Tuna Noodle Casserole
Okay... I know what you're thinking but, this is a kinda-gourmet recipe that I've developed for Tuna Noodle Casserole. It's a great, inexpensive meal that gives us leftovers and it totally fits in the comfort food category. It's made from scratch (no cream of mushroom soup here!) and seasoned to perfection. I know it looks like a lot of ingredients, but it's really a fast and easy recipe and it's really yummy. This is a great thing to make with kids. Poppy loves to help and it makes her motivation to eat it (and try new things) much higher!
Ingredients:
1 onion, chopped
3-4 stalks celery, sliced
1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated or shredded
5 cups of pasta (penne or other similar pasta)
3 cups cheddar cheese, grated
2 cloves garlic, minced*
2 cans chunk light tuna, drained (lower in mercury than albacore)
1/4 cup Italian bread crumbs
2 cups low fat milk
1/2 stick butter
3 Tablespoons flour
1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
1/4-1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (depending on how much heat you like)
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried parsley
pinch of nutmeg
1 onion, chopped
3-4 stalks celery, sliced
1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated or shredded
5 cups of pasta (penne or other similar pasta)
3 cups cheddar cheese, grated
2 cloves garlic, minced*
2 cans chunk light tuna, drained (lower in mercury than albacore)
1/4 cup Italian bread crumbs
2 cups low fat milk
1/2 stick butter
3 Tablespoons flour
1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
1/4-1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (depending on how much heat you like)
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried parsley
pinch of nutmeg
Directions:
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until just al dente (usually less than the amount of time recommended on the package). Drain the pasta and return it to the large pot.
Meanwhile, heat up the olive oil in a pan over medium heat and saute the onion (with the bay leaf) until the onion is soft and just beginning to brown, then add in the celery and garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes. Discard the bay leaf. Add the onions, celery, garlic and tuna to the pasta and toss it all together gently.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
In a small saucepan melt the butter, then add the flour. Whisk together until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Add in the milk and whisk over medium-low heat until the mixture thickens into a creamy sauce (usually about 5 minutes), remove from heat. Then, add in all of the seasonings and half of the cheddar cheese and stir it together until the cheese is all melted. Pour the cheese sauce over the pasta mixture and mix gently until it's all incorporated.
Pour the whole mixture into a 9 by 13 inch baking dish. Sprinkle the top with the remaining cheddar cheese, parmesan and a healthy dusting of the bread crumbs before placing it in the oven. Bake for 20 minutes and then broil for 5-10 minutes to get the top golden and crispy.
Enjoy!!!
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until just al dente (usually less than the amount of time recommended on the package). Drain the pasta and return it to the large pot.
Meanwhile, heat up the olive oil in a pan over medium heat and saute the onion (with the bay leaf) until the onion is soft and just beginning to brown, then add in the celery and garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes. Discard the bay leaf. Add the onions, celery, garlic and tuna to the pasta and toss it all together gently.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
In a small saucepan melt the butter, then add the flour. Whisk together until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Add in the milk and whisk over medium-low heat until the mixture thickens into a creamy sauce (usually about 5 minutes), remove from heat. Then, add in all of the seasonings and half of the cheddar cheese and stir it together until the cheese is all melted. Pour the cheese sauce over the pasta mixture and mix gently until it's all incorporated.
Pour the whole mixture into a 9 by 13 inch baking dish. Sprinkle the top with the remaining cheddar cheese, parmesan and a healthy dusting of the bread crumbs before placing it in the oven. Bake for 20 minutes and then broil for 5-10 minutes to get the top golden and crispy.
Enjoy!!!
* I cook with garlic all the time and go through a head of garlic (at least) each week. To save the time and keep my hands from always smelling like garlic, I mince up batches (one head of garlic at a time) in our mini Cuisinart, transfer it to a small sealable container and add a nice coating of olive oil. I keep the pre-minced garlic in the fridge for the week and it stays nice and fresh and is easy to use.
Downloadable PDF:
4 comments:
Yum! I can't wait to try this recipe!
Thanks Kacie!
Great garlic tip, thanks Kacie! I'm also a big fan of the pre-peeled, packaged cloves at Trader Joe's (of course!) I'm lazy, so I just crush it... Bring on the comfort food!
PS Glad your sous chef was there to supervise. :)
Sara... let me know what you think!
Jen... I know... garlic is a pain in the ass to mince up every time but I refuse to buy the prechopped stuff because they add a bunch of preservatives. Doing it this way is super easy and it doesn't have that weird taste that the jarred kind has!
Will do--I think I'll make it this weekend! Where is your new house? Did everything work out?? That is so exciting--now you can go into proper nesting mode! Miss you guys!
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