Tuna Casserole • Greatest Tuna Casserole Recipe {video} • Two Purple Figs

This Tuna Casserole is the last word cozy consolation meals. Flakey Tuna, mushrooms (no cans!), peas, cheese, a luscious sauce, egg noodles and a zesty lemon panko topping with caramelized lemons. Significantly that is the last word Tuna casserole recipe to make! 

Now we have a THING for Tuna right here. So many Tuna Recipes to discover and severely, all SO GOOD! So this tuna casserole recipe is lengthy overdue right here. Let’s begin by saying that I didn’t recognize tuna casserole for years, and I knew precisely why. So I’ve examined so many recipes to determine a means across the canned soup and a means so as to add a refined taste of lemon.

If you do this recipe, you’ll know precisely what I imply. Take it from a tuna lover who tried so some ways to make this the most effective model it may be!

 

So What’s a Tuna Casserole?

The tuna casserole is likely one of the hottest recipes within the US, and it rose to fame within the 1950’s. A that point the whole lot creamy, wealthy and velvety was coming to life. Casseroles had been the factor. 

This recipe was a kind of cheap options to dinner and comfy meals. All you wanted was a can of mushroom soup, some noodles, canned tuna, canned peas, cheese and crushed potato chips for topping. Such an reasonably priced meal that requires pantry gadgets solely, nothing perishable. Most households would have all these elements of their pantry at any given time.

In order time advanced, some have saved the recipe as it’s, and others have swapped some gadgets. The most typical swap was the canned peas into contemporary or frozen peas. This was some time in the past when numerous folks started to draw back from canned veggies. 

Ultimately the chips made the swap too with panko or any breadcrumbs. And at last, the canned soup. This was our first precedence when testing for this recipe. We made a luscious traditional bechamel sauce with contemporary mushrooms and it was the most effective factor ever! 

Let’s get began with the most effective tuna casserole recipe, the elements, video and tips on how to beneath!

Why You’ll LOVE This Tuna Casserole Recipe

• No canned Soup, ever. Whereas this might be the traditional quaint means, there’s a means round it. A means that’s way more tastier and more healthy for you! Consider me you gained’t miss that canned stuff!
• We caramelize some lemon slices within the butter earlier than making the sauce after which add loads of lemon zest to the panko topping. The richness of the caramelized lemon and brightness of the lemon zest topping take this casserole to a different degree! 
• This recipe is fabulously made upfront, it’s additionally freezer pleasant and a potluck favourite.
• Flavors are elevated. We flavored the creamy sauce for the tuna casserole with herbs and caramelized lemon, and the identical with the topping. So many lovely flavors right here whereas highlighting the tuna!
• Superb textures! The luscious creamy sauce, completely cooked noodles. flakey tuna, peas, mushrooms and the crunch topping all come collectively like a dream! 
• A tuna casserole is a kind of dinners or cozy meals that makes use of essentially the most easiest of elements. Nothing fancy and nothing that requires a visit to a speciality retailer. 

Components You’ll Want

• Tuna. We’re maintaining with the traditional style and comfort of a tuna casserole and so we’re utilizing canned tuna. Make sure you purchase high quality canned tuna, ideally packed in lemon or water not oil. Additionally be certain that to empty that fish rather well earlier than utilizing right here. Whereas you need to use our Tuna Steak Recipe, we really feel the feel and taste is greatest with canned. 
• Noodles. Once more maintaining with the classics right here, we used the nice outdated no yolks noodles. Be sure that to cook dinner them tremendous al dente as they are going to cook dinner additional within the oven.
• Béchamel elements. Butter, flour, milk or half n half. You possibly can add in some inventory to exchange part of the milk or half n half for a lighter casserole recipe.
• Seasoning. We use a bled of oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt and pepper. We mix all of them collectively and that is the principle seasoning we use for the sauce, the topping and as we cook dinner it.
• Veggies. Frozen inexperienced peas are an important substitute for the canned and even for contemporary generally. We additionally use contemporary mushrooms for this recipe as a substitute of the canned stuff. So flavorful and wonderful texture!
• Flavorings. Our fundamentals embody onions, garlic and contemporary herbs like thyme.
• Lemon. We use lemon zest and lemon slices right here for a special degree of lemon taste.
• Panko Combination. You need to use common breadcrumbs, however we use panko blended with seasoning (above), contemporary herbs, chilli flakes and lemon zest.
• Cheese. The traditional cheddar cheese is what we use. Nonetheless you need to use gruyere or another tender melting cheese.

