Tuna Noodle Casserole 2.0 (Printable)

creamy tuna and egg noodles with veggies and a crunchy panko-parmesan topping.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta and Fish

01 - 12 oz egg noodles
02 - 2 cans (5 oz each) solid white tuna in water, drained

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
04 - 1 cup cremini or white mushrooms, sliced
05 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
06 - 1 cup celery, diced
07 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Sauce

08 - 3 tbsp unsalted butter
09 - 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
10 - 2 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
11 - 1 cup whole milk
12 - 1/2 cup sour cream
13 - 1/2 tsp kosher salt
14 - 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
15 - 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard

→ Topping

16 - 3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
17 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
18 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
19 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (optional)

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
02 - Boil egg noodles in salted water until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
03 - Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and celery; sauté for 3 minutes. Add mushrooms and cook an additional 4 minutes until soft. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute.
04 - Sprinkle flour over vegetables and stir well to coat. Gradually pour in broth while stirring constantly. Add milk and bring mixture to a simmer, cooking until thickened, about 3 to 4 minutes.
05 - Remove from heat and stir in sour cream, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until smooth.
06 - Fold in tuna, peas, and cooked noodles until evenly incorporated.
07 - Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading evenly.
08 - Combine panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, and melted butter. Sprinkle evenly over the casserole.
09 - Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the topping is golden and the casserole is bubbling.
10 - Allow to rest for 5 minutes. Sprinkle parsley over the top before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It tastes nothing like the canned-soup version you might remember, yet still delivers that nostalgic comfort in spades.
  • Ready in under an hour from start to finish, making it perfect for weeknight dinners when you need something substantial but don't have hours.
  • The crispy panko topping adds textural magic that keeps people coming back for seconds.
02 -
  • Don't skip draining the tuna thoroughly—excess liquid will water down your sauce and make the final dish watery.
  • The topping only browns properly if the butter and panko are truly combined; dry panko on top will stay pale and tough.
  • Cook your noodles slightly underdone; they'll continue absorbing liquid in the oven and finish at the perfect texture.
03 -
  • Melt your topping butter just before using so it's warm enough to fully coat the panko and help it brown evenly in the oven.
  • If your casserole edges are browning too fast before the center is bubbling, tent it loosely with foil for the last few minutes of baking.
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