Tuna Noodle Casserole Without Soup

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Expert Tips For Making Moms Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe

Tuna Casserole Without Soup – Tuna Noodle Casserole
  • Add Different Ingredients: Not a fan of peas, use carrots, leeks or mushrooms.
  • Mix up the Protein: Different fish such as canned salmon can be used or even make with crab, shrimp or chicken.
  • Variation tip: No need to use egg noodles, elbow macaroni or any other pasta or shells can be used.
  • Cheese: Feel free to use a different cheese such as parmesan or gruyere.
  • Alternate cooking method tip: Make this comfort food recipe in the instant pot/Pressure cooker. It will take less than ten minutes and then transfer to a baking pan and broil the topping until brown and crunchy.

Tuna Casserole Without Cream Of Mushroom Soup

Although many Tuna Noodle Casseroles request cream of mushroom soup to be added, I personally dont like them.

Its much healthier to make your own sauce, and while it can be a little more time consuming than opening a can, its not difficult at all.

In fact, the homemade sauce is what makes this Instant Pot Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe so darn delicious!

Even if you arent a fish lover, this Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole is something we can all enjoy. Its that perfect and flavorful blend that has you going back for more and its the perfect comfort food.

Tuna Noodle Casserole for the Instant Pot and Stove Top Directions too!

How many of you remember when Grandma or even your own mom would make Tuna Casserole? I sure do! It makes me smile to remember those days. Wow. Im old! haha..

Tuna Noodle Casserole is a classic, with a creamy sauce, mushrooms, peas, and of course Tuna.

I have a phobia to using canned cream of anything and try hard to not use them, if I can.

This from scratch sauce is quick and easy and tastes so much better than a canned sauce, trust me, you will thank me later.

Im not a fish lover, but somehow Tuna Casserole is different and I find that even my picky eater son ate 3 bowls right up.

Not sure what makes this Easy Tuna Casserole different than other fish recipes, maybe its the simplicity of the dish or the comfort food that it has become.

What Makes This Tuna Casserole Healthy

Most tuna casserole recipes call for processed ingredients and lots of fat. I made a few modifications so this recipe is healthier than others WITHOUT sacrificing taste or the delicious creamy texture.

  • Its lower in fat: I used less butter than other recipes, and replaced half the milk with chicken stock. You can also use veggie stock. I also only used 1 cup of shredded cheese on top.
  • Its made with whole grains: I used whole wheat pasta instead of traditional egg noodles. You can use any kind you want- I chose fusilli, but rotini, penne, or whole grain egg noodles would work.
  • It has NO processed ingredients or canned soups. Many similar recipes require canned cream of mushroom soup, which is often high in fat and salt. Instead, I used healthy, fresh mushrooms, and a thick creamy base made from scratch to control how much sodium is in it.

Recommended Reading: Healthiest Soups For Weight Loss

Can Tuna Noodle Casserole Be Frozen

Yes! Leftovers are great frozen, to either save for later or taking to a friend in need. Here are a few tips.

  • Only freeze the untouched portion.
  • Cover with aluminum foil and freeze in the baking dish that you used.
  • Once the casserole is completely frozen remove the casserole from the pan and place in a sealed container or Ziplock bag and return to the freezer.
  • To eat the frozen casserole leftovers, do not thaw on the counter or defrost in the microwave. Place the frozen casserole in your fridge overnight, in the container you want to re-bake it in. This will keep you casserole from falling apart, turning sour and allow for even baking. Once thawed, heat at 350 until completely warm throughout, 15-20 minutes.

We all have childhood dishes that bring the warmest and comforting feelings and this Best Ever Tuna Noodle Casserole is that dish for me. And while I am not a huge Velveeta fan, I dont mind making this casserole with it because well, my mom did and somethings you just should not change.

