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Black casserole dish containing a cooked Cheese Macaroni Tuna Casserole topped with green peas and fresh parsley.
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5 from 13 votes

Creamy Tuna Noodle Casserole

This tuna noodle casserole recipe is a classic comfort food that is easy to make and is perfect for any weeknight meal! With only 20 minutes to prep, this one dish meal is a reliable classic that will leave everyone wanting more of that rich and creamy flavor in every bite!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course: Main Dishes
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 164kcal
Author: Amanda Mason

Ingredients

  • 1 box Velveeta Shells and Cheese
  • 1 can tuna, in water
  • ½ cup frozen peas
  • 2 Tablespoons finely chopped onion
  • 1 Tablespoon mayonnaise
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 Tablespoon fresh chopped parsley, optional

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350*F.
  • Start by chopping ¼ of an onion until you have about 2 Tablespoons of finely chopped onions. Set aside.
  • Cook the box of macaroni and cheese according to package instructions. Once done, drain the water and place the cooked macaroni noodles in a large mixing bowl.
  • Add the Velveeta cheese sauce to the cooked noodles. Stir with a large spoon until well combined.
  • Next, open a can of tuna and drain the water. Add the drained tuna to the bowl of macaroni and cheese and then add in the chopped onion, frozen green peas, and mayonnaise.
  • Stir until all the ingredients are well combined. Add in a dash of salt and pepper to taste. Pour the casserole mixture into an oven safe casserole dish and cover with a lid or with aluminum foil.
  • Cook for 20 minutes and then remove from the oven once done. Allow it to cool for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • You'll get the best results by using frozen peas instead of a can of peas. 
  • You can also add corn, carrots, asparagus, or even small broccoli florets.
  • This dish can be made 1-2 days ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator until it's ready to be baked.
  • If baking directly from the refrigerator, add 10 minutes to the bake time.
  • Velveeta or Kraft Deluxe creamy cheese packets work the best this tuna fish casserole.
  • Get creative with your noodles! The velveeta cheese sauce is sold in individual packets so you can use any type of pasta you want.
  • To add a crust, top the casserole with 1 cup of coarsely crushed potato chips. Or crumble a sleeve of ritz crackers with melted butter and broil on high in the oven until the topping is a golden brown.
  • To lock in the moisture, cover the dish with either a lid or aluminum foil while it bakes.
  • Store any leftovers in a container with a lid in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 164kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 347mg | Potassium: 148mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 110IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 58mg | Iron: 1mg