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Home » Recipes » Pork, Sausage, Other Meats

Tuna Casserole Recipe

Published: Mar 29, 2024 · Updated: Dec 7, 2024 by Marye

Tuna noodle casserole is the perfect comfort food for busy weeknights. Make this creamy, old-fashioned recipe with simple pantry ingredients in about 30 minutes.
Total time for the recipe to be finished.Total Time 30 minutes minutes
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Treat yourself to classic comfort food with this creamy casserole. Mom's recipe levels up with a crispy potato chip topping for that perfect blend of flavors and crunch.

Plus, it's a potluck favorite!

Overhead view of tuna casserole with potato chips on top. A serving has been removed to show the creamy noodles and tuna mixture.
When I need a little emotional recharge there's nothing like mom's tuna casserole to do the job!
Table of Contents
  • This was delicious...
  • 🗝️ Key takeaways
  • 🧾 Creamy tuna casserole ingredients
  • 📖 Variations
  • 🔪 Instructions
  • 🍴 Equipment
  • Tuna casserole times and temps
  • 🥫How to store leftover tuna casserole
  • Expert Tip:
  • 💭 Things to know
  • 👩‍🍳 FAQs
  • 📚 Related recipes
  • 🍽️ Serve with...
  • 📞 The last word
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

If you use the jump to recipe button be sure to scroll back up for the variations, tips, and side dish suggestions.

This was delicious...

5 star rating
5 star rating
5 star rating
5 star rating
5 star rating
This was delicious. Added a teaspoon of garlic powder and a teaspoon of onion powder. Was a big hit. Thanks for a great recipe.
Nancy

🗝️ Key takeaways

  • Easy tuna casserole recipe is a classic family dinner that is made with simple pantry ingredients.
  • It's quick to make with common pantry ingredients plus you can make it ahead or freeze for later. That makes it perfect for those busy weeknights!
  • If you've had trouble with dry casseroles in the past make it extra creamy by using an extra can of cream of mushroom soup and/or baking it in a smaller but deeper casserole dish.

Old-fashioned tuna noodle casserole is classic comfort food that's stood the test of time. The truth is that if you leave the cheese out you can have the ingredients for this nutritious meal stored in the pantry all the time!

Canned evaporated milk, dried milk powder, or non-dairy milk can stand in for fresh milk.

I love these vintage recipes - they're as delicious as they are practical! And, let's be honest - any casserole with potato chips on top is going to be a winner!

This simple casserole is a great option for those busy weekdays!

🧾 Creamy tuna casserole ingredients

Labeled ingredients for old fashioned tuna casserole.

Keep these pantry staples on hand so you can whip up my easy tuna noodle casserole recipe any time! It's one of our favorite recipes!

📖 Variations

There are a lot of ways to vary this recipe and substitute for ingredients you don't have or may not want to use.

  • Ritz crackers, saltine cracker crumbs, or breadcrumbs in place of the potato chips (I like Panko bread crumbs)
  • I love these crispy french fried onions on top
  • leave out the cheese
  • egg noodles are traditional but you can use any small pasta you like; elbow macaroni, farfalle, etc.
  • use Pepper Jack (yum!)
  • add ½ cup frozen peas
  • for extra creaminess stir ½ cup of sour cream to the soup before adding it to the noodles
  • use medium egg noodles
  • saute some diced onion and add
  • saute some diced bell pepper and add
  • add some pimentos
  • slice about ¼ cup celery, saute, and add
  • cream of celery soup, or any other cream soup you prefer can be used in place of the cream of mushroom soup

Another popular casserole from the 1960s was this Chopstick Tuna Casserole with cashews and chow mein noodles.

🔪 Instructions

Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the green recipe card below.

Steps for making this tuna casserole recipe.
  1. Cook noodles in boiling, salted water. Add the cooked egg noodles, tuna, soup, 1 cup of cheese and milk to a large bowl. (Add in the optional ingredients if using). Mix gently.
  2. Spray a 2-quart baking dish with cooking spray. Gently spoon tuna mixture into the prepared casserole dish. Top with remaining cheese then sprinkle with potato chips.
Baked casserole is ready to be served.
  1. Bake this classic tuna noodle casserole recipe for 20 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly. Remove the finished casserole from the oven and let stand for 5 minutes before serving. This helps everything settle a bit and firm up so it's easier to serve.