Enjoy friends my moms recipe! Comment below one of your childhood favorite recipes and where it came from as I would love to hear. XOXO San

Which Tuna Is Best For Tuna Casserole With Egg Noodles

Classic Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe Without Soup

I recommend solid white albacore tuna in water for this recipe. Either StarKist or Bumble Bee brands are my preference. The albacore tuna has a mild taste than chunk light tuna, and a more firm, solid texture that holds up better when mixed into the dish. Make sure that you drain the tuna really well before combining it with the other ingredients. You dont want a watery casserole filling!

Read Also: Campbell’s Low Sodium Chicken With Noodles Soup

No Soup Tuna Casserole

Ironically, when my parents were newlyweds, my mom made her tuna casserole many, many times. Being Catholic, back in the day, they had to abstain from meat every single Friday. Eager to please his new wife, my dad threw her a compliment or two and she made this dish nearly every Friday from then on.

He finally couldnt bear it anymore and told her to cease and desist! Thank goodness there are many more Lenten dinner options available to home cooks these days. I bet my dad would have enjoyed this no soup tuna casserole chock full of mushrooms and veggies.

How To Make Tuna Casserole

Making this easy tuna casserole recipe is pretty straightforward, but Ill quickly walk you through my simple streamlined process for how to make tuna casserole

1| I start by turning the oven on to heat up to 400 degrees. While the oven is heating, I boil the egg noodles just to al dente because theyll continue to cook in the casserole.

During this time, I also grease my baking dish and set it aside. Then I melt the butter and mix the bread crumbs into it to have the topping ready to go.

2| As soon as the noodles are done cooking, I drain them and stir them together with the tuna, peas, cream of mushroom soup, and milk. Spread this mixture into the prepared casserole dish, and put it in the oven to bake for 20 minutes.

3| Remove it after the 20 minutes have passed, sprinkle the bread crumb mixture over the top, and place the dish back in the oven for another 5 minutes or until the bread crumb mixture is golden brown and the casserole is hot and bubbling.

Thats it were talking prep to table in just about 35 minutes If thats not weeknight easy, I dont know what is!

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How To Reheat Frozen Casserole

I highly recommend defrosting the casserole in the refrigerator for 24-48 hours until completely thawed before reheating.

Here’s how to reheat the casserole in the oven:

  • Loosely cover the casserole with foil.
  • Bake the casserole in the oven at 350°F for about 20-30 minutes or until the casserole reaches 165° F for food safety.

Why Is My Tuna Casserole Dry

Tuna and Noodle Casserole from Scratch (No canned soup)

If your tuna noodle casserole turns out dry, chances are you probably added too many noodles. This recipe calls for 2 cups of dry egg noodles cooked to al dente and drained. This is approximately half a bag if youre using No Yolks egg noodles.

To fix a dry casserole, you can stir in a little milk or chicken broth until you reach your desired consistency. Season with additional salt and pepper, as necessary.

Don’t Miss: Recipe For Tuna Noodle Casserole With Cream Of Mushroom Soup

Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe / Cheesy Hamburger Casserole / With A List Of Simple But Tasty Ingredients This Dish Can Be Made To Meet

Tuna tossed with noodles, peas and pimiento in a creamy sauce is baked until bubbling with crunchy crumb topping. Go for easy, wholesome and totally homemade!taste of home test kitchen, milwaukee, wisconsin homerecipesdishes & beveragespasta dishes our brands Add two zucchinis and you have a healthier version of a traditional tuna noodle casserole. Use frozen asparagus when fresh is not in season. With a list of simple but tasty ingredients, this dish can be made to meet.

What We Love About This Tuna Casserole With Noodles Recipe

While the popular version of this recipe was introduced by the Campbells soup company in the 1940s, this recipe has been around for centuries, find out more history here. In this old fashioned tuna noodle casserole I do not use a prepacked soup, however I make a rich creamy sauce for the casserole.

  • 35 Minute Meal: This is a quick and easy make ahead meal or freezer meal.
  • Easy Ingredients: All found in pantry or fridge.
  • Family Friendly: Creamy sauce, noodles and a crunchy top, whats not to love.
  • Adaptable: Can make it low-fat or low sodium.

