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Cozy Tuna Casserole Recipe Easy Homemade Dinner with Pantry Staples

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A quick, comforting tuna casserole made with pantry staples, creamy cottage cheese, and a crunchy topping. Perfect for cozy dinners and easy weeknight meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 oz (340 g) egg noodles
  • 2 cans (5 oz/142 g each) tuna in water, drained
  • 1 cup (225 g) cottage cheese, small curd
  • 1 can (10.5 oz/298 g) cream of mushroom soup (or cream of celery for variation)
  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) milk (whole or 2%, or dairy-free milk works too)
  • 1 cup (120 g) frozen peas (thawed) or canned green beans (drained)
  • 1/2 cup (50 g) shredded cheddar cheese (sharp or mild)
  • 1 cup (60 g) French fried onions
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/4 cup (30 g) panko breadcrumbs (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish lightly with butter or non-stick spray.
  2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add egg noodles and cook until just al dente, about 7 minutes. Drain and set aside.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, combine cottage cheese, cream of mushroom soup, and milk. Stir until smooth, whisking if needed to remove lumps.
  4. Gently fold in the drained tuna, thawed peas, and shredded cheddar cheese. Add the cooked noodles and stir carefully to combine.
  5. Pour the casserole mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread evenly.
  6. In a small bowl, mix French fried onions, melted butter, and optional panko breadcrumbs.
  7. Sprinkle the onion mixture evenly over the casserole.
  8. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until bubbling and the topping is golden brown.
  9. Let the casserole rest for about 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Do not overcook noodles as they will continue cooking in the oven. Drain tuna well to avoid watery sauce. Use room temperature dairy for smoother sauce. Tent casserole with foil if topping browns too quickly. For gluten-free, swap noodles and breadcrumbs accordingly. Add fresh onions after reheating to keep topping crunchy.

Nutrition

Keywords: tuna casserole, easy dinner, comfort food, pantry staples, creamy casserole, quick meal, weeknight dinner

Find it online: https://elaraeats.com/cozy-tuna-casserole-recipe-easy-homemade-dinner-with-pantry-staples/