🍴 Equipment

  • casserole dish
  • large pot
  • large bowl

Tuna casserole times and temps

Sometimes you need to bake two things at once - here's how to adjust the time and/or temperatures of your casserole! These times are only an estimate.

Be sure to check your casserole often. It's done when an instant-read thermometer registers 165F when stuck in the middle of the casserole.

TemperatureTimeTime From Frozen
300F50 minutesDon't recommend
325F40 minutes1 hour 10 minutes
350F20 minutes40 minutes
375F15-18 minutesDon't recommend
400FDon't recommendDon't recommend

🥫How to store leftover tuna casserole

This recipe is very forgiving! Be sure to let it come to room temperature before storing.

Assemble ahead of time

You can assemble this old-fashioned tuna casserole ahead of time (but leave off the potato chips), cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for a day or two until you are ready to bake.

Store leftovers:

Cover the casserole dish with plastic wrap or put leftover tuna casserole in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

How to reheat tuna casserole:

I usually add a little milk to the casserole to make sure it's not dry. Cover with foil and reheat in a 350F oven. You can also heat individual servings in the microwave in 1-minute increments.

To freeze:

To freeze unbaked: You can freeze unbaked tuna noodle casserole with egg noodles as long as you leave the potato chip topping off of it.

Prepare it through step 7 then let come to room temperature. Cover with plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. When you're ready to eat just thaw overnight in the refrigerator, remove the aluminum foil and plastic wrap, add the cheese and potato chips, and bake as directed!

To freeze baked: Cover as above and freeze for up to 3 months. This is the least preferable way to store. Thaw then reheat as above.

A serving of casserole being taken from the dish showing the creamy insides.
Ready for comfort food straight from Mom's kitchen? You'll love this ultra-creamy tuna noodle casserole recipe with a crispy potato chip topping.

Expert Tip:

Bake creamy casseroles in a slightly smaller, deeper casserole dish if you've had trouble with them drying out in the oven in the past. Add 10 - 15 minutes to baking time.

💭 Things to know

  • Canned tuna packed in oil has more flavor than tuna packed in water. I use albacore tuna.
  • Use evaporated milk in this. It makes it creamier.
  • Use any kind of milk you like - even non-dairy.
  • Cook the noodles al dente because they're going to cook a bit more in the oven. This is especially true if you'll be assembling ahead of time or freezing.
  • Use the condensed cream of mushroom soup straight from the can - don't dilute it!
  • No need to thaw frozen peas before using them in tuna noodle casserole.
  • Use 2 cans of cream of mushroom soup if you like a creamier sauce. I do it this way and it's the best tuna casserole recipe ever! One can is traditional.

👩‍🍳 FAQs

Which tuna is best for tuna casserole?

Canned chunk light tuna or canned solid-pack albacore tuna are my go-to products for this classic recipe. I prefer it packed in oil when possible.

When was tuna casserole popular?

This is a 1950s dish! It was a pantry meal that went together fast and let Mom get back to watching the Jack Benny show.

Why is my tuna casserole dry?

Either you're over-baking it or you're not adding enough liquid. Try adding an extra ¼ cup of milk next time, or double the cream of mushroom soup.

What temperature should a casserole be heated to?

Always heat your casseroles to 165F in the center. Use an instant-read thermometer to make sure it's a safe temperature all the way through.

Overhead view of a serving of this dish on a white plate.
Here's a plate of pure comfort food!

📚 Related recipes

There are plenty of other vintage casserole recipes here on the blog, although the tuna casserole is one of my very favorites!