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Tuna Casserole Edited Without Soup

No canned soup mix in this recipe! Mushrooms, onions, and water chestnuts go into this casserole. From: MVANWINKLE at AllRecipes, modified by Marcel

Provided by Marceld

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit .
  • Butter a medium baking dish with 1 tablespoon butter.
  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.
  • Add egg noodles, cook for 8 to 10 minutes, until al dente, and drain.
  • Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a skillet over medium-low heat.
  • Stir in the onion, celery, and garlic, and cook 5 minutes, until tender.
  • Increase heat to medium-high, and mix in mushrooms.
  • Continue to cook and stir 5 minutes, or until most of the liquid has evaporated.
  • Melt 4 tablespoons butter in a medium saucepan whisk in flour until smooth.
  • Gradually whisk in milk, and continue cooking 5 minutes, until sauce is smooth and slightly thickened.
  • Season with salt and pepper.
  • Stir in tuna, peas, mushroom mixture, and cooked noodles. Transfer to the baking dish.
  • Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a small bowl, mix with bread crumbs, and sprinkle over the casserole.
  • Top with shredded cheddar cheese.
  • Bake 25 minutes in the preheated oven or until bubbly and lightly browned.

Growing Up There Are A Few Key Dishes That My Mom Was Famous For I Can Name All Of Them

Classic Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe Without Soup

The tuna noodle casserole and the oreo dessert are tied in my book as my favorite recipes from my mom. And it is about time that I share this casserole with you.

I did put my own spin on it only because my kids love cheddar cheese and I wanted to add some in it once I did that I decided to top it with a few bread crumbs. Oh, the crunchy crust with the cheesy casserole underneath made this unbelievably the most amazing casserole I have ever had.

I love a good topping, panko bread crumbs are usually my to go to for casserole dishes.

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How Do You Make Homemade Tuna Casserole From Scratch

  • You start by making a simple white sauce which eliminates the need for processed canned soup.
  • Add any veggies you wish here. In this recipe I used peas and mushrooms, you can swap them out for broccoli, asparagus, carrots, etc.
  • You can swap the egg noodles for whole wheat if you wish.
  • If you dont like tuna fish, you can even use chicken or salmon.

What Kind Of Noodles For A Tuna Casserole

This simple tuna noodle casserole calls for egg noodles a traditional ingredient in the classic dish. I like the fairly thin medium egg noodles, but you can also use wide or extra broad egg noodles. Feel free to get creative and take advantage of just about any pasta that you have in your pantry. Try elbow macaroni, penne pasta, spaghetti, or rotini, too!

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How To Make Extra Crispy Panko Topping

You are welcome to add the panko directly tothe top of your Tuna Casserole without browning first and bake per instructionsand then broil, but the end result will always leave you wanting crispierpanko.

To get the ULITMATE buttery, crispy panko topping,I use the technique I use in my Million Dollar Macaroni and Cheese because it is million dollar delicious.

First, melt butter in olive oil over medium heat in a skillet. Add panko and stir to coat. Continue cooking until crumbs become golden brown. This will give you the most spectacular crispy panko once baked on top of your Tuna Noodle Casserole.

Tips Tricks & Equipment

Tuna Noodle Casserole From Scratch – Depression Era Recipe – The Hillbilly Kitchen
  • You may use your favorite type of canned tuna, but I prefer water-packed to keep the calories down. I also prefer chunk light over chunk white because of lower mercury levels.
  • The way the recipe is written is the fastest way to make it. However, if you don’t mind it taking a little longer and you’d prefer to conserve on dirty dishes, you can make everything in the same pot. Start out by boiling the noodles and peas in a large pot or Dutch oven. Drain them into a colander, rinse with hot water, and set aside. Then proceed with the recipe by melting the butter in the same pasta pot and making the white sauce . Finally, add the noodles and peas back to the pot at the very end.
  • The first time I made this easy Tuna Noodle Casserole recipe, we really enjoyed the addition of fresh parsley. But I didn’t have any on hand when I made the recipe again and took the pictures for this post. So parsley is included as an option in the recipe…even though it’s not shown in these photos.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Cheese Tuna Noodle Casserole

HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE MORE DIETARY FRIENDLY?

