Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole

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Classic Tuna Noodles Casserole has never tasted so good. It has an easy, luscious, cheesy, creamy sauce and a simple three-ingredient Ritz cracker topping. This is comfort food at its best and a weeknight family favorite.

A large round casserole dish full of classic tuna noodle casserole.

This is one of my husband’s favorite casseroles and one the whole family enjoys. I like to add some frozen baby peas and make my cream sauce from scratch instead of canned cream of something soup.

It is a complete meal, but if you want to step it up a notch, serve it with a simple garden salad and garlic knots. If you like this casserole, you should try my cheesy pierogi casserole, chicken broccoli rice casserole, and chicken stuffing casserole.

Why We Love This

I am not a huge fan of cream of anything condensed canned soups, so this recipe does not call for cream of mushroom soup, cream of celery sour, or cream of chicken soup. To me, they all taste the same. This recipe uses an easy-to-make fresh, creamy cheese sauce that gives it that knock-it-out-of-the-park flavor.
This tuna casserole recipe is not complicated. No special equipment or techniques are required, and even a novice cook can handle this meal preparation.
The ingredients for this recipe are readily available at your local supermarket, and you may already have many of them on hand.

An overhead view of a casserole dish full of tuna noodle cassserole with a wooden spoon in it.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

Noodles: I love to use egg noodles, but you can substitute elbow macaroni, penne, rotini, or cellentani for them.
Butter: unsalted or salted. If using salted butter, reduce the amount of added salt.
Milk: whole or 2%
Cheese: cheddar, sharp or white
Sour cream: full-fat is best
Tuna: I use solid white albacore tuna packed in water, either in a can or packet
Peas: frozen are best; don’t use canned as they are too soft and will cook up mushy
Toppings: Crushed Ritz, crushed potato chips, breadcrumbs, or French’s fried onion
Herbs: dill or chives

How to make Tuna Noodle Casserole

Start by cooking your noodles (al dente) according to package directions and drain well. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a skillet or pan over medium heat. Then add the onions and celery and cook until tender, stirring several times. Reduce the heat to low and add the garlic, cooking for 1 minute while stirring constantly. Sprinkle the flour over the veggies and cook for 2 minutes while stirring.

Slowly stir in the milk until smooth and combined. Simmer for about 5 minutes or until slightly thickened. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Then, remove from the heat and stir in the shredded cheese and sour cream. Stir in the drained tuna, frozen peas, and cooked noodles. Spoon the contents into a baking sprayed with nonstick spray.

The steps to making tuna noodle casserole.

Now, combine the crushed Ritz Crakers and butter in a small bowl. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the casserole dish. Bake in a preheated oven for 15-20 minutes or until the casserole is heated and lightly browned on the top. Sprinkle with chopped fresh dill or chives.

In a small bowl, combine the crushed Ritz Crakers and butter. Then evenly sprinkle the mixture over the casserole dish.

Preparation Tips

Cook the pasta al dente since you will cook it in the oven for 20 minutes. This keeps it from becoming too soft or mushy.
Do not over-simmer the cream sauce. 4-5 minutes is long enough for the sauce to slightly thicken. Be sure to stir frequently.
Remove the white sauce from the heat before whisking in the cheese and sour cream.

Tuna noodle casserole in a single serving bowl with a fork. A salt and pepper shaker are in the background.

Storage and Reheat

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave at reduced power or in a skillet over low heat. The cracker topping will not be as crunchy, but it will still be delicious.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add other vegetables?

Other veggies you might add include broccoli, green bell peppers, mushrooms, or carrots.

Can you freeze tuna noodle casserole?

If preparing this casserole in advance, mix the noodle and cheesy tuna mixture, but do not bake it yet. Add it to a large freezer zipper bag and freeze it for up to 2 months. Then defrost in the refrigerator for 24-48 hours before baking. Add the contents of the zipper bag to a greased casserole dish. Prepare the crumb topping and sprinkle it over the casserole. Bake as directed, adding 3-5 minutes baking time.

If freezing leftovers, spoon the contents into a sturdy freezer-safe container. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat in the microwave at reduced power or in the oven at 350 degrees in a casserole dish.

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