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4.45 from 9 votes
by SkinnyMs.
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Published: November 25, 2018 Last Updated: June 23, 2022
This cheesy casserole is delicious!
Sometimes, you need a comforting meal that makes you feel like you’re having a cheat day. Don’t feel bad about it: We found a way for you to have your comfort without sacrificing nutrition! Ooey, gooey, cheesy baked perfection is what you’ll get with this Easy Tuna Casserole recipe. It mimics the delicious, creamy taste of tuna casseroles from days gone by, but this lightened-up version is much healthier than anything that was whipped up in your grandmother’s kitchen. Best of all, it is packed full with tuna, so you’ll enjoy the benefits of omega 3 fatsand lean protein while warming up with this delectable dish.
Traditional tuna casseroles have a tendency to be greasy, fattening, and all-around unhealthy. They also gets a bad rap for being an “old-fashioned” dish, or something most people have little use for these days. Despite its less-than-stellar reputation, sometimes you get a hankering for the comfort foods from your childhood! That’s when it’s time to turn to this Easy Tuna Casserole recipe.
Cheesy and Delicious
You won’t believe that a meal this cheesy could also be healthy! Our Easy Tuna Casserole recipe is the perfect recipe to turn to when you’re looking for a tuna meal that’s out of the ordinary. Tuna is a great source of lean protein, but plain old tuna salad gets boring time after time. It’s also not alwaysthe right option when the weather is cold and blustery.
Mixing tuna with noodles and cheese gives this dish a rich, indulgent feel without all the unappealing aspects from other tuna casserole recipes. Instead of regular macaroni (which uses refined white flour), we opt for whole-wheat noodles. They contain plenty of complex carbohydrates to keep you feeling fuller for longer. We also snuck some veggies into the dish–mushrooms and peas–but don’t worry, this dish is so cheesy no one will notice!
The other big change we made was to ditch the condensed soup. Most traditional casserole recipes use canned condensed soup, like cream of mushroom or cream of chicken. While there’s nothing wrong with cooking using that ingredient, it does happen to be very high in fat and sodium. Instead, we used low-fat cream cheese and milk to get the same result with significantly more nutrition.
If you are looking for a fun dish to bring to a party or office event, or you know your kids will love a gooey tuna casserole, try our Easy Tuna Casserole recipe. It’s a great lightened-up version of the comfort classic that everyone expects.
4.45 from 9 votes
Easy Tuna Casserole Recipe
This tasty and budget-friendly meal is perfect for a busy weekday, with nutritious ingredients both kids and adults will enjoy.
Review Recipe PIN RECIPE Print Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes minutes
Total Time 45 minutes minutes
Yield 6 people
Serving Size 1 cup
Course Dinner
Cuisine American
Author SkinnyMs.
Review Recipe PIN RECIPE Print Recipe
Ingredients
US Customary - Metric
- 4 cups whole wheat noodles cooked, macaroni was used in this recipe, egg noodles also will work
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 yellow onion small, diced
- 8 ounces mushrooms sliced, white or button (wipe clean)
- 9 ounces solid white albacore tuna cans, in water, shredded (add tuna and water)
- 1 cup green peas frozen
- 8 ounces cream cheese low-fat, softened
- 1 cup milk low-fat
- 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese reduced-fat, shredded (recommend block cheese)
Instructions
Preheat over to 375 degrees.
Note:If desired, add additional cheese to the top of the casserole before baking.
Cook noodles according to instructions on the package or al dente.
In a medium skillet add oil and sauté onions and mushrooms over medium-low heat until mushrooms begin to release moisture, about 10 minutes. In a large mixing bowl, combine sautéed onions and mushrooms and all remaining ingredients, reserving 1/2 cup cheddar cheese for the top.
Add the tuna mixture to a 3 quart casserole dish or 9" baking pan, top with the 1/2 cup of remaining cheddar cheese. Bake 15 minutes covered and 10 minutes uncovered, or until cheese is hot and bubbly.
Nutrition Information
Serving: 1cup | Calories: 437kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 65mg | Sodium: 600mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 9g |
SmartPoints (Freestyle): 13
Keywords Budget-Friendly, High Protein, Kid-Friendly, Seafood
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