30-minute tuna casserole is a classic dump-and-bake comfort food, combining pantry-friendly tuna, egg noodles, peas, mushroom soup, cheese, and breadcrumbs for a crowd-pleasing family dinner!
Meanwhile, cook the noodles in salted water according to the package instructions, minus 1-2 minutes, so it's al dente.
Once cooked, immediately drain and rinse the pasta to halt the cooking process.
In a small bowl, combine the melted butter and breadcrumbs and set it aside.
Combine the mushroom soup, milk, cheese*, tuna, peas, and parsley in a large mixing bowl first or directly in an 8x8-inch casserole dish (or 9.5x6.5-inch). Mix well, then stir in the noodles.*Optionally reserve some of the cheese to sprinkle over the top of the casserole.
Sprinkle over the breadcrumb mixture and then transfer the dish to the oven to bake for about 18-20 minutes, until the filling is bubbling, and the crumb topping is golden brown.For a darker crust, broil the tuna pasta casserole for 1-2 minutes at the end.
Finally, allow the casserole to rest for a few minutes, then optionally garnish with more parsley, and serve.
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Notes
Cook the pasta al dente: This ensures it doesn’t become mushy when baking and sitting in the sauce.
Use freshly grated cheese: Pre-grated cheese won't melt as easily.
For flavorful pasta: Cook it in liberally salted water or vegetable stock.
Experiment with veggies: You can basically chuck in any pre-cooked veggies and several others from raw or frozen, so experiment with what you have (see suggestions below).
Swap the tuna: Yupp, you read that right. This creamy casserole works just as well with canned/shredded chicken.
Optional add-ins and variations:
Cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, or hot sauce: To add a little spice.
Cream cheese: A little for an extra rich, creamy texture.
Other vegetables: There are several you could use, adding 1-2 cups.
Corn (frozen or canned),
Carrots (pre-cooked/sauteed),
Onion (or shallots, pre-sauteed),
Celery (pre-sauteed),
Spinach (fresh not frozen),
Zucchini (raw or cooked),
Broccoli (pre-cooked),
Cauliflower (pre-cooked),
Green beans (canned or pre-cooked),
Sliced mushrooms (sauteed).
Olives: Kalamata olives/regular black olives to add briny, salty flavor.
Fried onions: As a topping instead of breadcrumbs.
Check the blog post for more tips and serving recommendations!