How you can Make Tuna Casserole 

Put together the Sauce

1. We begin by infusing a wealthy deep lemon style which pairs so fantastically with our recipe. To do this, simply add in lemon slices to some melted butter within the pot over medium warmth. Caramelize the lemon for 1 minute per aspect till golden, then take away from the pan.
   
2. Start the sauce in the identical pot the place the butter is infused with the lemon taste. Add within the onions and seasoning. You need to use Italian seasoning mix or easy mix salt, pepper, oregano, onion and garlic powder and a few paprika.
   
3. As soon as the onions have cooked till tender and translucent, you’re going so as to add in some sliced mushrooms and garlic. Whereas you need to use white button mushrooms, we choose cremini. Cook dinner the mushrooms with the onions till they’ve softened however not completely wilted down. 
   
4. Now you’re going so as to add within the flour together with a tablespoon extra of butter. That is the bottom for the béchamel sauce and that is the way it will thicken up. 
   
5. At this level it’s KEY to sauté the flour with the mushrooms and onions for not less than 1 minute or till barely golden. This step removes the uncooked flour style out of your sauce. 
   
6. You’re now prepared so as to add within the liquid. We’re utilizing milk and half n half, this creates an excellent luscious and creamy tuna casserole recipe. You need to use solely half n half for a richer end result, or use half inventory and half milk for a lighter recipe. We guarantee you both means will probably be scrumptious. Now be sure you season the liquid with the identical seasoning above.
7. Improve the warmth barely to medium excessive and convey the combination to a boil whereas mixing. You’ll discover how the liquid will thicken and at that time, drop the warmth to medium low. Let the sauce bubble for 2-3 minutes to infuse with the flavors.
   
8. At that time you’re going so as to add the drained tuna, peas and cheese. Give it a combination till all blended.

Cook dinner the Noodles

It’s greatest to cook dinner them tremendous aldente. That’s as a result of the noodles will additional cook dinner within the oven. We’ve used right here the traditional no yolks noodles, however you possibly can most positively use pasta or a gluten free choice if wanted. 

Assemble the Casserole

1. The noodles are tossed into the pot and coated effectively with the sauce, tuna, peas and mushrooms. Now we pour the entire pot right into a 9 by 13 inch dish, and unfold the noodle tuna combination evenly into the baking dish. You need to use the identical pot if that’s your desire. 

Topping

1. That is frankly a MUST for the recipe, so please don’t skimp. The topping is a mix of panko bread crumbs, parmesan cheese,  contemporary thyme, chilli flakes and lemon zest. An absolute taste and texture addition to your dish!
   
2. Sprinkle the topping evenly everywhere in the baking dish overlaying all of the tuna casserole. And to complete off, add the caramelized lemon slices ontop.

Baking the Casserole 

1. Bake for about 25 minutes till it’s golden and bubbly. You need the crispy golden tops and bubbly insides. 
2. As soon as out of the oven , we added some chopped chives (non-compulsory) and a touch of chilli flakes. 
3. Be tremendous cautious about serving it instantly as will probably be actually scorching and bubbly. So give it about 10 minutes earlier than serving. 

And there you’ve absolutely the Tuna casserole full of freshness and taste, and but simply as cozy.

