Healthy Tuna Noodle Casserole

4.80 from 29 votes
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A lightened up version of the comfort food favorite, this Healthy Tuna Noodle Casserole recipe boasts all the classic creamy, cheesy character. Featuring fresher ingredients yet with all the hearty appeal, it will become an instant family favorite. Homemade Tuna Noodle Casserole in a white dish with a serving scooped out

Why You’ll Love this Healthy Tuna Noodle Casserole:

If you grew up in the 80’s or 90’s, I can only hope and assume that tuna noodle casserole was a classic dinner contender. The traditional casserole features a cast of heavy characters, such as cream of mushroom (or celery) soup, cheese, and a potato chip or fried onion topping. 

This version, however, features a homemade cream of mushroom mixture, and is bolstered by lots of fresh herbs and aromatics. We also lean on whole wheat egg noodles to up the fiber ante. Canned tuna, however, still takes center stage, which is a fabulous and convenient source of beneficial omega-3 fatty acids. 

This healthy homemade tuna casserole is MILES ahead of the classic in terms of freshness and flavor. Both kids and adults will love it, and not a single taster will guess it’s a lightened up version. 

Plus, it makes the most fantastic leftovers, so consider dinner tonight and lunch tomorrow DONE.

Recipe Ingredients and Substitutions:Recipe ingredients in separate bowls with blue labels

  • Tuna: When purchasing canned tuna, look for the words “pole-and-line caught” on the label for the more sustainably-caught fish. My personal favorite is Wild Planet brand, which you can find at most well-stocked supermarkets. You can either use skipjack or albacore here–just make sure it’s packed in water and not oil. 
  • Noodles: I love using whole-wheat egg noodles, which offer a bit more fiber and B-vitamins. If you can’t find them, however, classic egg noodles are just fine!
  • Aromatics: Onions, garlic, and fresh thyme create the aromatic backbone of this tuna noodle casserole. You can also use leeks here (either in lieu of, or in addition to the yellow onion), which are a fabulous compliment to the filling. 
  • Mushrooms: Cremini mushrooms bolster the filling with meaty, umami-rich goodness. Plus, they add extra vitamin D. 
  • Peas: Frozen green peas add a pop of color and burst of sweetness to the filling. You don’t have to completely thaw them, however they should be partially thawed before being mixed in the filling. You can also leave them out, if you’re not a fan. 
  • Milk: I prefer using whole milk for its rich, creamy character, however unsweetened cashew milk also works as a dairy-free alternative. 
  • Cheese: A little sharp white cheddar goes a long way in terms of richness and sharp, salty flavor. If making the casserole dairy-free, you can omit the cheese entirely, or swap it for nutritional yeast or dairy-free cheesy shreds.
  • Breadcrumbs: For a crunchy, crave-worthy finish, sprinkle Panko breadcrumbs overtop right before baking. And if you prefer a crispier, golden topping (who doesn’t?!), turn the broiler to high for the final two minutes. For a gluten free alternative, use Ian’s Gluten Free Panko or crushed Rice Chex cereal.

Single serving of tuna noodle bake on a small plate with a fork digging in

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Step 1: Boil the Noodles

Preheat oven to 375°F and lightly coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick spray. Cook noodles according to package instructions in a large pot of salted water until very al dente. Drain, and transfer noodles back to pot removed from burner.Whole wheat egg noodles cooked until al dente

Step 2: Sauté Vegetables

Heat oil in a large high-sided skillet over medium-high. Add mushrooms and onion; cook until softened, about 8 minutes. Stir in garlic and fresh thyme; cook until fragrant, about 1 more minute. Mushrooms and onions being sautéed in a white skillet

Step 3: Make a Roux

Add butter to pan; stir to melt. Sprinkle flour over mixture, and stir well to coat. Cook 2 full minutes to eliminate raw flour taste. Whisking constantly, gradually pour in vegetable broth; bring to a boil. Flour being stirred into vegetable mixture in a white skillet

Step 4: Add Milk and Cheese

Reduce to a simmer; whisk in milk, Dijon mustard, salt, pepper, and celery seed. Return to a simmer; simmer 3 minutes, or until slightly thickened. Sprinkle in half of the cheese and stir constantly until melted. Add lemon juice and zest. Broth and milk being whisked into vegetable mixture to form a roux

Step 4: Combine Tuna Noodle Casserole Ingredients

Pour milk mixture into pot with noodles; add tuna and partially thawed green peas. Stir well until noodles are well-coated. Transfer tuna mixture to prepared baking dish; sprinkle remaining cheese and breadcrumbs overtop. 
Noodles, tuna, and milk mixture being mixed together and transferred to a baking dish

Step 5: Bake Casserole

Bake at 375°F until bubbly and cheese is melted, about 15 minutes. Let stand at room temperature 5 to 10 minutes before digging in. Garnish with additional fresh thyme, if desired.
Tuna Noodle Casserole in a pan after being baked

FAQs and Expert Tips:

Is Canned Tuna Good for You?

