Jump to Recipe This Quick and Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole recipe is a fantastic supper for nights when you’re short on time! Tuna Noodle Casserole is a family favorite comfort food filled with pasta, tuna, peas, a cream sauce, and topped with shredded cheese and optional crunchy topping! The family classic tuna noodle casserole, topped with all sorts of cheesy goodness! Looking for a more grown-up or from scratch tuna noodle casserole recipe? Try my delicious Creamy Tuna Noodle Casserole with Panko Topping! I may have to give Mom a call and double-check on this…but I do believe this Quick and Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole recipe was the first-ever actual meal that I cooked up for the two of us! When it came time to try my hand at dinners, casseroles were an easy choice and this was one my Mom had frequently made. So, it was a first for me growing up then, and is now a go-to quick comfort food meal that my own family enjoys! It’s a wonderful last-minute dinner idea since, typically, all of the ingredients are on hand in the pantry!

Jump to:🥘 Ingredients 🧂 Substitutions & Additions 🔪 Step-By-Step Instructions 💭 Angela’s Tips & Recipe Notes 😋 Other Great Recipes 📋 Recipe 💬 Comments

Like so many classic recipes, this cheesy tuna noodle casserole recipe has as many variations as there are moms that make it. I’ve tried to include quite a few interchangeable ingredient suggestions, stir-ins, and add-ons in my notes below! 🥘 Ingredients 12 oz wide Egg Noodles (cooked, drained, rinsed)26 oz Cream of Chicken Condensed Soup (family size - cream of mushroom is just as popular)1 cup Milk10 oz Tuna (2 5 oz cans - I prefer to use albacore, packed in water)2 cups Peas (frozen, thawed)½ teaspoon each, Salt & Pepper (or more, to taste)½ tsp Garlic Powder¼ teaspoon dried Dill Weed1 cup Cheddar Cheese (medium, shredded)½ cup Ruffles Cheddar and Sour Cream Potato Chips (slightly crushed, uneven size pieces - Ritz or Club crackers are my second best favorites for a crunchy topping) Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips! 🧂 Substitutions & Additions Pasta Types The pasta varieties that could be used are endless! I have always used wide egg noodles, but I also really love the way that small to medium-sized pasta shells keep some of the cream sauce tucked inside. Medium/short pasta varieties like Elbow Macaroni, Penne, Rotini, Farfalle (bowtie), Cavatappi are just a few other ideas. In a pinch, there’s nothing to say that long pasta like Spaghetti, Linguine, Fettuccine, or Angel Hair pasta couldn’t also be used. Tuna I prefer albacore and yellowfin tuna, even though I grew up using light tuna. Any of these will work, as will canned pink or red salmon. Using salmon is a wonderfully tasty alternative to the usual tuna! Peas Pretty much any vegetable you like can be swapped out for the peas, or stirred in for additional vegetables. Many times, I will use a higher vegetable and tuna content with less pasta to sneak more of the good stuff in on my daughter! Cheeses I typically use medium, sharp, or extra sharp cheddar cheese on my tuna noodle casserole recipes. You can use a combination of white (Mozzarella, Monterey Jack) and yellow cheeses (Cheddar, Colby, or Colby Jack) with great results. Plus, sometimes I like to sprinkle freshly grated Parmesan over the casserole or mix it in with crumbled crackers for a topping. The Topping Crumbled normal potato chips, Ritz crackers, Club crackers, and bread crumbs or Panko all work as an extra crunchy topping option. When using crackers, I like to crumble them to a finer bread crumb consistency. For crumbled crackers, bread crumbs, or Panko use some melted butter to mix in with the dry ingredient for a topping that will brown beautifully! 🔪 Step-By-Step Instructions Start with preparing your wide egg noodles (or your preferred pasta) according to the package instructions, minus about two minutes. This will yield an al denté texture (firm to the bite, but cooked through) that will absorb flavor from the casserole while baking…without ending up with mushy noodles!Drain and rinse your pasta in cool water when it is done cooking. Then set it aside until you are ready to combine the pasta and cream sauce.While your pasta is cooking, preheat your oven to 400ºF (205ºC) and add all of the remaining ingredients (except for the cheese and topping) to a large casserole dish or Dutch oven. Stir all of the ingredients until you have a smooth, creamy sauce mixture.Next, add the cooked rinsed pasta and stir until well coated. Top with grated cheddar cheese and optional Ruffles Cheddar Sour Cream chips.Cover the casserole dish with aluminum foil, or the lid of your Dutch oven, and bake at 400ºF (205ºC) for 30 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbling around the edges and the topping is golden brown. I usually remove the cover for the last 10 - 15 minutes of the cooking time.Remove from the oven when cooked, and serve immediately. I like to serve my tuna noodle casserole with a side dish. Like a vegetable side, or some fresh fruit for a complete meal.

