This easy Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe uses just a few simple ingredients and comes together to make a great comforting dinner!
Growing up, I thought my mom was the best cook. And, don’t get me wrong, she knew her way around the kitchen and even developed a lot of her own recipes (like her crazy popular Crab Pasta Salad). But I was thinking the other day and realized that she made a lot of boxed casserole dinners. But I swear, now looking back, that one of the reasons I thought she was such a great cook was because of the love she infused into the food. She really did feel so much love and joy in making dinner for us.
So today I’m going to teach you how to make an Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole without a box. This recipe is seriously so simple and easy that you can make it and still answer math questions, clean out backpacks, and break up fights at the same time.
How to Make a Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe
There are just a few simple steps to this classic tuna noodle casserole recipe. For the full list of ingredients, measurements, and directions, see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Cook the noodles. You need to cook them before you put them in the casserole dish, but while they cook you can do everything else. Drain the pasta once it’s cooked.
- Put everything together. In the casserole dish (no need to get another bowl dirty), mix together the condensed cream of chicken soup, milk, seasonings, tuna, and peas. Stir in the noodles when they are done.
- Bake the casserole. While the casserole is baking, break down your bread and toss it with melted butter. See below on using Ritz crackers for the topping.
- Add the topping. Top the casserole with the bread and butter mixture and bake for five more minutes or until the bread is golden brown.
Homemade Cream of Mushroom Soup
There is absolutely no shame in making tuna casserole using store-bought condensed soup. You can really use any flavor you want but I would recommend condensed cream of mushroom soup or condensed cream of chicken soup. But if you want to make this from scratch, try my homemade condensed cream of mushroom soup. It makes the exact amount you need for this recipe.
Homemade Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup
Homemade Egg Noodles
While we’re on the topic of making everything from scratch, you can also make your own egg noodles! With just two ingredients, you will be surprised at how easy and delicious it is to make them from scratch.
Homemade Egg Noodles
Making Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole Ahead of Time
If those steps all sound like too much right after you take the kids to soccer practice, or when you are walking through the door from work, no fear. You can make this tuna casserole ahead of time. Just stop right before you put it in the oven (skipping the topping-making step too).
Instead of baking it, cover it and store it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. When you are ready to eat it, throw it in your preheated oven and bake as directed. Then make your topping.
Freezing Tuna Noodle Casserole
You can also freeze it and make it later! If you are doing that, make it up until the topping step in a disposable oven-proof container. Wrap it in two layers of aluminum foil. Freeze it for up to three months. When you are ready to cook it, let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Then bake it as instructed.
Bread Crumbs or Crackers for Topping
I feel like this is going to be a “do we call it ‘soda’ or do we call it ‘pop’?” conversation. Bread crumbs or crackers for topping your tuna noodle casserole recipe? The good news is I’m going to tell you how to do it either way. And both are delicious.
- For a breadcrumb topping, chop up two pieces of bread. Use a food processor to crumble them and make them fine pieces. Toss with melted butter and add to your easy tuna noodle casserole at the very end.
- For a cracker topping, crush a cup worth of Ritz crackers (about 16 crackers). Toss them with melted butter and then throw them on the tuna casserole at the end.
Tips, Tricks, and Variations
- Set a timer for your noodles. You want to cook your egg noodles according to package instructions, subtracting two minutes from the boiling time. For example, if your package says to cook for 10 to 12 minutes, you want to cook your noodles for eight minutes just before al dente since they will finish cooking in the casserole in the oven.
- Use a different type of pasta. If you don’t like egg noodles, use something else. Penne or elbow macaroni would work great.
- Use frozen peas. Don’t thaw them first, throw them right into the mixture frozen.
- Leave the peas out. If pease aren’t your thing, you can simply leave them out of the recipe.
- Use tuna packed in water. Because we are making a sauce for this casserole, you will want to avoid using tuna that is packed in oil. Be sure to drain the tuna.
- Make it on the stovetop. Simply skip putting it in the oven to toast the breadcrumbs and you will have tuna and noodles ready in one pot in 30 minutes! Follow the instructions in my Skillet Tuna Casserole.
What to Serve with Tuna Casserole
To round out dinner a little more, consider some of these delicious side dishes.
- Wedge Salad: What else would go with a classic like tuna noodle casserole better than a classic salad like this?
- Green Beans Almondine: This comes together easily on the stovetop while the
- Air Fryer Broccoli: Our family can always use more veggies and these cook up in the air fryer while the casserole is in your oven.
If you make my recipe for tuna noodle casserole or any of my other recipes, please leave me a comment and let me know!
Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups dry egg noodles see note about cooking (4 ounces or 113.4 grams)
- 10 ounces condensed cream of mushroom soup or homemade condensed cream of chicken soup (298 grams)
- 1/2 cup milk (113.5 grams)
- 10 ounces canned tuna in water drained and flaked (283.5 grams before draining)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup frozen peas (133.5 grams)
- 2 slices white bread cut up and then broken down to crumbs in a food processor (see note)
- 1 tablespoon melted better
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a 1 1/2 quart baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
- Cook the noodles according to package instructions.2 1/2 cups dry egg noodles
- Mix the condensed soup, milk, tuna, salt, and pepper together in the prepared casserole dish. Then stir in the peas and the cooked noodles. Put the casserole in the oven.10 ounces condensed cream of mushroom soup, 1/2 cup milk, 10 ounces canned tuna in water, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, 1 cup frozen peas
- While the casserole bakes, break down your bread and toss with melted butter. (See note about making this with crackers.)2 slices white bread, 1 tablespoon melted better
- Bake for 20 minutes. Top with bread and butter mixture and bake for 5 more minutes or until the bread is golden brown. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
sharon says
I have made this recipe but use crushed potato chips for the topping instead of bread crumbs. Very good.
Sounds delicious!
Ruth says
Sounds good you can also top with whatever your using & add cashews there delicious when toasted
Theresa says
Sorry, I just did not like this! My husband grew up eating his mom’s tuna casserole, & he didn t care for this either.
I thought it was very dry, & I thought it needed cheese.
Sorry you didn’t like it Theresa! We thought this was delicious, but definitely tastes vary.
Alicia says
Thanks Lisa for this wonderful recipe. I’m definitely going to try this one. Will let you know how it goes…
Linda Morris says
I made this for dinner tonight. It’s good.. I added about 1/2 cup of grated cheese with the bread crumbs.
I’m glad you liked it Linda!
Stephen E Thompson says
This is very similar to my recipe. We cannot use mushrooms (daughter has an allergy) so I use cream of celery soup. Also, I like to chop up green onions (tops and bottoms) and add.
Sounds delicious!
Judy says
This recipe looks great, going to try it. I have a huge bag of noodles from Sam’s club (like a Costco) so I’m confused on how to measure the dry noodles out for the casserole. Any help would be appreciated!
Sudan avina says
My family is sledging to tuna would this be just as good if I substitute chicken for the tuna
I haven’t tried this with chicken. But I don’t see why it wouldn’t be delicious.
Kathy says
I make it this way all the time
Glad to hear it!
Dawn says
This recipe is delicious! Thank you
You’re welcome!
Sharon says
This looks very much like what we threw together in a hurry when we were kids. I don’t like green peas in anything, but your other email said she put chopped green onions in and I think I’ll try that. Nor too many, just for looks. I think it is mainly the color anyway. So we’re having this for dinner. I use a LOT of your recipes. They are always good.
I hope you loved it and thank you so much for your kind words!