The Best Old Fashioned Tuna Noodle Casserole (2024)

by Mary Neumann · 140 Comments

Today I am sharing an old school classic and family favorite – Old Fashioned Tuna Noodle Casserole! Comfort food at its best!

Egg noddles in a delicious creamy mushroom soup sauce tossed with tuna, sauteed onions, peas and cheddar cheese, topped with crushed potato chips then baked to perfection…just like grandma used make. Old school comfort food at its best.

Read rave reviews from people who tried this recipeonPinterest! This is the BEST tuna casserole recipe!

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If you were a kid growing up in the 70s and 80s, there’s a good chance this casserole was served often at the dinner table – it was a staple in our home. This recipe was passed down from my grandma and has changed a smidgen over the years but still remains a classic.

The Best Old Fashioned Tuna Noodle Casserole (2)



Old school comfort food at its best! Simple to make, so good.

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What You Need To Make Tuna Casserole

Egg noodles, cream of mushroom soup,mayonnaise, sour cream,milk, solid white albacore tuna, yellow onion, butter, peas, cheddar cheese, salt, pepper and potato chips.

The Best Old Fashioned Tuna Noodle Casserole (4)

HOW TO MAKE TUNA CASSEROLE

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cookingspray.Prepare egg noodles, making sure to slightly under cook them by 2 minutes so they are slightly firm. Drain well.

In a skillet over medium to medium-high heat melt butter and add onions. Cook until onions are tender and translucent.

In a large bowl add cream of mushroom soup,mayonnaise, sour cream, milk,salt, pepper, and the cooked onions and butter from skillet. Mix well. Next, add tuna, peas, cheddar cheese and mix well. Last, add prepared egg noodles, gently folding into soup/tuna mixture until well blended. Pour mixture into casserole dish. Top evenly with potato chips.

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Placecasseroleon middle rack of oven and bake for approximately 30 minutes uncovered, until casserole iscompletelyheatedthrough. Enjoy!

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The Best Old Fashioned Tuna Noodle Casserole (7)

Old Fashioned Tuna Noodle Casserole

  • 12 ounces wide egg noodles (not extra wide),slightlyunder cooked with a little firmness *under cook about 2 minutes less than according to package
  • 1/2 cup yellow onion, diced
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 12 ounce can solid white albacore tuna in water, drained well
  • 2 cans (10.5 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup – OR make homemade condensed cream of mushroom soup
  • 1/3 cupmayonnaise(like Hellmann’s – not Miracle Whip)
  • 1/3 cup sour cream
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup peas
  • 1 cup crushed potato chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cookingspray.Prepare egg noodles, making sure to slightly under cook them by 2 minutes so they are slightly firm. Drain well.

In a skillet over medium to medium-high heat melt butter and add onions. Cook until onions are tender and translucent.

In a large bowl add cream of mushroom soup,mayonnaise, sour cream, milk,salt, pepper, and the cooked onions and butter from skillet. Mix well. Next, add tuna, peas, cheddar cheese and mix well. Last, add prepared egg noodles, gently folding into soup/tuna mixture until well blended. Pour mixture into casserole dish. Top evenly with crushed potato chips.

Placecasseroleon middle rack of oven and bake for approximately 30 minutes uncovered, until casserole iscompletelyheatedthrough. Enjoy!



Tips
There are many variations for tuna casserole – you can easily adapt this recipe to your liking:

  • I love tuna casserole served with a wedge of lemon to squeeze on top
  • omit onion and peas if you do not care for them
  • add some sauteedcelery if you like
  • instead of potato chips, top with bread crumbs, French fried onions or top with extra cheddar cheese if you want it super cheesy
  • use cream of chicken soup instead of cream of mushroom or mix in a can of cream of celery with cream of mushroom or cream of chicken
  • jazz it up with spices
  • not a fan of tuna…substitute with chicken

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Cheers!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Diann

    I have made this twice and love it! The first time I thought it was dry and realized this time when I went to make it, I needed two cans of soup. I made it minus the cheese and peas.

    Reply

    • Kelly

      I have been making this recipe for years and we absolutely love it. I like to add the thicker frozen noodles. Delicious

  2. Anne Davis

    This was a very creamy, flavorful tuna casserole, with use of budget-friendly ingredients. Since there are just my husband and myself, I halved the recipe, and we still have great leftovers for another meal.
    I did add extra seasoning–garlic pepper and Dash seasoning to the soup/sour cream mixture. Like others, I omitted the mayo. We like a little warmth in much of our cooking, so I finely diced a small jalapeno (only adding a few seeds) to incorporate. Since that added a little color, we had the green peas as a side dish. Thanks for sharing a memory-maker.

    Reply

  3. Tony Provencher

    I’ve made this twice before and the family loved it.I add smoked paprika on the top before the topping. The topping I put on is with fried onions with panko bread crumbs mixed together with shredded parmigiana cheese. Now that I said that I’m making it tonight.

    Reply

  4. Krista

    What can I use in place of sour cream? I don’t have any.

    Reply

  5. Jayne

    Delicious and brings back many memories of meals with my family…

    Reply

  6. Jean W.

    I made this leaving off only the potato chips and using only half of the onions. Absolutely delicious!!! Made for my new boyfriend, first meal I’ve cooked for him, and it was a hit!

