Tuna Noodle Casserole Classic (Printable format)

Delicious creamy tuna noodle bake featuring fresh veggies and a crispy parmesan topping.

# List of ingredients:

→ Pasta and Fish

01 - 12 oz egg noodles
02 - 2 cans (5 oz each) solid white tuna in water, drained

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
04 - 1 cup cremini or white mushrooms, sliced
05 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
06 - 1 cup celery, diced
07 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Sauce

08 - 3 tbsp unsalted butter
09 - 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
10 - 2 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
11 - 1 cup whole milk
12 - 1/2 cup sour cream
13 - 1/2 tsp kosher salt
14 - 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
15 - 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard

→ Topping

16 - 3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
17 - 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
18 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
19 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (optional)

# How to make it:

01 - Heat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
02 - Boil egg noodles in salted water until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
03 - In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Add onion and celery; cook for 3 minutes. Add mushrooms and sauté an additional 4 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute.
04 - Sprinkle flour over vegetables and stir to coat. Gradually whisk in broth, stirring constantly. Add milk and bring to a simmer, cooking until thickened, about 3 to 4 minutes.
05 - Remove skillet from heat and stir in sour cream, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper.
06 - Fold tuna, peas, and cooked noodles into the sauce until evenly mixed.
07 - Transfer mixture to the prepared baking dish.
08 - Mix panko, parmesan, and melted butter in a small bowl. Evenly sprinkle over casserole.
09 - Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until topping is golden and filling bubbles.
10 - Let stand for 5 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley before serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It feels fancy enough for company but honest enough to make on a weeknight when you're tired.
  • The crispy-creamy contrast is genuinely addictive, and you'll find yourself going back for seconds without thinking.
02 -
  • Don't skip draining your tuna thoroughly, or you'll end up with a watery casserole that slides around on the plate.
  • Keep the oven temperature at 400°F; a hotter oven will burn the topping before the filling heats through, and a cooler one leaves it pale and soft.
03 -
  • Make the sauce completely finished before adding the noodles and tuna—cold ingredients will cool it down too much.
  • If your topping starts browning too fast, loosely tent the casserole with foil for the last few minutes of baking.
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