Tuna Pasta Casserole from Scratch

We’ve given the old-fashioned tuna noodle casserole a modern twist, with our Tuna Pasta Casserole from Scratch! It has all the creaminess and bold flavor you remember, with a bit of an elevated spin.

Pasta replaces noodles and our homemade condensed cream of mushroom soup stands in for the canned stuff you’d typically find in the classic version. That means this dish, made with whole ingredients, is extra delicious! What we haven’t updated is how easy this tuna casserole is, because some things should just be left untouched. 😉

This tuna pasta casserole is the perfect kind of meal for family dinners and gatherings. Comforting, budget-friendly, and easy to assemble, it’s the type of dinner that will pull through to save the day! Best of all, it is made-from-scratch and with love.

An old-fashioned tuna casserole makes me reminisce of childhood- a time of casseroles galore! In my opinion, casseroles still deserve a lot of love – they are tasty, simple to make, and if you’re lucky (or especially efficient), one casserole might even leave you with dinner for days.

what’s in our tuna pasta casserole

So, what makes our tuna pasta casserole from scratch way better than the old-school kind? Our homemade condensed cream of mushroom soup! Leave the canned stuff on the store shelf and opt to go with a homemade version! It’s rich and creamy, and you can easily store it in your fridge or freezer to grab a batch when you need it. Another bonus: it’s free of preservatives or additives.

If you like this recipe, try our hamburger potato casserole.

Here is the full ingredient list for this tuna pasta casserole recipe:

• pasta shells, cooked and drained
• olive oil
• chopped onion
• celery, diced
• red bell pepper, diced
• canned tuna
• homemade condensed cream of mushroom soup
• whole milk
• frozen peas
• Panko bread crumbs
• Parmesan cheese, grated
• melted butter
• chopped parsley (for garnish)

how to make tuna pasta casserole from scratch

Ready to find out how easy it is to make this tuna pasta casserole? Not only is it creamy and flavorful with a thick, crisp crust, it’s also a cinch to make. Under half an hour of prep time and the oven does the rest! (Didn’t I tell you casseroles are great?! 😉 )

Here’s the quick and easy process:

1. Sauté. Preheat the oven to 400°F and prep a casserole dish with oil spray. Heat a large skillet over medium heat, add the olive oil, and then sauté the onion, celery and red bell pepper for about 3-5 minutes.
2. Mix. Mix in the tuna, condensed cream of mushroom soup, milk, and the cooked pasta. Stir the skillet mixture often. Add the frozen peas.
3. Bake. Spoon the mixture into the casserole dish and bake for 15 minutes. Make the bread crumb topping by mixing bread crumbs, cheese and melted butter in a small dish. After the casserole bakes for 15 minutes, stir it, and then top the casserole with the bread crumb mixture. Return the oven and bake for another 10 minutes until the edges bubble and the top is golden brown.
4. Garnish and serve. Sprinkle the chopped parsley on top and serve the tuna casserole immediately.

pro tips for tuna casserole

• We traditionally use egg noodles for this casserole, but any kind of pasta will do so feel free to adapt however you like!
• Add the peas frozen- do not defrost them. They will thaw as they cook in the casserole and they will not be over-cooked.
• If you’d like more variety and an extra cheesy tuna casserole, grate 1 cup of cheddar cheese into the mixture before stirring in the peas.

what to serve with tuna casserole

Our tuna pasta casserole is a one-dish meal, but it also goes well with a number of sides! Here are a few of our favorites:

• Garlic bread
• Shaved Brussels sprouts salad with Caesar dressing
• Roasted Brussels sprouts and carrots

Every bite of this tuna pasta casserole is one to savor! Loaded with meaty chunks of tuna, tender veggies, and oodles of pasta (the ultimate comfort food), this one-dish dinner is even better than the tuna casserole of your childhood! And who knows? It might even become a family dinner staple.

More Recipes You Will Love

Watermelon, Feta and Mint Salad: The sweetness of the juicy watermelon, the creamy-salty feta and minty taste of this salad is so refreshing and light.  We gave each serving a squeeze of lemon and a drizzle of EV olive oil.

Panzanella: A classic Italian summertime salad made with bread, tomatoes, onions and basil with a simple vinaigrette dressing made with olive oil, red-wine vinegar, salt and pepper.

Heirloom Tomato Salad with Aged Goat Cheese: This heirloom tomato salad with aged goat cheese combines the flavors of juicy, creamy, crunchy, salty and spicy that all compliment each other deliciously. A simple vinaigrette of golden balsamic vinegar and olive oil makes the perfect dressing.

For more recipes using canned tuna, check out our tuna empanadas or our tuna stuffed tomatoes.