Tuna Noodle Casserole

Name: Tuna Noodle Casserole
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 8 to 10 servings
Ingredients: ½ ounce Monterey jack cheese; ½ ounce sharp cheddar cheese; 2 cups potato chips, crushed; 2 lices white sandwich bread, torn into 1-inch pieces; 2 tablespoons unsalted butter; ¼ teaspoon salt; ¼ teaspoons ground black pepper; 3 5-ounce cans solid white albacore tuna packed in water; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 2 teaspoons lemon juice; 1 tablespoon + 1¼ teaspoons salt; 1 teaspoon ground black pepper; 12 ounces egg noodles; 4 tablespoons unsalted butter; 10 ounces white mushrooms; 1 yellow onion; 1 red bell pepper; 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour; 3½ cups half-and-half; 1½ cups chicken broth; 3½ ounces Monterey jack cheese; 3½ ounces sharp cheddar cheese; 1½ cups frozen peas

User Reviews

4.7

54 reviews

Excellent

Prep Time
45 mins
Cook Time
45 mins
Total Time
1 hr
Servings
8 to 10 servings
Calories
567 kcal
Course
Main Course
Cuisine
American

Tuna Noodle Casserole

John Morgan

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If you're looking for the best tuna noodle casserole recipe, this is it. It's made totally from scratch - no condensed soup! We're talking a cheesy sauce, loaded with veggies, AND it has a potato chip crumb topping to boot. Just like mom used to make, but better!

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Ingredients

Servings

For the Topping

½ ounce Monterey jack cheese shredded
½ ounce sharp cheddar cheese shredded
2 cups potato chips, crushed
2 lices white sandwich bread, torn into 1-inch pieces
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoons ground black pepper

For the Casserole

3 5-ounce cans solid white albacore tuna packed in water
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon + 1¼ teaspoons salt divided
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
12 ounces egg noodles
4 tablespoons unsalted butter divided
10 ounces white mushrooms sliced ¼-inch thick
1 yellow onion finely chopped
1 red bell pepper stemmed, seeded, and finely chopped
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3½ cups half-and-half
1½ cups chicken broth
3½ ounces Monterey jack cheese shredded
3½ ounces sharp cheddar cheese shredded
1½ cups frozen peas

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Instructions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Combine the Monterey Jack and cheddar cheeses in a bowl. Pulse the potato chips, bread, ¼ cup cheese mixture, 2 tablespoons butter, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper in food processor until coarsely ground, about 8 pulses; set aside.
Place the tuna in a fine-mesh strainer and press dry with paper towels. Transfer to a large bowl and flake into coarse pieces with a fork. Microwave the oil, lemon juice, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper in small bowl for about 30 seconds. Stir the oil mixture into the tuna and set aside.
Bring 4 quarts of water to a boil in a Dutch oven. Add pasta and 1 tablespoon salt and cook until al dente. Drain pasta and rinse with cold water until cool, about 2 minutes. Drain again and set aside. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in now-empty pot over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and ¼ teaspoon salt and cook until liquid evaporates and mushrooms are browned, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer mushrooms to the bowl with tuna mixture. Add 1 tablespoon butter, the onion, and bell pepper to now-empty pot and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Transfer to bowl with tuna-mushroom mixture; set aside.
In now-empty pot, melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add flour and cook, whisking constantly, until golden, about 1 minute. Slowly whisk in half-and-half and broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until slightly thickened, 5 to 7 minutes. Off heat, whisk in shredded cheese until smooth. Stir in pasta, tuna-vegetable mixture, peas, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper.
Transfer the mixture into a 9x13-inch baking dish and top with bread crumb mixture. Bake until golden brown, 12 to 14 minutes. Let casserole cool on wire rack for 10 minutes before serving. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Notes

Nutritional values are based on one serving
If you do not have a food processor for the topping, you can do a couple of quick pulses in a blender, or use a pastry blender to combine the bread, butter, salt, pepper and cheeses, then crush the potato chips with your hands and stir in.
If you do not have a microwave, you can warm the olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper in a small saucepan over low heat until warmed through, then combine with the tuna.
If you cannot find half and half where you live, simply substitute heavy cream and whole milk in equal parts.
To make this a vegetarian meal, substitute vegetable broth for the chicken broth.
Feel free to substitute other cheeses if you'd like, although I LOVE the combo of Monterey Jack and cheddar!
The casserole can be made ahead. To do so, refrigerate without topping, covered in plastic wrap, for up to 24 hours. Increase the baking time to 25 minutes, adding the topping halfway through baking.
This casserole can also be frozen. Cover tightly in plastic wrap and foil and freeze for up to 3 months. Move from the freezer to the refrigerator 24 to 36 hours before you plan on serving, then follow the baking directions above for a make-ahead preparation.

Nutrition Information

Show Details

Calories 567kcal (28%) Carbohydrates 47g (16%) Protein 29g (58%) Fat 36g (55%) Saturated Fat 16g (80%) Cholesterol 121mg (40%) Sodium 910mg (38%) Potassium 829mg (24%) Fiber 3g (12%) Sugar 4g (8%) Vitamin A 1280IU (26%) Vitamin C 32.1mg (36%) Calcium 303mg (30%) Iron 2.5mg (14%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 8to 10 servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 567 kcal

% Daily Value*

Calories	567kcal	28%
Carbohydrates	47g	16%
Protein	29g	58%
Fat	36g	55%
Saturated Fat	16g	80%
Cholesterol	121mg	40%
Sodium	910mg	38%
Potassium	829mg	18%
Fiber	3g	12%
Sugar	4g	8%
Vitamin A	1280IU	26%
Vitamin C	32.1mg	36%
Calcium	303mg	30%
Iron	2.5mg	14%