Tuna Noodle Casserole Updated (Printable)

Comforting tuna and noodles with fresh vegetables and a crispy parmesan breadcrumb topping.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta and Fish

01 - 12 oz egg noodles
02 - 2 cans (5 oz each) solid white tuna in water, drained

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
04 - 1 cup cremini or white mushrooms, sliced
05 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
06 - 1 cup celery, diced
07 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Sauce

08 - 3 tbsp unsalted butter
09 - 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
10 - 2 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
11 - 1 cup whole milk
12 - 1/2 cup sour cream
13 - 1/2 tsp kosher salt
14 - 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
15 - 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard

→ Topping

16 - 3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
17 - 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
18 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
19 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (optional)

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
02 - Cook egg noodles in a large pot of salted boiling water until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
03 - Melt 3 tbsp butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and celery; sauté for 3 minutes. Add mushrooms and cook an additional 4 minutes until soft. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute.
04 - Sprinkle flour over vegetables and stir to coat. Gradually add broth, stirring constantly. Add milk and bring to a simmer, cooking until thickened, about 3–4 minutes.
05 - Remove skillet from heat. Stir in sour cream, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until combined.
06 - Fold in tuna, peas, and cooked noodles gently until evenly incorporated.
07 - Transfer mixture to prepared baking dish and spread evenly.
08 - Combine panko breadcrumbs, parmesan, and melted butter in a small bowl. Sprinkle evenly over casserole.
09 - Bake for 20–25 minutes until the topping is golden and the casserole is bubbling.
10 - Let stand for 5 minutes, then sprinkle with parsley and serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The crispy panko topping creates this incredible crunch that makes you forget every soggy casserole from childhood
  • It comes together in under an hour but tastes like it simmered all afternoon
02 -
  • Do not overcook the noodles in the boiling water stage or they will turn mushy after baking
  • Letting the casserole rest for those 5 minutes seems pointless but it is the difference between a neat scoop and a sloppy mess
03 -
  • Grate your own parmesan because the pre grated stuff has a waxy coating that prevents it from melting properly
  • Room temperature sour cream incorporates more smoothly without breaking the sauce
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