💭 Angela’s Tips & Recipe Notes I like to use heavy cream for my sauces (there are very few sugars and you don’t need to use flour to thicken your sauce, it also means that gluten-free is an option with the appropriate noodles). If you don’t have heavy cream on hand, use milk with flour to sub out the heavy cream in my from-scratch tuna casserole. Other sauces for tuna noodle casserole are sometimes made with mayonnaise, mayo and sour cream combination, sour cream, alfredo sauce, or a cheese sauce (like a mac and cheese recipe with tuna and peas). 😋 Other Great Recipes

Meatloaf With OatmealStuffed Green PeppersBlack Eyed PeasSlow Cooker Beef BourguignonSalmon With Dill Sauce

Do you love a recipe you tried? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. Stay in touch with me through social media @ Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! Don’t forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes!

📋 Recipe

Print Recipe Leave A Comment Love This Recipe?Click On A Star To Rate It! 5 from 14 reviews

Tuna Noodle Casserole {Quick and Easy, Super Cheesy Recipe}

This Quick and Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole recipe is a fantastic supper for nights when you’re short on time! Tuna Noodle Casserole is a family favorite comfort food filled with pasta, tuna, peas, a cream sauce, and topped with shredded cheese and optional crunchy topping!

Author | Angela

Servings: 8 servings Calories: 411kcal Prep 10 minutes Cooking 30 minutes Total Time 40 minutes

Pin Recipe Share on Facebook Ingredients US CustomaryMetric1x2x3x▢ 12 oz wide egg noodles (cooked, drained, rinsed)▢ 26 oz cream of chicken condensed soup (family size - cream of mushroom is just as popular)▢ 1 cup milk▢ 10 oz tuna (2 5 oz cans - I prefer to use albacore, packed in water)▢ 2 cups peas (frozen, thawed)▢ ½ teaspoon each, salt & pepper (or more, to taste)▢ ½ teaspoon garlic powder▢ ¼ teaspoon dried dill weed▢ 1 cup cheddar cheese (medium, shredded)▢ ½ cup Ruffles Cheddar and Sour Cream Potato Chips (slightly crushed, uneven size pieces - Ritz or Club crackers are my second best favorites for a crunchy topping)

InstructionsCook Your Pasta: In a large stock pot or sauce pan, cook the wide egg noodles (or your choice of pasta) according to the package instructions. Since the pasta will be baked in the casserole, and you want them to absorb some of the flavors, take roughly two minutes off the suggested cooking time to get a good al dente (firm to the bite, but cooked through) pasta texture. When the pasta is done, drain and rinse in cool water to stop the cooking process. Set aside.12 oz wide egg noodlesWhile your noodles are cooking, preheat your oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C). In a casserole dish or dutch oven, combine the cream of chicken, milk, tuna, peas, and seasoning: salt, pepper, garlic powder, and dill weed. Add the cooked noodles and stir all ingredients together.26 oz cream of chicken condensed soup, 1 cup milk, 10 oz tuna, 2 cups peas, ½ teaspoon each, salt & pepper, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon dried dill weed, 12 oz wide egg noodlesTop with shredded cheddar cheese and crumbled Ruffles chips. Cover and bake at 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) for about 30 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbling around the edges and the topping is nice and crispy. *I usually remove the cover for the last 10-15 minutes of cooking time.1 cup cheddar cheese, ½ cup Ruffles Cheddar and Sour Cream Potato ChipsRemove from the oven and serve immediately. Equipment You May Need9x13 baking panDutch OvenLarge Stockpot NutritionCalories: 411kcal (21%) | Carbohydrates: 47g (16%) | Protein: 22g (44%) | Fat: 15g (23%) | Saturated Fat: 6g (38%) | Cholesterol: 74mg (25%) | Sodium: 1017mg (44%) | Potassium: 442mg (13%) | Fiber: 3g (13%) | Sugar: 5g (6%) | Vitamin A: 683IU (14%) | Vitamin C: 15mg (18%) | Calcium: 180mg (18%) | Iron: 3mg (17%) Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I can’t wait to see your results! Mention @bake_it_with_love or tag #bake_it_with_love! easy dinners, Family Meals, quick and easy, Tuna Casserole, Tuna Noodle Casserole Course Casseroles, Dinner Recipes, Entrees, Main Course, Main DishCuisine AmericanAngela @ BakeItWithLove.comAngela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma’s kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love! bakeitwithlove.com/about/

