Tune-a-Noodle Casserole… yeah, we don’t really know what that name means either. But what we do know is you’ll be dancing to the tune of this flaky tuna classic! There are no surprises here, and with one bite, you’ll experience all the nostalgic flavors of this creamy, veggie-filled, timeless, and tasty dish. Some would even call it iconic! Tune-a-Noodle Casserole is no one-hit-wonder, that’s for sure. You’ll likely find it on your weekly “to-cook” list!
Ingredients
- 3 cups wide egg noodles
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, plus 1 tablespoon melted butter, divided
- 1 cup celery, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1/2 onion, diced
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 1/4 cups whole milk
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 (12-ounce) can water-packed chunk tuna, drained
- 1/2 cup frozen peas, thawed
- 4 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon parsley, chopped
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Step 2 –Lightly grease a 2-quart baking dish.
Step 3 –In a large pot of salted, boiling water, cook the noodles to al dente, according to the package directions. Drain the noodles.
Step 4 –In a large skillet over medium heat, melt 1/4 cup of the butter.
Step 5 –Add the celery, the bell pepper, and the onion to the butter and cook, stirring frequently, until the onion is translucent.
Step 6 –Stir the flour, the salt, and the pepper into the veggie mixture.
Step 7 –Slowly add the milk to the veggie mixture and cook, stirring constantly, until it is thick and bubbly.
Step 8 –Stir the Dijon mustard into the veggie mixture.
Step 9 –Stir the tuna, the peas, the cooked noodles, and the cheddar cheese into the veggie mixture.
Step 10 –Pour the tuna mixture into the prepared baking dish.
Step 11 –In a small bowl, combine the panko, the parmesan, the paprika, the parsley, and the remaining butter and sprinkle the mixture over the top of the casserole.
Step 12 –Bake the casserole, uncovered, until it is heated through and golden-brown on top, about 25-30 minutes.
Step 13 –Let the casserole stand for 5 minutes.
Step 14 –Serve.
