Dinner / Casseroles & pot pies
Tuna Noodle Casserole from Scratch
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Creamy cheddar sauce, egg noodles pulled two minutes early, and a lid of golden buttered panko. It comes out bubbling at the edges, and someone always steals a crunchy bit of the topping on the way to the table.
The short version
Boil egg noodles 2 minutes short, make a mushroom cream sauce with cheddar, fold in tuna, peas and noodles, top with buttered crumbs, and bake at 375°F until bubbling and browned, 25 to 30 minutes.
What makes ours better
the tricks Nonna pretends she never taught me
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Make the sauce from scratch. Butter, flour and milk take about 10 minutes and taste like cream and mushrooms, not salt. You also control how thick it is.
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Pull the noodles 2 minutes early. They keep absorbing sauce in the oven. Cooked fully, they turn to mush.
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Add lemon juice and mustard. A little acid brightens the sauce and keeps the tuna from tasting flat.
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Buttered panko topping. Panko stays crisp over a creamy filling better than plain crumbs.
What you need
the cast, in order of appearance
- Wide egg noodles6 ounces
- Unsalted butter4 tablespoons
- Mushrooms8 ounces
- Shredded sharp cheddar1 cup
- Dijon mustard1 teaspoon
- 5-ounce tuna2 cans
- Frozen peas1 cup
- Panko bread crumbs½ cup
Casserole
Topping
tap each one as it goes in. no double-salting.
Steps
deep breath. you’ve got this.
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Heat the oven and boil the noodles
Heat the oven to 375°F and grease a 2½-quart baking dish. Boil the noodles in well-salted water for 2 minutes less than the package says. Drain.
Undercooked at this point is correct. They finish in the oven.
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Cook the mushrooms and onion
Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook the mushrooms and onion, stirring, until the liquid has cooked off and they begin to brown, about 8 minutes.
About 8 min. Cook mode has a timer for this step.
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Make the sauce
Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and stir for 1 minute. Add the milk slowly, whisking so no lumps form. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes, stirring, until it coats the back of a spoon.
About 5 min. Cook mode has a timer for this step.
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Season the sauce
Off the heat, whisk in the cheddar, mustard, lemon juice, salt and pepper until the cheese melts. Taste; it should seem a little salty, since the noodles and tuna will dilute it.
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Combine
Fold in the tuna, peas, parsley and noodles until evenly coated. Scrape into the baking dish and spread level.
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Add the topping
Stir the panko into the melted butter and sprinkle evenly over the top.
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Bake until bubbling
Bake until the sauce bubbles at the edges and the top is golden, 25 to 30 minutes. Rest for 5 minutes so the sauce thickens, then serve.
If the topping isn't browned, broil for 1 to 2 minutes and watch it.
About 25 min. Cook mode has a timer for this step.
Good to know
read this before somebody asks for seconds
- Oil-packed tuna is richer; water-packed works fine. Use albacore or chunk light as you like.
- Crushed potato chips or buttery crackers can stand in for the panko.
- Make ahead: assemble without the topping, refrigerate up to a day, add topping and bake 10 minutes longer.
- Storage. Fridge, 3 days. Freezer, 2 months, though the noodles soften a little. Reheat covered at 350°F until hot, about 20 minutes.
Questions, answered
the questions my cousins text me
Can I make tuna noodle casserole without canned soup?
Yes, and this recipe does. A butter, flour and milk sauce takes about 10 minutes and tastes fresher.
Why is my tuna casserole dry?
The noodles were overcooked and absorbed too much sauce, or the sauce was too thick. Undercook the noodles and keep the sauce loose, since it thickens as it bakes.
Can I use a different pasta?
Yes. Small shells, rotini or elbow macaroni all work. Cook them 2 minutes short.
Can I make tuna casserole ahead?
Yes. Assemble without the topping and refrigerate up to 24 hours. Add the topping and bake 10 minutes longer.
Can I leave out the mushrooms?
Yes. Use extra peas, or add chopped celery with the onion.
From the table
Made it? I want the full report: first bite, best compliment, and who tried to take the leftovers home.
Made it?
be honest. I can take it. probably.
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Published October 28, 2026.