Tuna Casserole

Tuna casserole is comfort food at it’s best and this easy recipe is a family favorite! With simple ingredients, great flavor, and a budget-friendly price tag, it’s a no-fuss dinner that’ll have everyone coming back for seconds!

Originally published January 2021 – Updated May 2025

I’m always trying out new dinner recipes but sometimes you just go back to the tried and true favorites! That’s why I love this tuna casserole recipe so much. It’s easy to make, budget friendly and most of all, everybody loves it!

The combination of flaky tuna, fluffy egg noodles and creamy soup tastes so good and always has my family asking for more. Plus, it’s the kind of comfort food that you can serve all year long.

If your family loves comfort food as much as mind does, you’ll also want to try this classic Homemade Lasagna or delicious Hamburger Rice Casserole!

Ingredients

The great thing about tuna noodle casserole is that you probably have most, if not all, of the ingredients in your pantry and fridge already. Here’s what you’ll need…

• Egg noodles: While you can substitute other noodles in a pinch, egg noodles are best for this recipe. Like the name says, the ratio of eggs to flour is higher than you’ll find in typical pastas. That means the egg noodles have a slightly different texture, making them perfect for casseroles.
• Tuna: You can’t have a this casserole without tuna, right? Using canned tuna is what gives this dish all it’s flavor. Just be sure to use tuna packed in water, not oil, or you’ll end up with a different consistency.
• Cream Of chicken soup: Cream of Chicken Soup gives casseroles a smooth, creamy texture, which is why this recipe tastes SO good.
• Veggies: One of my favorite things about this recipe is that I can add onions, celery and peas and my kids eat all their veggies without a peep. I’m not even sure they realize that tuna noodle casserole even has veggies.
• Cheese – I added shredded cheddar cheese because if you ask me, EVERY casserole should have cheese! It just makes everything taste better.
• Cornflakes: Don’t skip the cornflakes! The topping is the best part because it gives the tuna casserole recipe extra crunch and flavor.

How To Make Tuna Noodle Casserole

Step 1. Preheat oven to 375° and grease a 13×9 baking pan.

Step 2. Boil water for the egg noodles, then cook for 6 minutes, or half the time indicated on the package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water and set aside.

Step 3. Melt butter in a skillet and add the onion, celery and garlic. Cook until slightly tender and add salt to taste.

Step 4. Combine tuna, soup, milk, cheddar cheese, peas, cooked vegetables, and salt in a large bowl. Mix well.

Step 5. Stir in the noodles, then pour the tuna mixture into your greased or buttered casserole dish. Be sure to spread it into an even layer.

Step 6. Combine cornflakes, cheddar cheese and parsley in a bowl.

Step 7. Pour melted butter over the cornflake mixture. Mix until all ingredients are well coated.

Step 8. Spread the cornflake topping evenly over the top of the tuna casserole.

Step 9. Bake at 375° for 20 minutes, or until the top is a delicious looking golden brown and the filling is bubbly. Enjoy!

Step 10. Garnish with fresh cheddar and parsley and serve hot!

Storage Instructions

Store leftover casserole in an airtight container or cover tightly in the baking dish. It will stay fresh for about 3 days.

You can also make it ahead of time, which is perfect for those busy days when you won’t have a lot of extra time. Keep the topping separate (I just put mine in a sandwich bag), cover the casserole dish with plastic wrap or foil and keep both in the fridge until you’re ready for dinner.

Tips and Tricks

These little helpful tips keep things simple and help your recipe turn out just the way you want it:

• Cook the noodles al dente: Since wide egg noodles will finish cooking in the oven, boil them for half the package time.
• Use a deep baking dish: A standard 13×9 pan works well, but a deeper casserole dish helps if you like extra sauce or toppings.
• Sauté the veggies: Lightly sautéing the onion, garlic, and celery in butter brings out flavor and keeps the texture just right.
• Drain canned tuna well: Extra liquid from the tuna can water down the creamy sauce, so press it firmly before mixing.
• Let it rest: After baking at 375° degrees, give the casserole 5-10 minutes to set before serving.

Variations and Add-ins

Want to make it your own? Try these tasty twists and easy swaps to change things up:

• Switch the soup: Cream of celery soup is a great substitution if you don’t have cream of mushroom soup on hand.
• Stir in a spoonful of sour cream: It makes the creamy sauce even richer and gives this tuna noodle casserole a little extra tang.
• Use different noodles: You can substitute elbow macaroni or even rotini for a twist on this classic recipe.
• Add a tangy kick: A little lemon juice or chopped dill brightens the flavor and balances the richness of the dish.
• Make it extra crispy: Instead of a corn flake topping, try topping it with crushed potato chips or crushed Ritz crackers for a buttery crunch.
• Change the protein: You can easily make this a chicken casserole by using shredded cooked chicken instead of tuna.
• Mix up the veggies: Frozen peas are traditional, but chopped carrots, corn, or even sautéed shallots work great too.

FAQs

Other Easy Dinner Recipes

If you liked this recipe, you’ll want to try some of my other easy weeknight dinners too!

• Easy Beef Milanesa
• Lemon Rosemary Chicken
• French Onion Meatloaf
• Crispy Panko Chicken
• Cilantro Lime Shrimp Tacos
• Air Fryer Fried Chicken