This Quick and Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole recipe is a fantastic supper for nights when you’re short on time! Tuna Noodle Casserole is a family favorite comfort food filled with pasta, tuna, peas, a cream sauce, and topped with shredded cheese and optional crunchy topping!

The family classic tuna noodle casserole, topped with all sorts of cheesy goodness!

Looking for a more grown-up or from scratch tuna noodle casserole recipe? Try my delicious Creamy Tuna Noodle Casserole with Panko Topping!

I may have to give Mom a call and double-check on this…but I do believe this Quick and Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole recipe was the first-ever actual meal that I cooked up for the two of us! When it came time to try my hand at dinners, casseroles were an easy choice and this was one my Mom had frequently made.

So, it was a first for me growing up then, and is now a go-to quick comfort food meal that my own family enjoys! It’s a wonderful last-minute dinner idea since, typically, all of the ingredients are on hand in the pantry!

Like so many classic recipes, this cheesy tuna noodle casserole recipe has as many variations as there are moms that make it. I’ve tried to include quite a few interchangeable ingredient suggestions, stir-ins, and add-ons in my notes below!

🥘 Ingredients

  • 12 oz wide Egg Noodles (cooked, drained, rinsed)26 oz Cream of Chicken Condensed Soup (family size - cream of mushroom is just as popular)1 cup Milk10 oz Tuna (2 5 oz cans - I prefer to use albacore, packed in water)2 cups Peas (frozen, thawed)½ teaspoon each, Salt & Pepper (or more, to taste)½ tsp Garlic Powder¼ teaspoon dried Dill Weed1 cup Cheddar Cheese (medium, shredded)½ cup Ruffles Cheddar and Sour Cream Potato Chips (slightly crushed, uneven size pieces - Ritz or Club crackers are my second best favorites for a crunchy topping)

Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!

🧂 Substitutions & Additions

Pasta Types

The pasta varieties that could be used are endless! I have always used wide egg noodles, but I also really love the way that small to medium-sized pasta shells keep some of the cream sauce tucked inside.

Medium/short pasta varieties like Elbow Macaroni, Penne, Rotini, Farfalle (bowtie), Cavatappi are just a few other ideas. In a pinch, there’s nothing to say that long pasta like Spaghetti, Linguine, Fettuccine, or Angel Hair pasta couldn’t also be used.

Tuna

I prefer albacore and yellowfin tuna, even though I grew up using light tuna. Any of these will work, as will canned pink or red salmon. Using salmon is a wonderfully tasty alternative to the usual tuna!

Peas

Pretty much any vegetable you like can be swapped out for the peas, or stirred in for additional vegetables. Many times, I will use a higher vegetable and tuna content with less pasta to sneak more of the good stuff in on my daughter!

Cheeses

I typically use medium, sharp, or extra sharp cheddar cheese on my tuna noodle casserole recipes. You can use a combination of white (Mozzarella, Monterey Jack) and yellow cheeses (Cheddar, Colby, or Colby Jack) with great results. Plus, sometimes I like to sprinkle freshly grated Parmesan over the casserole or mix it in with crumbled crackers for a topping.

The Topping

Crumbled normal potato chips, Ritz crackers, Club crackers, and bread crumbs or Panko all work as an extra crunchy topping option. When using crackers, I like to crumble them to a finer bread crumb consistency. For crumbled crackers, bread crumbs, or Panko use some melted butter to mix in with the dry ingredient for a topping that will brown beautifully!

