You can't go wrong with a classic. Mac and cheese, tuna, mushroom soup, more cheese, and a crunchy breadcrumb topping. Show
ingredients1 box (14 ounce size) macaroni and cheese mix, plus milk and butter called for on package directionsPreheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare the macaroni and cheese as directed on the package. Stir the tuna, mushroom soup, additional milk, and half of the Cheddar cheese into the pasta mixture. Mix well. Spoon the pasta into a casserole dish. Combine the remaining Cheddar with the bread crumbs. Evenly sprinkle the crumb mixture over the top of the casserole. Place the casserole in the oven and bake at 350 degrees F for 15-20 minutes or until the crumb mixture is lightly browned and the pasta is bubbly. Serve hot. nutrition data for good ole macaroni tuna casserole467 calories, 35 grams fat, 11 grams carbohydrates, 28 grams protein per serving. This recipe is low in carbs. This Tuna Mac and Cheese is packed with a creamy cheese sauce made with sharp cheddar and gruyere, the pasta shape of your choice, and canned tuna fish for an extra punch of protein! It's the ultimate comfort food any time of year and the perfect (and more delicious) alternative to tuna noodle casserole.
I'm going to be totally honest... I've never been a fan of tuna noodle casserole. I think it's mainly because of the canned cream of mushroom soup in it, which has never been my favorite ingredient. But I love tuna fish and I love noodles, so I decided to create my own version of tuna noodle casserole... Tuna Mac and Cheese! It doesn't involve any cream of anything soup, but does involve two kinds of cheese- sharp cheddar and gruyere. Plus, pasta, onions and garlic, canned tuna fish, and a crispy panko topping. This is one tuna pasta dish that I could eat any time! ❤️ Why you'll love this recipeIf you love mac and cheese and you love tuna fish, then this will be a dream combination for you! In my mind, it's kind of like a tuna melt.... Perfectly cheesy and delicious with a buttery and crispy topping! It's also incredibly easy to make as it's a pretty basic mac and cheese recipe, with canned tuna stirred into it. Tuna mac and cheese makes great leftovers and can even be frozen if you're looking to stock up on delicious freezer meals. 🗒 IngredientsYou don't need anything fancy to make tuna mac and cheese and you may currently have all the ingredients in your kitchen! You can also feel free to swap out any of the cheeses for your own favorites. Here's what you need (see recipe card at bottom of post for ingredient amounts and full instructions):
👩🍳 How to make tuna mac and cheeseIf you've ever made homemade mac and cheese before, this recipe will be very familiar to you. And if you haven't, you'll learn how easy it is to make your own mac and cheese at home! To start, you'll want to preheat your oven to 400 degrees and lightly butter or oil a 9x13 baking dish. I like to boil and drain my pasta before doing anything else because then I can re-use the pot for the rest of the cooking and dirty fewer dishes. I use the time the pasta is boiling to chop the onion and garlic and to grate the cheese. So, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add pasta and boil until al dente. When it's done cooking, drain the pasta and keep in colander so you can use pot for the cheese sauce. Now, melt the butter in the pot you cooked the pasta in over medium heat. Once melted, pour 2 Tbsp into a medium bowl and set aside (this will be for the panko topping). Add onion to butter and cook for about 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook for another minute. Now you'll make the roux, which is essential to any great mac and cheese! Add flour to the butter and onions in the pot and whisk for a minute, without letting flour darken. Now, slowly whisk in the milk and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, before reducing heat to medium-low and letting simmer for 2-3 minutes to thicken a bit. Remove saucepan from the heat and add in both cheeses, paprika, dried parsley, 1 ½ tsp salt, and pepper. So much deliciousness! Whisk until sauce is nice and smooth. Now add the pasta and tuna to pot with cheese sauce. Make sure tuna is gently flaked. Of course, you can leave the tuna out if you want and this will still be a delicious dinner! I'll eat mac and cheese sans extra protein any day of the week. But the tuna turns a pretty standard dish into something extra special. Toss to combine pasts with the cheese sauce and tuna. Honestly, you could eat the tuna mac and cheese right out of the pot like this. I'd be happy to do so. But it's even better when baked with a nice and crispy topping! First, add panko and remaining ¼ tsp salt to bowl with that remaining melted butter and toss to coat. Transfer macaroni mixture into the prepared baking dish and top with buttered panko. Bake for 20-25 minutes, uncovered, until until panko browns and gets crispy. I love a crispy panko topping on mac and cheese! Remove dish from oven and sprinkle with chopped parsley... And serve tuna mac and cheese piping hot. This is my kind of comfort food! Not only is it deliciously cheesy and creamy, but the tuna adds a lot of great protein and omega-3 fatty acids. This is also a great dish for anyone who likes canned tuna, but isn't a fan of mayonnaise and is looking for alternative ways to enjoy the fish. 💡Tips for makingThis tuna mac and cheese recipe is super easy to make, but I have a few tips that can help ensure it's extra delicious every time!
🧀 What other cheese can I use?You can really use any cheese you want for this mac and cheese! I do recommend sharp, bold cheese for an extra boost of flavor. That's why I love sharp cheddar and gruyere. But Monterey Jack, fontina, gouda, and parmesan would also work well. Use whatever you like best! ⏲ How to store leftoversThis recipe makes a lot of mac and cheese, so chances are you'll have leftovers! Be sure to let them cool completely and then store in airtight containers in the fridge. Leftovers should stay fresh for 3-4 days when stored properly. You can reheat in the microwave or the oven. 🥶 How to freezeI always think baked mac and cheese is best when eaten fresh, but you can also freeze any leftovers if you don't plan to eat them within 3-4 days. Again, make sure to let the mac and cheese cool completely. Then transfer leftovers to freezer safe airtight containers or plastic bags. You can re-heat in the microwave or oven (I recommend thawing first, but you don't have to). 🍴 More mac and cheese recipesMac and cheese is my favorite kind of comfort food and I could happily eat it every single week... Especially considering there are so many variations of it! Here are some of my favorite recipes:
If you've been craving mac and cheese and want to add a little protein boost with tuna fish, I hope you'll try my tuna mac and cheese! All that sharp and delicious cheese is a lot more delicious than cream of mushroom soup in my book! While this comfort food is awesome on a cold day, it's really the kind of dinner you can enjoy any time of the year.
Mention @wearenotmartha and share a photo if you've made the recipe! What are the ingredients in a tuna casserole?Ingredients. 1 (12 ounce) package egg noodles. Great Value Medium Egg Noodles, 16 oz.. 2 (10.5 ounce) cans condensed cream of mushroom soup.. 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese, divided.. 2 (5 ounce) cans tuna, drained.. 1 cup frozen green peas.. ½ (4.5 ounce) can sliced mushrooms.. ¼ cup chopped onion.. 1 cup crushed potato chips.. Why is my tuna casserole dry?There are a few reasons why your tuna casserole comes out too dry: There is not enough liquid in the mix and the noodles suck it all up. You might be using a baking dish that is too large for the amount of casserole you have. You didn't cover the baking dish with foil for the first 35-45 minutes of baking.
Do you put crackers in tuna casserole?Mix together the crushed ritz crackers and melted butter. Sprinkle over the casserole. Bake at 350˚F for 25-30 minutes, until bubbly and heated through.
Do you eat tuna casserole hot or cold?This creamy tuna noodle casserole is not your Grandma's casserole. It's better! Served hot or cold, it's an easy dinner the whole family looks forward to that can also serves a crowd.
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