Tuna noodle casserole is one of those dishes that people either grew up eating and genuinely love, or discovered later and wondered why it took so long. These 20 recipes cover the whole range, from classic baked versions to Instant Pot shortcuts, stovetop and skillet options, a spicy version, cheesy variations, and even a tuna melt casserole that takes the concept somewhere a little unexpected.
Jump to:
- What makes these recipes special?
- Top Tips
- EASY Tuna Noodle Casserole
- Instant Pot Tuna Casserole (no soup!)
- Tuna Mushroom Casserole
- Tuna Noodle Casserole
- Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe
- Tuna Casserole
- Instant Pot Tuna Casserole
- Spicy Tuna Noodle Casserole
- Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole
- Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole
- Best Tuna Melt Casserole
- Easy Cheesy Tuna Casserole 2 Ways
- Tuna Noodle Casserole + Video
- Stovetop Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe
- Healthy Tuna Casserole Recipe
- Instant Pot Tuna Noodle Casserole
- Old Fashioned Tuna Casserole
- Healthy Tuna Noodle Casserole
- Skillet Tuna Noodle Casserole
- Cheesy Tuna Noodle Casserole
- Comments
What keeps tuna noodle casserole relevant is how little effort it takes to get a hot, satisfying dinner on the table, and this collection shows how much room there is to make the dish your own. The Instant Pot Tuna Casserole (no soup!) is a good example of the kind of from-scratch thinking that makes an old recipe feel fresh.
There’s also a Spicy Tuna Noodle Casserole in here for anyone who’s always found the original a little too mild, and the Old Fashioned Tuna Casserole for anyone who just wants it exactly the way it used to be made.
What makes the recipes in this roundup special?
- The recipes were created by a real person—not generated by AI.
- The photos show the actual recipe, made and photographed in real life.
- The blog is run by a human being—not an AI avatar or bot-run site.
- The recipe is original and created by the blogger—not purchased or republished content.
- All recipes in this roundup have earned a star rating of 4 stars or higher from readers or reviewers.
Top Tips
- Drain the tuna really well. Extra liquid in the can goes straight into the casserole and makes it watery. Press it against the strainer or use a paper towel to get as much out as possible before mixing everything together.
- Don’t overcook the noodles before baking. They’ll continue cooking in the oven and absorb more liquid as the casserole bakes, so pulling them out a couple of minutes early keeps them from going mushy by the time the dish is done.
- Season in layers, not just at the end. Taste the filling before it goes in the dish and adjust salt, pepper, and any seasonings then, while you can still stir them in evenly. A flat-tasting casserole usually means seasoning only happened at the top.
- Use a crunchy topping and add it at the right time. Whether it’s breadcrumbs, crushed crackers, or panko, adding the topping in the last 10 to 15 minutes of baking keeps it crispy instead of soggy from too much time in the oven.
- Let it rest before serving. Five minutes out of the oven makes a real difference. It gives the filling time to set up a little, which means cleaner scoops and a casserole that holds its shape on the plate instead of sliding everywhere.
EASY Tuna Noodle Casserole
Quick, easy, and so good! You'll have dinner on the table with very little effort, and your entire family will thank you...and they will be asking for more!
Photo credit: The Salted Pepper
Instant Pot Tuna Casserole (no soup!)
The no-soup angle is what makes this Instant Pot version stand out from most tuna casserole recipes. A from-scratch approach in the pressure cooker that skips the condensed can entirely.
Photo credit: The Kitchen Girl
Tuna Mushroom Casserole
Mushroom gets featured alongside tuna in this casserole, making it a slightly earthier, more savory direction than the standard version. A good one for when the classic feels a little too plain.
Photo credit: CopyKat Recipes
Tuna Noodle Casserole
No extra angles here, just a solid tuna noodle casserole done well. A reliable go-to for nights when the classic version is exactly what’s needed.
Photo credit: Cooking With Curls
Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe
A tuna noodle casserole recipe with easy right there in the title, for the nights when the plan was always to keep things simple. Worth bookmarking as a steady weeknight option.
Photo credit: Simply Stacie
Tuna Casserole
A tuna casserole with a shorter, more open-ended title that invites curiosity about what’s actually in it. Worth clicking through to see how this version differs from the noodle-heavy classics.
Photo credit: Living Chirpy
Instant Pot Tuna Casserole
Pressure cooker tuna casserole skips the oven and gets dinner on the table faster. A good option for the nights when waiting 45 minutes for a baked dish isn’t in the cards.
Photo credit: Mae’s Menu
Spicy Tuna Noodle Casserole
A spicy tuna noodle casserole is a direction most people haven’t tried, which is exactly what makes it interesting. If the classic version has always felt a little too mild, this one’s worth checking out.
Photo credit: The Wholesome Spoon
Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole
Another solid easy tuna noodle casserole worth comparing against others in this collection. A reliable weeknight dinner when casserole is the plan and complicated isn’t.
Photo credit: I Heart Eating
Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole
An easy tuna noodle casserole that earns the description without cutting corners on the result. A clean, no-fuss version worth having in the rotation.
Photo credit: A Cedar Spoon
Best Tuna Melt Casserole
Taking the tuna melt and turning it into a full casserole is an idea that makes a lot of sense once you see it. A baked dinner built on the flavors of one of the most satisfying sandwiches around.
Photo credit: Noshing With The Nolands
Easy Cheesy Tuna Casserole 2 Ways
Two versions of cheesy tuna casserole in one recipe is a genuinely useful approach if the household is divided on the details. A cheesy, flexible casserole with two roads to the same destination.
Photo credit: Recipes From A Pantry
Tuna Noodle Casserole + Video
A video walkthrough alongside the recipe makes this tuna noodle casserole easier to follow for anyone who’s not sure what the right consistency should look like at each stage. A classic version with visual guidance built in.
Photo credit: The Slow Roasted Italian
Stovetop Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe
Keeping the whole casserole on the stovetop skips the oven and makes this a much faster dinner than the baked versions. A skillet approach that still delivers the same basic result without the wait.
Photo credit: Pumpkinn Spice
Healthy Tuna Casserole Recipe
A healthier take on tuna casserole that still reads like a casserole rather than a compromise. Worth checking out for the nights when the classic version feels a little heavy.
Photo credit: The Honour System
Instant Pot Tuna Noodle Casserole
A full tuna noodle casserole made in the Instant Pot, noodles and all. A quicker path to a dinner that usually takes much longer to get from pantry to table.
Photo credit: The Cookin Chicks
Old Fashioned Tuna Casserole
Old fashioned means this one isn’t trying to update anything or swap ingredients out for something lighter. A throwback version for anyone who just wants tuna casserole the way it used to be made.
Photo credit: It Is A Keeper
Healthy Tuna Noodle Casserole
A lighter tuna noodle casserole that keeps the noodles and the tuna without the heaviness. A version that doesn’t feel like a diet substitution so much as a cleaner approach to the same dish.
Photo credit: Skinny Fitalicious
Skillet Tuna Noodle Casserole
The skillet version keeps everything on the stovetop and cuts out the oven step entirely. Faster than a baked casserole and just as satisfying when dinner needs to happen quickly.
Photo credit: The Kitchen Girl
Cheesy Tuna Noodle Casserole
Leaning hard into the cheese is a direction that takes tuna noodle casserole somewhere richer and more indulgent than the standard version. A good pick for when the classic just isn’t quite enough.
Photo credit: CopyKat Recipes
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