🔪 Step-By-Step Instructions

  • Start with preparing your wide egg noodles (or your preferred pasta) according to the package instructions, minus about two minutes. This will yield an al denté texture (firm to the bite, but cooked through) that will absorb flavor from the casserole while baking…without ending up with mushy noodles!Drain and rinse your pasta in cool water when it is done cooking. Then set it aside until you are ready to combine the pasta and cream sauce.While your pasta is cooking, preheat your oven to 400ºF (205ºC) and add all of the remaining ingredients (except for the cheese and topping) to a large casserole dish or Dutch oven. Stir all of the ingredients until you have a smooth, creamy sauce mixture.Next, add the cooked rinsed pasta and stir until well coated. Top with grated cheddar cheese and optional Ruffles Cheddar Sour Cream chips.Cover the casserole dish with aluminum foil, or the lid of your Dutch oven, and bake at 400ºF (205ºC) for 30 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbling around the edges and the topping is golden brown. I usually remove the cover for the last 10 - 15 minutes of the cooking time.Remove from the oven when cooked, and serve immediately.

I like to serve my tuna noodle casserole with a side dish. Like a vegetable side, or some fresh fruit for a complete meal.

💭 Angela’s Tips & Recipe Notes

I like to use heavy cream for my sauces (there are very few sugars and you don’t need to use flour to thicken your sauce, it also means that gluten-free is an option with the appropriate noodles). If you don’t have heavy cream on hand, use milk with flour to sub out the heavy cream in my from-scratch tuna casserole.

Other sauces for tuna noodle casserole are sometimes made with mayonnaise, mayo and sour cream combination, sour cream, alfredo sauce, or a cheese sauce (like a mac and cheese recipe with tuna and peas).

😋 Other Great Recipes

  • Meatloaf With OatmealStuffed Green PeppersBlack Eyed PeasSlow Cooker Beef BourguignonSalmon With Dill Sauce

Do you love a recipe you tried? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. Stay in touch with me through social media @ Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! Don’t forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes!

📋 Recipe

Print Recipe Leave A Comment Love This Recipe?Click On A Star To Rate It! 5 from 14 reviews

Tuna Noodle Casserole {Quick and Easy, Super Cheesy Recipe}

This Quick and Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole recipe is a fantastic supper for nights when you’re short on time! Tuna Noodle Casserole is a family favorite comfort food filled with pasta, tuna, peas, a cream sauce, and topped with shredded cheese and optional crunchy topping!

Author | Angela

Servings: 8 servings Calories: 411kcal Prep 10 minutes Cooking 30 minutes Total Time 40 minutes

Pin Recipe Share on Facebook Ingredients US CustomaryMetric1x2x3x▢ 12 oz wide egg noodles (cooked, drained, rinsed)▢ 26 oz cream of chicken condensed soup (family size - cream of mushroom is just as popular)▢ 1 cup milk▢ 10 oz tuna (2 5 oz cans - I prefer to use albacore, packed in water)▢ 2 cups peas (frozen, thawed)▢ ½ teaspoon each, salt & pepper (or more, to taste)▢ ½ teaspoon garlic powder▢ ¼ teaspoon dried dill weed▢ 1 cup cheddar cheese (medium, shredded)▢ ½ cup Ruffles Cheddar and Sour Cream Potato Chips (slightly crushed, uneven size pieces - Ritz or Club crackers are my second best favorites for a crunchy topping)

InstructionsCook Your Pasta: In a large stock pot or sauce pan, cook the wide egg noodles (or your choice of pasta) according to the package instructions. Since the pasta will be baked in the casserole, and you want them to absorb some of the flavors, take roughly two minutes off the suggested cooking time to get a good al dente (firm to the bite, but cooked through) pasta texture. When the pasta is done, drain and rinse in cool water to stop the cooking process. Set aside.12 oz wide egg noodlesWhile your noodles are cooking, preheat your oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C). In a casserole dish or dutch oven, combine the cream of chicken, milk, tuna, peas, and seasoning: salt, pepper, garlic powder, and dill weed. Add the cooked noodles and stir all ingredients together.26 oz cream of chicken condensed soup, 1 cup milk, 10 oz tuna, 2 cups peas, ½ teaspoon each, salt & pepper, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon dried dill weed, 12 oz wide egg noodlesTop with shredded cheddar cheese and crumbled Ruffles chips. Cover and bake at 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) for about 30 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbling around the edges and the topping is nice and crispy. *I usually remove the cover for the last 10-15 minutes of cooking time.1 cup cheddar cheese, ½ cup Ruffles Cheddar and Sour Cream Potato ChipsRemove from the oven and serve immediately. Equipment You May Need9x13 baking panDutch OvenLarge Stockpot NutritionCalories: 411kcal (21%) | Carbohydrates: 47g (16%) | Protein: 22g (44%) | Fat: 15g (23%) | Saturated Fat: 6g (38%) | Cholesterol: 74mg (25%) | Sodium: 1017mg (44%) | Potassium: 442mg (13%) | Fiber: 3g (13%) | Sugar: 5g (6%) | Vitamin A: 683IU (14%) | Vitamin C: 15mg (18%) | Calcium: 180mg (18%) | Iron: 3mg (17%) Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I can’t wait to see your results! Mention @bake_it_with_love or tag #bake_it_with_love! easy dinners, Family Meals, quick and easy, Tuna Casserole, Tuna Noodle Casserole Course Casseroles, Dinner Recipes, Entrees, Main Course, Main DishCuisine American

