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

This Tuna Casserole is the final 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 final word Tuna casserole recipe to make! 

We’ve a THING for Tuna right here. So many Tuna Recipes to discover and critically, all SO GOOD! So this tuna casserole recipe is lengthy overdue right here. Let’s begin by saying that I didn’t respect 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 delicate taste of lemon.

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

So What’s a Tuna Casserole?

The tuna casserole is without doubt one of the hottest recipes within the US, and it rose to fame within the 1950’s. A that point every thing creamy, wealthy and velvety was coming to life. Casseroles have 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 objects solely, nothing perishable. Most households would have all these substances of their pantry at any given time.

In order time developed, some have saved the recipe as it’s, and others have swapped some objects. The most typical swap was the canned peas into recent or frozen peas. This was some time in the past when a number of folks started to draw back from canned veggies. 

Ultimately the chips made the swap too with panko or any breadcrumbs. And eventually, the canned soup. This was our first precedence when testing for this recipe. We made a luscious basic bechamel sauce with recent mushrooms and it was the perfect factor ever! 

Let’s get began with the perfect tuna casserole recipe, the substances, video and how one can under!

Why You’ll LOVE This Tuna Casserole Recipe

• No canned Soup, ever. Whereas this might be the basic quaint means, there’s a means round it. A means that’s much more tastier and more healthy for you! Imagine me you received’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 stage! 
• This recipe is fabulously made prematurely, 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 substances. Nothing fancy and nothing that requires a visit to a speciality retailer. 

Components You’ll Want

• Tuna. We’re conserving with the basic style and comfort of a tuna casserole and so we’re utilizing canned tuna. You’ll want to purchase high quality canned tuna, ideally packed in lemon or water not oil. Additionally be certain that to empty that fish very 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 great previous no yolks noodles. Be sure that to prepare dinner them tremendous al dente as they may prepare dinner additional within the oven.
• Béchamel substances. Butter, flour, milk or half n half. You possibly can add in some inventory to interchange 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 primary seasoning we use for the sauce, the topping and as we prepare dinner it.
• Veggies. Frozen inexperienced peas are an awesome substitute for the canned and even for recent typically. We additionally use recent mushrooms for this recipe as a substitute of the canned stuff. So flavorful and superb texture!
• Flavorings. Our fundamentals embrace onions, garlic and recent herbs like thyme.
• Lemon. We use lemon zest and lemon slices right here for a distinct stage of lemon taste.
• Panko Combination. You should use common breadcrumbs, however we use panko blended with seasoning (above), recent herbs, chilli flakes and lemon zest.
• Cheese. The basic cheddar cheese is what we use. Nevertheless you need to use gruyere or some other gentle melting cheese.

Methods to Make Tuna Casserole 

Put together the Sauce

1. We begin by infusing a wealthy deep lemon style which pairs so superbly with our recipe. To try this, simply add in lemon slices to some melted butter within the pot over medium warmth. Caramelize the lemon for 1 minute per facet 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 should 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 gentle and translucent, you’re going so as to add in some sliced mushrooms and garlic. Whereas you need to use white button mushrooms, we want cremini. Prepare 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 no 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 should use completely half n half for a richer outcome, or use half inventory and half milk for a lighter recipe. We guarantee you both means will probably be scrumptious. Now ensure you season the liquid with the identical seasoning above.
7. Improve the warmth barely to medium excessive and produce 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 mixture till all blended.

Prepare dinner the Noodles

It’s greatest to prepare dinner them tremendous aldente. That’s as a result of the noodles will additional prepare dinner within the oven. We’ve used right here the basic no yolks noodles, however you’ll be able to most undoubtedly use pasta or a gluten free choice if wanted. 

Assemble the Casserole

1. The noodles are tossed into the pot and coated nicely 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 should use the identical pot if that’s your choice. 

Topping

1. That is frankly a MUST for the recipe, so please don’t skimp. The topping is a combination of panko bread crumbs, parmesan cheese,  recent thyme, chilli flakes and lemon zest. An absolute taste and texture addition to your dish!
   
2. Sprinkle the topping evenly all around the baking dish masking 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 got 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 perfect tasting casserole recipe. Ensure you use the fish packed in water or lemon, not oil. The oil will make it exhausting for the tuna to mix within the sauce. And eventually, be certain that to empty it nicely earlier than utilizing.
2. Frozen peas are an awesome selection for this recipe, higher than recent peas. Keep away from canned by all means.
3. Cremini mushrooms have a richer style in comparison with white button mushrooms, nevertheless you’ll be able to nonetheless use them. 
4. The selection of cheese is totally non-compulsory so long as it’s a gentle 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 vivid recent tangy taste.
7. We want panko over common breadcrumbs, nevertheless you’ll be able to nonetheless use it.
8. When including the flour, ensure 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 substances, and observe the thickness.
10. To skinny out your sauce, add extra liquid. To thick out the sauce, preserve 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, you must underneath prepare dinner them as they may proceed cooking within the oven. 
13. You possibly can bake the casserole in the identical pot for those who’d like so long as it’s oven proof. 
14. Regulate the panko topping, it ought to be golden and crisp. 
15. Keep away from serving the dish instantly as will probably be tremendous scorching, reasonably await 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 like. Don’t overshadow the tuna, however be at liberty to be as artistic as you’d like.
• Make it spicy by including jalapeños or extra chilli flakes.
• Use cajun spice for an exquisite twist. Additionally add roughly of your favourite spice mix like extra onion powder than garlic.
• Swap cheeses round, and check out completely different varieties. 
• Add in additional seafood. You possibly can add in some canned or cooked Sardines. Whereas they’ve a nasty fame, I urge you to strive my grandmother’s recipe! 
• Change the topping and use your favourite flavored chips or crackers, ensure you crush them. 

Methods to Make Forward Tuna Casserole?

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

Methods to 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 utterly. Bake as above including an additional 20 minutes. 

Why is my casserole dry?

The 2 major 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 substances, the sauce ought to be thick, but skinny sufficient to evenly coat each noodle and have some liquid left for baking.

Methods to inform when the casserole is finished?

The perimeters can be bubbly, and the tops can be golden and crisp. You should use the fork knife check 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 perfect Sandwich too!

Viral Tuna Recipes

Tuna Tataki
 Crudo
 Wrap
Ahi Tuna Salad
Ceviche
Carpaccio
Tuna Tartare