For low carb you an use a protein noodle. To watch calories use a butter alternative and low fat or fat free cheese and a lower fat milk.

CAN I SUBSTITUTE CAN CONDENSED SOUP FOR THE SAUCE?

Of course, this method makes a beautiful rich sauce but to save time, you can use the cream of celery, cream of chicken soup, cream of mushroom soup or cheddar cheese soup.

CAN THIS CLASSIC TUNA NOODLE CASSEROLE RECIPE BE DOUBLED OR HALVED?

Indeed, make the full recipe and freeze half for a future meal or double the recipe for a crowd.

WHY IS MY TUNA NOODLE CASSEROLE DRY?

The main culprit is not enough liquid. Make sure that the sauce is evenly distributed throughout the noodles and also cover the casserole with foil for all but the last ten minutes.

How To Store This Casserole

This casserole tastes best the same day it is made since the onions do get soggy if they sit around. However, if you have extras, you can store any leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I recommend adding fresh fried onion topping for a nice crunch after warming up any leftovers.

To reheat, place leftovers in a microwave-safe container and heat until warmed. You can also warm this in a 350°F heated oven for 15 minutes.

Also Check: Chicken Soup For The Soul Puppy Food

How To Make Tuna Casserole From Scratch

  • First, cook the vegetables. Sauté some onions, celery, and garlic in butter. Then, add mushrooms.
  • Cook the pasta while youre making the filling. When its done, drain it.
  • Once the veggies are done, add some all-purpose flour to the skillet and stir to coat. Cook it for a minute or so until the raw flour taste cooks out. If you prefer, you can use whole wheat flour for this.
  • Pour in some milk and chicken broth to the skillet. Stir, and continue heating to form a thick sauce.
  • Add tuna and the cooked pasta and stir to coat.
  • Transfer the mixture to a buttered baking dish and top with buttered breadcrumbs and cheese.
  • How To Make Tuna Noodle Casserole

    Tuna Noodle Casserole from Scratch

    This tuna casserole comes together in a sauce pan in 4 easy steps!Below is a detailed printable recipe card and video tutorial, but heres a brief summary:

  • Boil the noodles and drain.
  • Sauté the vegetables in a nonstick skillet.
  • Add the chicken broth and cream until thickened.
  • Combine everything with the tuna and top with potato chips.
  • Recommended Reading: Campbell’s Chunky Soup Recipes

    Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole

    If this easy tuna noodle casserole has you thinking a little differently about using canned goods in your recipes, Id encourage you to check out CansGetYouCooking.com to explore more canned food recipes. You can also search #CansGetYouCooking on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, or Instagram for more inspiration. Tag your own recipes with it to share!

    Plus take a peek at these other popular easy casserole recipes that make use of canned foods:

    • This custardy cream corn casserole is SO good youll want to scrape the dish clean to get every last bit of caramelized goodness!
    • Or try this Jiffy corn casserole recipe that starts with a box of Jiffy corn muffin mix and uses both whole kernel sweet corn and creamed-style sweet corn for an easy weeknight side!
    • This easy green bean casserole recipe is my familys version of the classic recipe and uses only 3 ingredients, including canned green beans!
    • These cheesy hashbrown potatoes, filled with 3 different cheeses, are a Midwest classic at its best!
    • This taco tater tot casserole takes a classic family favorite and gives it a spicy twist with canned enchilada sauce and green chilies!
    • This baked mac and cheese casserole is easy homemade macaroni and cheese at its best!
    • This divine ooey-gooey cheesy chicken and rice casserole recipe comes together with just 6 simple ingredients, all of which you likely already have in your pantry and freezer!

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