Canned tuna sometimes gets a bad rap because of concerns over mercury, but there are easy ways to keep it in check. Mercury magnifies the higher up in the food chain we go, so larger fish often have higher amounts. For lower mercury levels, opt for smaller tuna fish—like light or skipjack tuna—over larger fish, like albacore and yellowfin.

Now let’s talk nutritional perks of tuna, which, in my opinion, far outweigh the mercury concerns. It’s high in protein and a great source of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA. These fats are essential, meaning our bodies can’t make them and, therefore, we must get them from our diet.

The American Heart Association recommends we eat two (3- to 5-oz.) seafood servings every week to help reach our daily recommend dose of omega-3s, however only 1 out of every 10 Americans actually meets that quota. Beyond heart health, research also suggests that omega-3s support brain, eye, skin, and hair health as well.

How to Store and Reheat:

  • To Store: Transfer leftovers in an airtight storage container and refrigerator for up to 4 days.
  • To Reheat: Reheat individual portions gently in the microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until warm. Alternatively, reheat in a casserole dish in the oven at 350ºF. If using the oven, loosely tent the casserole pan with foil and place the pan on the center rack for 15 to 25 minutes, until warmed through (the larger the serving, the longer you will need).
  • To Freeze: Place leftovers in an airtight freezer-safe storage container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

A serving removed from Tuna Noodle Casserole to show inside

More Healthy Casserole Recipes:

Tuna casserole being plated and served with lemon wedges and fresh thyme

If you give this tuna noodle casserole recipe a try, snap a pic and tag #dishingouthealth so I can see your beautiful creations. Also, follow along on Facebook and Pinterest for the latest recipe updates!

4.80 from 29 votes

Healthy Tuna Noodle Casserole

A lightened up version of the comfort food favorite, this Healthy Tuna Noodle Casserole recipe boasts all the classic creamy, cheesy character.
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 6

Equipment

  • Large stock pot
  • Large sauté pan

Ingredients  

  • 12 oz. dry whole-wheat egg noodles (sub regular egg noodles)
  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 8 oz. sliced baby bella (cremini) mushrooms
  • 1 1/2 cups finely chopped yellow onion
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 Tbsp. fresh thyme leaves, plus more for garnish
  • 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter
  • 3 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups vegetable broth
  • 2 cups whole milk (sub unsweetened cashew milk)
  • 2 tsp. Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp. kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp. black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp. celery seed
  • 1 cup freshly grated sharp white cheddar cheese, divided
  • Zest and juice of 1 lemon
  • 3 (4-oz.) cans unsalted albacore or skipjack tuna in water, drained
  • 1 cup frozen green peas, partially thawed
  • 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
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Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 375°F and lightly coat a 9x13-inch baking dish with non-stick spray.
    Cook noodles according to package instructions in a large pot of salted water until very al dente. Drain, and transfer noodles back to pot (removed from burner).
  • Heat oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high. Once hot, add mushrooms and onion; cook until softened, about 8 minutes. Stir in garlic and fresh thyme; cook until fragrant, about 1 more minute. 
    Add butter to pan; stir to melt. Sprinkle flour over mixture, and stir well to coat. Cook 2 full minutes, stirring often, to eliminate raw flour taste. Whisking constantly, gradually pour in vegetable broth; bring to a boil. 
  • Reduce to a simmer and gradually whisk in milk, Dijon mustard, salt, pepper, and celery seed. Bring mixture back to a simmer; simmer 3 minutes, or until slightly thickened. Sprinkle in half of the cheese and stir constantly until melted. Add lemon juice and zest. 
    Pour milk mixture into pot with cooked noodles; add tuna and green peas. Stir well until all components are well-combined. Transfer mixture to prepared baking dish; sprinkle remaining cheese and breadcrumbs overtop. 
  • Bake casserole at 375°F until bubbly and cheese is melted, about 15 minutes. For a crisper, golden topping, broil for final 2 minutes. Let stand at room temperature 5 to 10 minutes before digging in. Garnish with additional fresh thyme, if desired.

