Classic Tuna Noodle Casserole with Parmesan Topping

Classic comfort food at it's best. This easy to make tuna noodle casserole with a Parmesan topping will become a family favorite for a great weeknight meal.

Tuna noodle casserole has been on my to-do list for several years. Anytime I ask for suggested recipes, it comes up. But I had a problem. I wanted an easy everyday recipe with great taste. I wanted less than 16 ingredients (yes, there was one). I didn't want to feed an army. And no hour mixing things.

But my biggest issue was the can of soup. I made several attempts. Nothing I really want to discuss but let's just say I couldn't get where I wanted to go without the can of soup.

Now the can of soup is not evil, but I tend to over react to cooking with cans of soup. I enjoy reading recipes, and the classic crock pot recipe has at least two cans of soup, an envelope of onion soup mix and several cans of something else. I find it very irritating they are calling this cooking.

So to give in to the can of soup is a bit painful but in this case necessary. Any from scratch effort would be at least twice this size.

The "inspiration" recipe is the classic tuna casserole recipe at the Campbell site. Think of it as the basic recipe America loves. Add in my wife's memory for the buff-up version of the basic recipe, and we have an excellent tuna casserole.

My Rating

A nice solid every day 4. That is as high as tuna casserole goes.

Recipe Notes for Tuna Noodle Casserole

Now, what is my classic tuna noodle casserole? We like to add celery and onion along with peas, but mostly we love a Parmesan bread crumb topping. I have accused my wife of using a bigger pan so there could be more topping. Some people like mushrooms, but not really in our house. There are food allergies and just not a taste we normally add.

Similar Comfort Foods to Try

Leftover Turkey Tetrazzini

Cheesy Chicken, Broccoli and Rice Casserole

Simple Chicken Pot Pie

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Cook 2 cups pasta to Al Denta per package instructions. Two cups is half of a 1 pound box.

Chop one stalk of celery and 1/2 medium onion. Saute in 1 teaspoon butter over medium-high heat until they are becoming a bit transparent. About 5 minutes.

Mix drained pasta, the sauteed onion, and celery, 1 can cream of celery soup,  1/2 cup milk, 1 cup frozen peas, salt and pepper to taste (I suggest 1/2 teaspoon each), and 2 - 5 oz cans tuna drained.

Place 9 by 5 baking dish. Mix 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese and 2 tablespoons melted butter.

Spread the topping over the casserole.

Bake until nicely browned. About 30 minutes. Remove and allow to set for 5 minutes before serving.

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Classic Tuna Noodle Casserole

From Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan

Classic comfort food at it's best. This easy to make tuna noodle casserole with a Parmesan topping will become a family favorite for a great weeknight meal.

4.42 from 17 votes

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Prep Time 20 mins

Cook Time 30 mins

Total Time 50 mins

Servings #/Adjust if desired 4 servings

Ingredients

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• 2 cups dry pasta - about 8 oz, about 4 cups cooked
• 1/2 onion - medium chopped
• 1 stalk celery - chopped
• 1 teaspoon butter
• 2 cans tuna - drained
• 1 can cream of celery soup - 10 oz can
• 1/2 cups milk
• 1 cup frozen peas

Topping

• 1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons butter - melted
• salt and pepper to taste - about 1/2 teaspoon each for me

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Cook 2 cups pasta to Al Denta per package instructions.
• Chop one stalk of celery and 1/2 medium onion. Saute in 1 teaspoon butter over medium-high heat until they becoming a bit transparent. About 5 minutes.
• Mix drained pasta, the sauteed onion and celery, 1 can cream of celery soup, 1/2 cup milk, 1 cup frozen peas, salt and pepper to taste (I suggest 1/2 teaspoon each), and 2 - 5 oz cans of tuna drained.
• Place 9 by 5 baking dish.
• Mix 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese and 2 tablespoons melted butter. Mix well and spread over the casserole.
• Bake until nicely browned. About 30 minutes. Remove and allow to set for 5 minutes before serving.

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TO ADJUST THE RECIPE SIZE:You may adjust the number of servings in this recipe card under servings. This does the math for the ingredients for you. BUT it does NOT adjust the text of the instructions. So you need to do that yourself.

Nutrition

Calories : 373kcalCarbohydrates : 47gProtein : 20gFat : 12gSaturated Fat : 6gPolyunsaturated Fat : 2gMonounsaturated Fat : 3gCholesterol : 40mgSodium : 1172mgPotassium : 446mgFiber : 3gSugar : 6gVitamin A : 1300IUVitamin C : 10.7mgCalcium : 140mgIron : 2.2mg

Serving size is my estimate of a normal size unless stated otherwise. The number of servings per recipe is stated above. This is home cooking, and there are many variables. All nutritional information are estimates and may vary from your actual results. To taste ingredients such as salt will be my estimate of the average used.

Course :American|Main Course

Cuisine :American