Television-Inspired Retro Tuna Casserole
A nostalgic tuna casserole with a creamy mushroom sauce and crispy breadcrumb topping, reminiscent of classic mid-20th century family dinners. This American-inspired comfort-food recipe, ready in about 50 minutes, pairs egg noodles, cooked tuna, butter for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 12 oz egg noodles
- 14 oz canned, drained cooked tuna
- 3 tbsp butter
- 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup sliced mushrooms
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsp olive oil
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Equipment for this recipe
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Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F. Cook 12 oz egg noodles in salted boiling water for 7-8 minutes until just tender, then drain.
- Step 2: In a medium saucepan, melt 3 tbsp butter over medium heat. Whisk in 3 tbsp all-purpose flour and cook for 1 minute to form a roux.
- Step 3: Gradually whisk in 2 cups whole milk, stirring constantly until the sauce thickens and is smooth, about 4-5 minutes. Add 1 cup sliced mushrooms and cook until tender.
- Step 4: Stir in 14 oz drained canned tuna, 1 cup frozen peas, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Remove from heat and mix in drained noodles and 1 cup grated cheddar cheese.
- Step 5: Transfer mixture to a greased 9x13 inch baking dish. Toss 1 cup breadcrumbs with 2 tbsp olive oil and sprinkle evenly over the casserole.
- Step 6: Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes until the top is golden brown and bubbly. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.