    Reply

  7. Beth

    I made this casserole exactly according to the recipe. It was absolutely the BEST tuna casserole I have ever tasted. My family loved it also. It was easy to make and delicious. The leftovers was also great. I will make again and again.

    Reply

    • Bonnie J. Kelly

      M

      Reply

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The Best Old Fashioned Tuna Noodle Casserole (2024)

FAQs

What are the list of ingredients for tuna noodle casserole? ›

Use 2 cans soup, 1 cup milk, 1/4 cup pimiento, two 12-ounce cans tuna, 6 ounces (about 4 cups) egg noodles, 2 tablespoons bread crumbs and 1 tablespoon butter. Bake in a 2-quart casserole for 30 minutes or until hot, then for another 5 to brown the bread crumb mixture.

Why is my tuna casserole so dry? ›

A possible reason for this is that you added too much pasta or not enough liquid. The pasta absorbs liquid, so you should use a generous amount of sauce to keep the dish moist. Your tuna casserole can also become dry due to overbaking.

Do you cook noodles before putting them in a casserole? ›

Do you cook the noodles before adding them to the casserole? Yes, you should cook the egg noodles until they're al dente before combining with the other ingredients.

How do you moisten leftover tuna casserole? ›

To maintain creaminess, add a splash of milk or chicken broth before reheating. This replenishes moisture and prevents the casserole from drying out.

What is the main ingredient in a casserole? ›

In the United States, a casserole or hot dish is typically a baked food with three main components: pieces of meat (such as chicken or ground meat) or fish (such as tuna) or other protein (such as beans or tofu), various chopped or canned vegetables (such as green beans or peas), and a starchy binder (such as flour, ...

What are the 4 parts of a casserole? ›

Not every single casserole has all of them, but as a rule of thumb, here's what to look for: a starch, a binding agent or sauce, and a protein or vegetable. Many casseroles also have both vegetables and proteins, as well as a crunchy element to give some textural contrast, and cheese.

How do you make a casserole taste better? ›

Fresh herbs or citrus zest can also punch up flavors with a bit of welcome brightness for a long-cooked dish, as can adding some heat in the form of a dash of hot sauce, a generous pinch of minced or sliced fresh chili pepper, or a shake of red pepper flakes.

How can I improve my casserole flavor? ›

Fried onions, fried shallots, crumbled bacon and shredded cheese are other great topping options—you can even sprinkle crushed potato chips or tortilla chips on top. If you're making a casserole ahead, wait until just before baking to add the topping.

How do you keep a casserole moist? ›

Pro Tip: Avoid Dry Casserole.

The best way to prevent it from drying out is to add a little bit of water, around ¼ cup, to the top of it. Allow the water to seep between the food and the sides of the baking dish. Cover with aluminum foil to seal in the moisture.

Should I cook my noodles in the sauce? ›

First, in authentic Italian cuisine, the sauce is always tossed with the pasta before it ever hits the plate. Just before the sauce is done cooking, the hot pasta is added to the saucepan. Generally speaking, we recommend cooking the pasta in the sauce together for about 1-2 minutes.

How long to boil noodles before baking? ›

Most baked-pasta recipes instruct you to boil the noodles until cooked halfway before baking them. This allows the pasta to finish cooking in the oven as it bathes in the sauce.

Is it better to cook casserole the day before or? ›

Putting a casserole together a day or so before baking ensures that everything is ready to go when dinner time rolls around. That means no rushing at the last minute. Along with greater convenience, making a casserole ahead of time also results in a richer, deeper taste.

Can I eat tuna casserole that was left out overnight? ›

If you reheat food that was forgotten on the counter overnight or was left out all day, will it be safe to eat? TWO HOURS is the MAXIMUM time perishable foods should be at room temperature (ONE HOUR at temperatures 90 degrees F and higher). This INCLUDES the time they're on the table during your meal.

How do you thicken tuna casserole? ›

How do you thicken tuna casserole? To thicken your tuna casserole, keep it in the oven for longer. This should thicken it right up. Mixing in an extra ¼ cup of parmesan cheese will also help bind it together.

How long is leftover tuna noodle casserole good for? ›

Store your leftover tuna noodle casserole in a shallow, airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. Reheat thoroughly in the oven or in the microwave.

What does tuna pasta contain? ›

INGREDIENTS: Cooked Pasta [Water, Durum Wheat Semolina], Tuna (Fish) (13%), Cucumber, Sweetcorn, Low Fat Yogurt (Milk), Water, Rapeseed Oil, Crème Fraîche (Milk), Onion, Pepper, Red Wine Vinegar, Pasteurised Egg, Cornflour, Spirit Vinegar, Chives, Salt, Basil, White Wine Vinegar, Mustard Flour, Sugar, Egg Yolk, White ...

What are the main ingredients in canned tuna? ›

Finally, despite being canned, many brands of canned tuna are minimally processed, containing only tuna, water or oil, and salt. Some brands may also add seasonings or broth for extra flavor. Canned tuna is an inexpensive, low calorie source of protein and other important nutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids.

What are the ingredients in tuna chunks? ›

Ingredients
  • Tuna [Fish],
  • Water,
  • Salt.

What is tuna pasta made of? ›

Canned tuna is tossed with chopped tomatoes, olives, red onions, capers, parsley, olive oil and lemon juice, and then tossed again with hot fusilli pasta and shredded mozzarella cheese. The hot pasta melts the cheese into the tuna mixture.

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