Angela @ BakeItWithLove.comAngela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma’s kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love! bakeitwithlove.com/about/

Do you love a recipe you tried? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. Stay in touch with me through social media @ Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! Don’t forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes!

Love This Recipe?Click On A Star To Rate It!

5 from 14 reviews

Tuna Noodle Casserole {Quick and Easy, Super Cheesy Recipe}

Author | Angela

Servings: 8 servings

Calories: 411kcal

Prep 10 minutes

Cooking 30 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients US CustomaryMetric1x2x3x▢ 12 oz wide egg noodles (cooked, drained, rinsed)▢ 26 oz cream of chicken condensed soup (family size - cream of mushroom is just as popular)▢ 1 cup milk▢ 10 oz tuna (2 5 oz cans - I prefer to use albacore, packed in water)▢ 2 cups peas (frozen, thawed)▢ ½ teaspoon each, salt & pepper (or more, to taste)▢ ½ teaspoon garlic powder▢ ¼ teaspoon dried dill weed▢ 1 cup cheddar cheese (medium, shredded)▢ ½ cup Ruffles Cheddar and Sour Cream Potato Chips (slightly crushed, uneven size pieces - Ritz or Club crackers are my second best favorites for a crunchy topping)

InstructionsCook Your Pasta: In a large stock pot or sauce pan, cook the wide egg noodles (or your choice of pasta) according to the package instructions. Since the pasta will be baked in the casserole, and you want them to absorb some of the flavors, take roughly two minutes off the suggested cooking time to get a good al dente (firm to the bite, but cooked through) pasta texture. When the pasta is done, drain and rinse in cool water to stop the cooking process. Set aside.12 oz wide egg noodlesWhile your noodles are cooking, preheat your oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C). In a casserole dish or dutch oven, combine the cream of chicken, milk, tuna, peas, and seasoning: salt, pepper, garlic powder, and dill weed. Add the cooked noodles and stir all ingredients together.26 oz cream of chicken condensed soup, 1 cup milk, 10 oz tuna, 2 cups peas, ½ teaspoon each, salt & pepper, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon dried dill weed, 12 oz wide egg noodlesTop with shredded cheddar cheese and crumbled Ruffles chips. Cover and bake at 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) for about 30 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbling around the edges and the topping is nice and crispy. *I usually remove the cover for the last 10-15 minutes of cooking time.1 cup cheddar cheese, ½ cup Ruffles Cheddar and Sour Cream Potato ChipsRemove from the oven and serve immediately.

Equipment You May Need9x13 baking panDutch OvenLarge Stockpot

Nutrition

Calories: 411kcal (21%) | Carbohydrates: 47g (16%) | Protein: 22g (44%) | Fat: 15g (23%) | Saturated Fat: 6g (38%) | Cholesterol: 74mg (25%) | Sodium: 1017mg (44%) | Potassium: 442mg (13%) | Fiber: 3g (13%) | Sugar: 5g (6%) | Vitamin A: 683IU (14%) | Vitamin C: 15mg (18%) | Calcium: 180mg (18%) | Iron: 3mg (17%)

Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I can’t wait to see your results! Mention @bake_it_with_love or tag #bake_it_with_love!

Course Casseroles, Dinner Recipes, Entrees, Main Course, Main DishCuisine American

US CustomaryMetric