Video

Notes

To Store: Transfer leftovers in an airtight storage container and refrigerator for up to 4 days.
To Reheat: Reheat individual portions gently in the microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until warm. Alternatively, reheat in a casserole dish in the oven at 350ºF. If using the oven, loosely tent the casserole pan with foil and place the pan on the center rack for 15 to 25 minutes, until warmed through (the larger the serving, the longer you will need).
To Freeze: Place leftovers in an airtight freezer-safe storage container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Nutrition

Serving: 2cups | Calories: 455kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 7.5g | Sodium: 1020mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 10g

I calculate these values by hand to ensure accuracy, however expect up to a 10% variable depending on food brands.

If you love this recipe, please leave a star rating and review below!

 

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4.80 from 29 votes (14 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




25 Comments

  1. Erica W says:

    3 stars
    Mine came out too sour and I only added half the lemon juice and half the zest, any ideas why? I liked it otherwise.

    1. Lien says:

      4 stars
      I only did half too and felt it was way too sour as well so I had to add more milk and broth.

  2. AZCook says:

    5 stars
    Super delicious! I don’t eat mustard, so didn’t add that, didn’t have celery seed, and only had some powdered sage and Italian seasoning, so used that instead of thyme. Came out great….would make again.

    1. Jamie Vespa says:

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it!! Thank you for leaving a review!

    2. Sam says:

      5 stars
      This turned out wonderful, and just what I needed on a cool autumn evening! This recipe has great bones. I made some adjustments for personal taste and not having everything on hand(add mixed frozen veggies, heavy cream instead of milk, shallot, didn’t have celery salt which would definitely had made it even better, and seasoned the panko with homemade Italian seasoning). Will absolutely make again.

  3. Jane says:

    5 stars
    This recipe is incredible. I loved everything about it, especially the lemon juice and zest along with the tuna. This feels like a more sophisticated, grown-up version of the recipe I grew up with. I couldn’t find whole wheat egg noodles anywhere so had to use regular but will keep looking and use whole wheat next time if I can find them.

    1. Jamie Vespa says:

      Hi Jane – I’m so thrilled you enjoyed it! Thank you for taking the time to come back and leave such a wonderful review.

      Cheers,
      Jamie

  4. Grace says:

    5 stars
    This was AMAZING! The dish was comforting and filling without being too heavy. The homemade mushroom cream sauce was a game changer. I will never go back to using the condensed soup.

  5. Spree23 says:

    5 stars
    I’ve made a lot of tuna noodle casseroles over the years as my family has always enjoyed it, but my husband said this was the best I’ve ever made! Needless to say, I will be making this again.

    1. Jamie Vespa says:

      Woohoo! SO happy to hear that, my friend. Thank you for taking the time to leave a review!

  6. Dr G says:

    As someone who has had a quadruple bypass, I wonder if I could substitute olive oil for the butter in this recipe?

    1. Jamie Vespa says:

      Hi there – yes, olive oil will work fine!

  7. Judith says:

    Since we’ve never met a recipe we haven’t modified we made a few changes to an already great recipe. We added three small sweet Mad Hatter peppers a little basil and parsley. For the cheese we added a combination of men Checo cheddar and Gruyere,Adding the full cup of cheese to the casserole and another few tablespoons to sprinkle over the breadcrumb mixture. For the breadcrumbs mixed a combination of regular Italian breadcrumbs with plain Panko sautéed in a little bit of butter prior to sprinkling over the casserole. In other recipes the sauce is never enough but this was just a perfect combination of broth and milk mixture guaranteeing an extra creamy helping in every bite

    1. Jamie Vespa says:

      Hi Judith – I’m so glad to hear the recipe was a hit! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review.

  8. Jackie says:

    5 stars
    This was EXCELLENT! So much better than the tuna noodle casserole I grew up eating!

    1. Jamie Vespa says:

      So glad you enjoyed it, Jackie! Thanks for taking time to leave a review

  9. Kyle says:

    5 stars
    I never had the pleasure of eating a tuna casserole. One bite in and I was instantly overtaken by delight and satisfaction. Either I’ve missed out on an up bringing of an incredible dish , or Jamie just knows how to make everything taste phenomenal. This dish will be a new go-to in our house.

    1. Jamie Vespa says:

      So glad you enjoyed it, love!

  10. Ashley Caruthers says:

    5 stars
    This recipe was everything I wanted. Comforting and delicious! Everythihg flowed together from the sharp white cheddar, to the lemon, to the peas, to the mushroom, onions, and thyme. The only thing I wanted more of was the crunch from the panko bread crumbs but I will definitely be making this again!

    1. Jamie Vespa says:

      Hi Ashley,
      Thank you SO much for taking the time to leave such a fab review. I’m so thrilled you enjoyed this one!

      1. Maddy says:

        3 stars
        Was not a fan of the lemon – my partner and I both agreed it was too overpowering. This recipe isn’t bad but felt like it was lacking body.