  • Make this homemade white sauce if you prefer not to use cream of mushroom soup.
  • We love this easy, old-fashioned chicken and noodles.
  • Old-fashioned baked macaroni and cheese is a longtime favorite that's easy to make and always family-friendly.
  • A crunchy topped casserole with a serving spoon in it.
    Pineapple Casserole
  • Overhead view of ground beef and green bean casserole with crispy onion rings on top.
    Green Bean and Ground Beef Casserole
  • Chile chicken bubble up being removed from a casserole dish.
    Chile Chicken Bubble Up Bake
  • Amish breakfast casserole in a white dish.
    Amish Breakfast Casserole

🍽️ Serve with...

Close up overhead view of a bowl of gree

I like to serve tuna casserole with either a crunchy green bean salad or southern green beans.

closeup of a biscuit with a golden brown top.

When I have time I'll add buttermilk biscuits or soft breadsticks.

Closeup of a slice of lemon pie with a bite taken out of it for social media shares.

This tangy, lemon icebox pie is the perfect, sweet ending!

Need more ideas for what to serve with classic tuna casserole?

📞 The last word

Tuna noodle casserole always brings back a lot of memories for me.

My mom didn't put cheese in it but I find that the cheese kind of kills any "fishy" flavor that might come through so I often will add at least a little bit.

Try this liver and onions in gravy recipe. It's another budget friendly "Blue Plate Special"

This chicken casserole with Stovetop Stuffing is another old-fashioned recipe we love.

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If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.

If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📖 Recipe

Square feature image for this post - an overhead view of the casserole with a serving removed.

Old Fashioned Tuna Noodle Casserole

4.72 from 161 votes
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Tuna noodle casserole is the perfect comfort food for busy weeknights. Make this creamy, old-fashioned recipe with simple pantry ingredients in about 30 minutes.
Course Main Dish (Quick and Easy)
Cuisine American - Vintage
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
Servings:6
Calories:526
Author:Marye Audet-White

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces egg noodles, depending on how much you like 6-12 ounces is fine.
  • 12 ounces albacore tuna, drained
  • 21 ounces cream of mushroom soup, or cream of celery
  • 1 cup evaporated milk, any type of milk may be used - even non-dairy
  • 1 ½ cups Cheddar cheese, grated from a block
  • 1 cup potato chips, crushed

Optional

  • ½ cup peas
  • ¼ cup onion, finely chopped
  • ¼ cup celery, finely diced
  • 4 ounces pimento

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°.
  • Spray a 2 quart casserole dish with no-stick spray.
  • Cook the egg noodles in boiling salted water until just done.
  • Drain.
  • Add the egg noodles, tuna, soup, ½ cup of cheese and milk to a large bowl. (Add in the optional ingredients if using)
  • Mix gently.
  • Gently spoon mixture into the prepared casserole dish.
  • Top with remaining cheese then sprinkle with potato chips.
  • Bake 20 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
  • Let stand for about 5 minutes and then serve warm.

Notes

Storage:
Cover the casserole dish with plastic wrap or put leftover tuna casserole in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Expert Tips:
  • Bake creamy casseroles in a slightly smaller, deeper casserole dish if you've had trouble with them drying out in the oven in the past. Add 10 - 15 minutes to baking time.
  • Canned tuna packed in oil has more flavor than tuna packed in water.
  • Use evaporated milk in this. It makes it creamier.
  • Use any kind of milk you like - even non-dairy.
  • Cook the noodles al dente because they're going to cook a bit more in the oven. This is especially true if you'll be assembling ahead of time or freezing.
  • Use the condensed cream of mushroom soup straight from the can - don't dilute it!
  • No need to thaw frozen peas before using them in tuna noodle casserole.
  • Use 2 cans of cream of mushroom soup if you like a creamier sauce. I do it this way and it's the best tuna casserole recipe ever! One can is traditional.
  • Nutrition Facts

    Calories: 526kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 103mg | Sodium: 1214mg | Potassium: 741mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 420IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 344mg | Iron: 2mg

    Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.

    First published October 5, 2021. Last updated March 29, 2024, for editorial improvements and more helpful tips.

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    Comments

      4.72 from 161 votes (148 ratings without comment)

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      Love it? Give it 5 stars!




