Classic Tuna Casserole.’

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Old Fashioned Tuna Casserole is a classic comfort food that is on the dinner table in just 30 minutes, sure to become a new family favorite.

A wooden spoon scooping up a serving of the casserole.

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It’s a simple and delicious dish made with canned tuna, noodles, and a creamy sauce, topped with buttery Ritz crackers like my Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole. It’s perfect for busy weeknights or potluck gatherings like my Creamy Chicken Pasta.

Table of Contents

With a few simple ingredients and some simple techniques, you can make this tasty and satisfying cheesy tuna noodle casserole. Served with a side of my Ciabatta Garlic Bread, your whole family will be coming back for seconds. You may also like this Tuna Pesto Pasta for a twist!

Why this recipe works

Classic cheesy tuna casserole recipe is perfect for a quick and easy dinner made with simple pantry ingredients like my Honey Garlic Shrimp and Broccoli. It’s a versatile dish that can be customized to your liking, whether you prefer to add vegetables, spices, or different types of cheese. It’s also a nostalgic dish that many of us grew up with, and making it can bring back fond memories like my Salisbury Steak.

Ingredients for cheesy tuna casserole

Ingredients notes

Pasta: Wide egg noodles are traditional but you can use any pasta you like.
Cream of mushroom soup: Low sodium, you can also use cream of celery soup or cream of chicken soup.
Cheese: I use mild white cheddar cheese, but mozzarella works great.
Tuna: I like to use tuna packed in water.

How to make Old Fashioned tuna casserole

Step 1: Cook noodles to 1 minute below al dente. Add the Ritz crackers to a ziplock bag and crush them using a rolling pin or a cup. Or you can put them in a food processor and pulse them until crushed.
Step 2: Add the crushed crackers to a small bowl with the butter and parmesan cheese and mix until combined.

Step 3: In a medium bowl, whisk together the soup, mayo, and milk until combined.
Step 4: Heat a large skillet (oven-safe) on medium-high heat melt butter, add celery, onions, and garlic, and saute.

Step 5: Add the pasta, tuna, cheese, and peas to the skillet.
Step 6: Pour the sauce in.

Step 7: Toss the cheesy tuna casserole until well combined.
Step 8: Sprinkle the crushed crackers on top of the casserole and bake until golden brown!

Recipe tips

Be sure to cook the noodles al dente because they’re going to cook a bit more in the oven.
I used cream of mushroom soup, but you could also use cream of celery or cream of chicken.
We like peas in this dish. But you can add whatever veggies you have and it will be delicious.
Mayonnaise or sour cream adds an extra creaminess to this tuna casserole recipe.
I make the casserole all in one cast-iron skillet. If you don’t have an oven-safe skillet, you can transfer it to a 9×13 casserole dish.