliant recent tangy taste.
We desire panko over common breadcrumbs, nonetheless you may nonetheless use it.
When including the flour, be sure to toast it for 1-2 minutes to take away the uncooked flour style out of your sauce.
Permit the sauce to bubble and thicken earlier than including the remaining components, and observe the thickness.
To skinny out your sauce, add extra liquid. To thick out the sauce, preserve simmering it for longer than 8 minutes.
You ca use retailer purchased Italian seasoning or just combine oregano, garlic and onion powders, salt and pepper and paprika.
Don’t overcook the noodles, it is advisable to beneath prepare dinner them as they’ll proceed cooking within the oven.
You may bake the casserole in the identical pot should you’d like so long as it’s oven proof.
Control the panko topping, it needs to be golden and crisp.
Keep away from serving the dish straight away as it is going to be tremendous sizzling, reasonably await 8 minutes earlier than having fun with it.

Tuna Casserole Variations

Ass extra veggies like corn, bell peppers, broccoli, solar dried tomatoes, spinach or whichever you favor. Don’t overshadow the tuna, however be happy to be as inventive as you’d like.
Make it spicy by including jalapeños or extra chilli flakes.
Use cajun spice for a fantastic twist. Additionally add kind of of your favourite spice mix like extra onion powder than garlic.
Swap cheeses round, and take a look at totally different varieties.
Add in additional seafood. You may add in some canned or cooked Sardines. Whereas they’ve a nasty fame, I urge you to attempt my grandmother’s recipe!
Change the topping and use your favourite flavored chips or crackers, be sure to crush them.

close up of the casserole dish showing one slice removed and the texture on the inside

Make Forward Tuna Casserole?

Put together all of the recipe and assemble it in your baking dish able to bake. Be mindful to underbake the noodles much more, and having the sauce barely thinner than standard.
Now cowl the dish and refrigerate for as much as 3 days.
When able to bake, be sure to take away the dish from the fridge for 1 hour earlier than baking. Bake as standard including an additional 15-18 minutes extra baking time.

Freeze and Reheat?

Put together the casserole and pour into the baking dish as above. Make sure that the sauce has cooled earlier than wrapping and freezing.
You may freeze for upto 3 months.
To Reheat, take the dish out of the freezer the day earlier than. Make sure that to thaw it utterly. Bake as above including an additional 20 minutes.

Why is my casserole dry?

The 2 predominant causes for dryness are that the dish is over baked, or the sauce was very thick to start with. When tossing the noodles with all of the components, the sauce needs to be thick, but skinny sufficient to evenly coat each noodle and have some liquid left for baking.

inform when the casserole is completed?

The sides might be bubbly, and the tops might be golden and crisp. You should use the fork knife take a look at and insert a knife within the casserole, and if you take away it, the knife ought to have a thick coating on it not a skinny one.

What to Serve with Tuna Casserole

Quite a lot of Salad Recipes right here so that you can select from. We love a pleasant salad and a few Garlic Bread.

Extra Canned Tuna Recipes

Straight from the Mediterranean is that this Tuna Salad Recipe with Olive Oil Dressing and it makes the perfect Sandwich too!

Viral Tuna Recipes

Tuna Tataki
Crudo
Wrap
Ahi Tuna Salad
Ceviche
Carpaccio
Tuna Tartare

A plate with a serving of tuna casserole and a fork next to it

Tuna Casserole

This Tuna Casserole is the last word cozy consolation meals. Flakey Tuna, mushrooms (no cans!), peas, cheese, a luscious sauce, egg noodles and a zesty lemon panko topping with caramelized lemons. Critically that is the last word Tuna casserole recipe to make!