Suggestions For the Greatest Tuna Casserole Recipe 

1. Use high quality canned tuna for the most effective tasting casserole recipe. Be sure to use the fish packed in water or lemon, not oil. The oil will make it laborious for the tuna to mix within the sauce. And at last, be certain that to empty it effectively earlier than utilizing.
2. Frozen peas are an important alternative for this recipe, higher than contemporary peas. Keep away from canned by all means.
3. Cremini mushrooms have a richer style in comparison with white button mushrooms, nevertheless you possibly can nonetheless use them. 
4. The selection of cheese is totally non-compulsory so long as it’s a tender melting cheese.
5. For a richer recipe, use all half n half. And for a lighter style, use half inventory and half milk. Both choice tastes nice!
6. The lemon slices add a wealthy candy lemon style to the sauce, whereas the zest on prime provides a vibrant contemporary tangy taste.
7. We choose panko over common breadcrumbs, nevertheless you possibly can nonetheless use it.
8. When including the flour, be sure you toast it for 1-2 minutes to take away the uncooked flour style out of your sauce.
9. Enable the sauce to bubble and thicken earlier than including the remaining elements, and observe the thickness.
10. To skinny out your sauce, add extra liquid. To thick out the sauce, hold simmering it for longer than 8 minutes.
11. You ca use retailer purchased Italian seasoning or just combine oregano, garlic and onion powders, salt and pepper and paprika.
12. Don’t overcook the noodles, it’s worthwhile to beneath cook dinner them as they are going to proceed cooking within the oven. 
13. You possibly can bake the casserole in the identical pot in case you’d like so long as it’s oven proof. 
14. Keep watch over the panko topping, it must be golden and crisp. 
15. Keep away from serving the dish instantly as will probably be tremendous scorching, reasonably look ahead to 8 minutes earlier than having fun with it. 

Tuna Casserole Variations

• Ass extra veggies like corn, bell peppers, broccoli, solar dried tomatoes, spinach or whichever you favor. Don’t overshadow the tuna, however be happy to be as inventive as you’d like.
• Make it spicy by including jalapeños or extra chilli flakes.
• Use cajun spice for an exquisite twist. Additionally add kind of of your favourite spice mix like extra onion powder than garlic.
• Swap cheeses round, and take a look at totally different varieties. 
• Add in additional seafood. You possibly can add in some canned or cooked Sardines. Whereas they’ve a foul popularity, I urge you to strive my grandmother’s recipe! 
• Change the topping and use your favourite flavored chips or crackers, be sure you crush them. 

How you can Make Forward Tuna Casserole?

1. Put together all of the recipe and assemble it in your baking dish able to bake. Bear in mind to underbake the noodles much more, and having the sauce barely thinner than normal. 
2. Now cowl the dish and refrigerate for as much as 3 days. 
3. When able to bake, be sure you take away the dish from the fridge for 1 hour earlier than baking. Bake as normal including an additional 15-18 minutes extra baking time. 

How you can Freeze and Reheat?

1. Put together the casserole and pour into the baking dish as above. Be sure that the sauce has cooled earlier than wrapping and freezing. 
2. You possibly can freeze for upto 3 months.
3. To Reheat, take the dish out of the freezer the day earlier than. Be sure that to thaw it fully. Bake as above including an additional 20 minutes. 

Why is my casserole dry?

The 2 most important causes for dryness are that the dish is over baked, or the sauce was very thick to start with. When tossing the noodles with all of the elements, the sauce must be thick, but skinny sufficient to evenly coat each noodle and have some liquid left for baking.

How you can inform when the casserole is completed?

The sides will probably be bubbly, and the tops will probably be golden and crisp. You need to use the fork knife take a look at and insert a knife within the casserole, and while you take away it, the knife ought to have a thick coating on it not a skinny one.

What to Serve with Tuna Casserole

Quite a lot of Salad Recipes right here so that you can select from. We love a pleasant salad and a few Garlic Bread.

Extra Canned Tuna Recipes

Straight from the Mediterranean is that this Tuna Salad Recipe with Olive Oil Dressing and it makes the most effective Sandwich too!

Viral Tuna Recipes

Tuna Tataki
 Crudo
 Wrap
Ahi Tuna Salad
Ceviche
Carpaccio
Tuna Tartare