Recipe: Mediterranean Tuna Noodle Casserole (2024)

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Faith Durand

Faith DurandSVP of Content

Faith is the SVP of Content at Apartment Therapy Media and former Editor-in-Chief of The Kitchn. She is the author of three cookbooks, including the James Beard Award-winning The Kitchn Cookbook. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband and two daughters.

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updated Feb 3, 2020

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Recipe: Mediterranean Tuna Noodle Casserole (1)

A fast and fancy French-inspired upgrade on the tuna noodle casserole from Faith Durand's Not Your Mother's Casseroles.

Serves4 to 6

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Recipe: Mediterranean Tuna Noodle Casserole (2)

When I set out to create a lighter, healthier tuna noodle casserole recipe that was still as easy as the beloved childhood classic, my thoughts turned, naturally, to France.

Wait — France? Why? I had just returned from a trip with my husband to the south of France (ooh la la — okay, it was for his job!) and I could still taste the olives, artichokes, olive oil, and other Mediterranean ingredients that were a part of so many sunny meals. When I thought about tuna, Nicoise salad was top of mind, and so naturally a tuna noodle casserole packed with briny pops of capers, artichokes, and olives sounded amazing.

This casserole, which was one of the first recipes I developed for my first cookbook, Not Your Mother’s Casseroles, delivered in spades (if I do say so myself!). It takes the sometimes-bland flavors of a classic casserole and punches them up with elements of a Nicoise salad like thinly sliced potatoes and salty, tangy trimmings that add little if no extra work to the dish. After all, for capers and olives, all you need to do is open a jar.

This recipe also lightens up the classic recipe by dispensing with the traditional can of soup and substituting a quick white sauce made with flour and milk. This is an extra step, but it lets you control the fat and salt in the dish — not to mention that it tastes much better. A handful of Parmesan cheese adds a little extra richness.

It’s a recipe inspired by France, but easy and homey enough for any night of the week. I hope you love it as much as I do.

Not Your Mother’s Casseroles

If you like this recipe, check out my casserole book, which is getting released with about 25 new recipes and pages of new photos this fall: Not Your Mother’s Casseroles Revised and Expanded Edition by Faith Durand, copyright (c) 2017. Published by Harvard Common Press.

Comments

A fast and fancy French-inspired upgrade on the tuna noodle casserole from Faith Durand's Not Your Mother's Casseroles.

Serves 4 to 6

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

  • Olive oil

  • 10 ounces

    wide, dried egg noodles

  • 1 pound

    small red potatoes, sliced 1/4-inch thick

  • 4 tablespoons

    (1/2 stick) unsalted butter

  • 1/4 cup

    all-purpose flour

  • 2 cups

    milk

  • 2 teaspoons

    kosher salt, divided

  • Freshly ground black pepper

  • 4

    (6-ounce) cans olive-oil packed tuna, drained

  • 1

    box (9 ounces) frozen artichoke hearts, thawed and halved

  • 3/4 cup

    capers, rinsed and drained

  • 1/2 cup

    sliced black olives

  • 4

    medium scallions, thinly sliced

  • 1/2 cup

    finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

  • 3/4 cup

    finely grated Parmesan cheese, divided

Instructions

  1. Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and heat to 400°F. Lightly coat a 2-quart or 9x13-inch baking dish with oil; set aside.

  2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the noodles and cook for 2 minutes less than recommended on the package directions. Drain the noodles, then transfer them to a large bowl. Toss them immediately with a drizzle of olive oil so they don't clump together; set aside.

  3. Fill the pot with water again and bring to a boil. Add the potato slices and cook for 4 minutes. Drain well, then return them to the pot.

  4. While the noodles and potatoes are cooking, heat the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. When it melts and foams up, add the flour and cook, stirring frequently, for about 5 minutes. Whisk in the milk. Cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens slightly, about 5 minutes. Stir in 1 teaspoon of the salt and pepper to taste.

  5. Add the egg noodles to the pot of potatoes, then pour the sauce over them. Stir in the remaining 1 teaspoon salt, tuna, artichoke hearts, capers, olives, scallions, parsley, and 1/2 cup of the Parmesan cheese. Taste and season with more salt as needed.

  6. Transfer to the baking dish and spread into an even layer. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Bake, uncovered, until bubbly, about 25 minutes. Serve warm.

Recipe Notes

Make ahead: The assembled casserole can be covered and stored in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before baking, but will probably need a few additional minutes cooking time.

Storage: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Reprinted with permission from Not Your Mother's Casseroles Revised and Expanded Edition by Faith Durand, copyright (c) 2017. Published by Harvard Common Press.

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Recipe: Mediterranean Tuna Noodle Casserole (2024)

FAQs

What are the list of ingredients for tuna noodle casserole? ›

Use 2 cans soup, 1 cup milk, 1/4 cup pimiento, two 12-ounce cans tuna, 6 ounces (about 4 cups) egg noodles, 2 tablespoons bread crumbs and 1 tablespoon butter. Bake in a 2-quart casserole for 30 minutes or until hot, then for another 5 to brown the bread crumb mixture.