    1. Cindy says

      November 06, 2023 at 3:08 pm

      5 stars
      Tuna casserole when it's cold and tuna salad or sandwiches when it's hot out, right? I love the crunchy salty potato chip topping on this!

      Reply
    2. Camden says

      October 30, 2023 at 6:32 pm

      It looks so easy to throw this tuna casserole together for busy nights! I'm always looking for great easy recipes like this!

      Reply
    3. One Crazy House says

      October 27, 2023 at 6:08 pm

      5 stars
      Tuna casserole is one of those dishes that you can't ever go wrong with!

      Reply
    4. Cynthia says

      October 27, 2023 at 6:06 pm

      5 stars
      I can't believe how quickly you can make this tuna casserole recipe! What a great weeknight meal!

      Reply
    5. Cyndy says

      October 25, 2023 at 4:36 pm

      This tuna casserole recipe looks delicious and it brings me right back to my childhood. Thank you for including the helpful list of variations.

      Reply
    6. Sharon says

      October 16, 2023 at 11:43 pm

      5 stars
      Tuna casserole is such a tasty and inexpensive way to feed the family quickly!

      Reply
    7. Brandi says

      October 16, 2023 at 3:41 pm

      When I was newly married, I tried making a tuna casserole recipe from memory. It turned out to be a running joke that has held on strong for 25 years. This real-life recipe sounds much better! And, if you're wondering, it's a bad idea to put mayo in the tuna before putting it in the oven...just don't. 😉

      Reply
    8. Holly says

      October 16, 2023 at 2:41 pm

      5 stars
      I love a good 30 minute meal, especially when it's creamy, and involves noodles! LOL!

      Reply
    9. Julie Evink says

      August 23, 2023 at 12:00 pm

      5 stars
      Nothing beats tuna casserole recipe! My kids request this over and over again. I'm happy because it's so easy to make!

      Reply
    10. Alyssa says

      August 22, 2023 at 8:27 am

      I am so excited to try this tuna casserole recipe. I love the idea of adding the potato chips on top though. This is one of my favorite meals growing up, and I can't wait to share it with my kids !

      Reply
    11. Brenda Dickson says

      August 18, 2023 at 9:32 am

      5 stars
      This is just the tuna casserole recipe that I have been searching for! It is fabulous. Easy to prepare and tastes very delicious. Perfect comfort food too. I have made it six or seven times since I discovered it a couple of months ago. Thank you for sharing.

      Reply
    12. Kristen Yard says

      August 08, 2023 at 12:39 am

      5 stars
      This tuna casserole recipe is the ultimate EASY fall comfort dish for school nights. I love how creamy it is, and that it's ready in just 30 minutes! The potato chips are an added bonus! 😉

      Reply
    13. Brittany says

      August 06, 2023 at 2:38 pm

      5 stars
      My husband loves this tuna casserole recipe and leftovers pack so nicely for his lunchbox the next day!

      Reply
    14. Cynthia Rusincovitch says

      August 06, 2023 at 1:40 pm

      I usually use breadcrumbs. I have never thought to use potato chips on top of the tuna casserole recipe. My kids would definitely like it better than my recipe. haha!

      Reply
    15. Emme says

      April 25, 2023 at 5:38 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you for this quick and simple recipe! It was creamy and delicious.

      Reply
    16. Nancy J Rogers says

      April 13, 2023 at 5:54 pm

      5 stars
      This was delicious. Added a tsp of garlic powder and a tsp of onion powder. Was a big hit. Thanks for a great recipe.

      Reply
    17. David Hilton says

      December 05, 2022 at 3:47 am

      5 stars
      Can't wait to try this, tuna noodle is my favorite second to swiss steak, comfort foods.

      Reply
    18. Kathy says

      April 23, 2022 at 3:07 pm

      5 stars
      try green olives in it

      Reply
    Marye Audet-White, founder of Restless Chipotle Media

    Hey Y'all, I'm Marye

    Welcome to my kitchen! ☕

    NY Times bestselling author. 10 cookbooks. Mom of 8 kids. Homeschooling mom for 22 years. Addicted to Hallmark Christmas Movies. Collector of old cookbooks.

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