Quick & Easy Tuna Casserole topped with a Cheese Blend or Crumb topping and baked in a casserole dish or single-serve Au Gratin Dish. This is a very old recipe. It’s a simple, comfort food, you can whip up in no time at all, making this a Quick Dinner recipe.

I remember the first time I had it. It looked like an ordinary casserole and thought nothing of it. I took my first bite and was surprised. This tasted so good, I wanted seconds. Ever since, this has been a regular in our Family.

Tuna Casserole Ingredients

Macaroni, Canned Tuna, Cream of Mushroom Soup, Cream of Celery Soup, Marble or Cheddar Cheese, Cream, Butter, Salt & Pepper. Optionally with Frozen Green Peas or Vegetable mix.

Tuna Casserole Pasta

Any Short Pasta will do, typically Macaroni. About 3 Cups of uncooked Pasta in total.

Boil the Pasta in 16 C Water & 2 Tbl of Sea Salt, until just done. Strain and place back into the pot with cold water to stop the cooking process. Once the Pasta has cooled down. Strain again and add back into the pot in preparation for all the other ingredients to go in.

Tuna

Use canned Tuna to make this Tuna Casserole Pasta Bake. Strain well, squeezing all the juice out from 2 cans of Tuna in Water. Add it into the pot with the coked and strained out Pasta.

Tuna Casserole Sauce

The Tuna Casserole Sauce is made up of 1 can each of Cream of Mushroom & Cream of Celery Soup. This can be exchanged with other Cream of Soups that you prefer. A small amount of Milk or Cream is added, about 1/4 C or more. For Creamier, add more Milk/Cream or a bit of Sour Cream as you see fit. Plus a bit of Butter, about 1 Tbl.

Tuna Casserole Vegetables

Add in Green Peas and/or cooked Broccoli, shredded Carrots, Onions, Peppers, Celery, Leeks, Green Onions, Mixed Frozen Vegetables or whatever else you may like.

If using Onions, Celery, Peppers, or Leeks, sauté in butter before adding it to the rest of the ingredients to soften the vegetables up.

Tuna Casserole

Place all the mixed ingredients into a casserole dish (9×13 casserole or larger) and top with shredded Cheese. This gives you a thin, layered casserole with cheese. For me, this is preferable because it’s that cheese that really makes the whole thing come together. So a larger casserole to have a thin layer of tuna filling with the cheese on top is perfect. Place it into a smaller casserole dish if you want a thicker casserole.

Au Gratin

Place all the ingredients into a single-serve Au Gratin dish. The great thing about this method is that different people can have different toppings depending on what they are in the mood for. One person wants just the Mozza & Cheddar Cheese, another wants the 3 cheese, and yet another wants the Panko Crumb top. It can all be done with the Au Gratin dishes.

Just fill the Au Gratin dishes and place them on a baking sheet, and into the oven it goes.

Tuna Casserole Topping

There are two main toppings that can go on top, Cheese Topped or Crumb Topping.

Cheese Topping

You typically top with Marble Cheese. Although, shredded Mozza & Provolone Cheese at a ratio of 3:1 adds so much more to the dish. It makes a big difference. Add Cheddar Cheese for some sharpness. You can also use a Three Cheese Blend of Mozzarella, Monterey Jack, and Cheddar, Tex Mex, or Velveeta Cheese slices.

Add an Extra touch by drizzling melted butter over top of the cheese. Garnish it with Aleppo Chili Flakes & Parsley.

Crumb Topping

Instead of cheese, you can top it with a Crumb topping. Mix the below ingredients and sprinkle on top before baking.

Crumbled Crackers can go on top too. Use Ritz, Vegetable Thins, or Swiss Cheese Crackers.

Garnishing Tuna Casserole

Garnish with Fresh or Dried Parsley, Aleppo, Chili Flakes, Green Onions, and/or Drizzle Melted butter over top the Cheese. The Parsley & Aleppo combo is something I use very often. It just makes the color pop.

Variation of Tuna Casserole

• Try it with other Cream of Soups!
• Add an Extra Can of Tuna!
• Try it with Egg Noodle Pasta!
• If you like it more saucy, add more milk or cream
• Add a little extra Provolone Cheese for stretchy goodness.

This is a dish that is highly versatile. Make yours today and find out what combination You & Your Family like best. Let it cool before serving and Make Your Belly Smile!