Why is my tuna casserole so dry? ›

Tuna casserole can become dry due to overbaking or using an insufficient amount of sauce.

Do you cook noodles before putting them in a casserole? ›

When making a casserole, especially one you plan to enjoy as leftovers, don't cook the pasta as you would for an unbaked pasta dish. If you do, the added cooking in the oven will make your noodles a mushy mess, resulting in a dish that is more discomforting than comforting.

How do you moisten leftover tuna casserole? ›

To maintain creaminess, add a splash of milk or chicken broth before reheating. This replenishes moisture and prevents the casserole from drying out.

What is the main ingredient in a casserole? ›

In the United States, a casserole or hot dish is typically a baked food with three main components: pieces of meat (such as chicken or ground meat) or fish (such as tuna) or other protein (such as beans or tofu), various chopped or canned vegetables (such as green beans or peas), and a starchy binder (such as flour, ...

What are the 4 parts of a casserole? ›

Not every single casserole has all of them, but as a rule of thumb, here's what to look for: a starch, a binding agent or sauce, and a protein or vegetable. Many casseroles also have both vegetables and proteins, as well as a crunchy element to give some textural contrast, and cheese.

How do you keep a casserole moist? ›

Pro Tip: Avoid Dry Casserole.

The best way to prevent it from drying out is to add a little bit of water, around ¼ cup, to the top of it. Allow the water to seep between the food and the sides of the baking dish. Cover with aluminum foil to seal in the moisture.

How do you thicken tuna casserole? ›

Make a cornstarch slurry for a fast and easy thickener.

Use one tablespoon of cornstarch per cup of liquid you would like to thicken. Stir out all the lumps. A few minutes before your casserole is done, add it a little at a time until you are happy with the thickness. Then, let the casserole finish baking.

How do you add moisture to a casserole? ›

Another moisturizing fix: Melt some butter and drizzle over the top; or season and warm some cream and use that to baste your dish. Finally, serve with a wedge of lemon or lime for squeezing, which can add some acidity balance in addition to a bright hit of flavor.

Is it better to cook casserole the day before or? ›

Putting a casserole together a day or so before baking ensures that everything is ready to go when dinner time rolls around. That means no rushing at the last minute. Along with greater convenience, making a casserole ahead of time also results in a richer, deeper taste.

Should I cook my noodles in the sauce? ›

First, in authentic Italian cuisine, the sauce is always tossed with the pasta before it ever hits the plate. Just before the sauce is done cooking, the hot pasta is added to the saucepan. Generally speaking, we recommend cooking the pasta in the sauce together for about 1-2 minutes.

Do you cook vegetables before putting in casserole? ›

Soft vegetables like broccoli can be quickly par-cooked (aka blanched). If you are using hard vegetables like potatoes or carrots or other hardy root vegetables, you'll want to par-cook for longer. Often a quick 2-5 minutes in the microwave will just give them that great head-start.

Can I eat tuna casserole that was left out overnight? ›

Keep Food out of the Danger Zone

Throw away all perishable foods that have been left in room temperature for more than 2 hours (1 hour if the temperature is over 90° F, such as at an outdoor picnic during summer).

How many days is tuna noodle casserole good for in the refrigerator? ›

Store your leftover tuna casserole in a shallow, airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. Reheat in the oven or in the microwave.

How long can tuna noodle casserole sit out? ›

The "2-hour rule" states that perishables left at room temperature for more than two hours should be discarded. If the food is being kept in an area that is 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32.2 degrees Celsius) or above, leftovers should be refrigerated to 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4.4 degrees Celsius) or below within one hour.

What does tuna pasta contain? ›

INGREDIENTS: Cooked Pasta [Water, Durum Wheat Semolina], Tuna (Fish) (13%), Cucumber, Sweetcorn, Low Fat Yogurt (Milk), Water, Rapeseed Oil, Crème Fraîche (Milk), Onion, Pepper, Red Wine Vinegar, Pasteurised Egg, Cornflour, Spirit Vinegar, Chives, Salt, Basil, White Wine Vinegar, Mustard Flour, Sugar, Egg Yolk, White ...

What are the main ingredients in canned tuna? ›

Finally, despite being canned, many brands of canned tuna are minimally processed, containing only tuna, water or oil, and salt. Some brands may also add seasonings or broth for extra flavor. Canned tuna is an inexpensive, low calorie source of protein and other important nutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids.

What are five basic components of most casseroles? ›

According to food blog High Heeled Homemaker, your basic casserole requires five ingredients: a protein, starch, vegetable, sauce, and cheese. If you have those five ingredients in your casserole dish, congratulations; you just made a casserole, whether it's a beloved recipe or a concoction of your own creation.

What are the ingredients in tuna chunks? ›

Ingredients
  • Tuna [Fish],
  • Water,
  • Salt.

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