She could have made this tuna casserole every night of the week and I wouldn't mind at all.
This one is Italian Style Tuna Noodle Casserole and one of the first meals I asked mom to teach me to make!
I always remember that creamy sauce, actually that was my favorite tasting part of the casserole, the sauce, and the noodles.
Mom always said this was good for me too so that was a bonus to eat more.
Such a great childhood memory and meal but as I had my own kids they weren't fond of warm tuna so I also have substituted cooked boneless chicken for those not seafood lovers or allergic also.
Now as an adult, I realize just how inexpensive it is and could feed a whole family for very little cost.
Those are the ones that etched in my mind through adulthood. Check out this one it is delightful!
If you don't like tuna add cooked chicken. This sauce base is fabulous, this is made from scratch and has no soup in it!
We also would love you to try the baked chicken cheesy pasta casserole and her delicious broccoli casserole recipes, two more of our favorites!
Scroll down for the printable recipe and don't forget you can make tuna or use chicken for this noodle casserole!
Mom's The Best
When mom hid foods we didn't like in something, we never knew it was in there.
She was the best in improvising meals to get us to eat well-balanced meals.
Mom loved to make a simple recipe and turn it into a gourmet meal, this one was it for me.
Mom made everything with love of course and from scratch.
This is by far the best tuna casserole you will ever eat or make!
Classic Vintage Recipe
This recipe is from the '50s or early 1960s.
My mom changed the classic recipe to her own style and everything in our home has garlic in it!
This basic sauce in this recipe can be changed, tweaked, and adapted to your own taste.
Tuna Noodle casserole is that homemade comfort food you either love or hate.
Mom's Italian Style Tuna Noodle Casserole Pin for later
The Sauce is Fabulous!
I loved the sauce and it's so versatile with adding meats to it.
Anything you add like chicken or beef turned into another delicious gourmet meal!
Tuna Was Inexpensive Then and Now
We grew up in the 1960s when money was tight and we were on a budget.
This fed the family on a meagerly amount of money and we all loved it.
Today it's down-home comfort food that my kids learn to love.
Although they love it more with sauteed chicken, tuna casserole is still my favorite in flavors.
Some Unique Flavors
The flavors in this were unique to the regular tuna casseroles I had in the past, they were terrible in the high school cafeteria.
They basically consisted of soup and noodles with tuna.
This one is so full of flavor, you can't help but ask for seconds.
If you want an easy Tuna noodle casserole one-pan meal, this is it!
Use Either Style Baking Dishes
I have made this meal so many times, we all love it and the ease of this delicious recipe.
You can use any style baking dish, round, square, rectangular, it doesn't matter.
Mom uses to melt butter in the baking dish before she poured the tuna casserole in the dish so it wouldn't stick, I use a cooking spray oil.
I just use the cooking spray to save calories.
Ingredients you will need to make Tuna Noodle Casserole
Scroll to the recipe card for exact measurements
- garlic finely chopped
- unsalted butter
- mushrooms
- Worcestershire sauce
- sherry
- all-purpose flour
- chicken broth
- whole milk evaporated milk or half and half
- tuna
- dried noodles (I like the wide ones like fettuccine) of course traditional style egg noodles is fine
- Italian flavored freshly made bread crumbs or use crushed Buttery flavored crackers (I used in this recipe)
- olive oil
- shredded sharp cheddar cheese or provolone
- Italian blended shredded cheese
- cayenne pepper, garlic powder
- salt and pepper to taste
Try some other delicious casserole dishes:
Roasted Potatoes with Sausage and Broccoli Rabe
Amaretto Sweet Potato Casserole
Broccoli and Cheese Casserole
Upstate Utica New York Greens Baked, Fried
Eggplant and Cheesy Casserole
Mexican Taco Casserole
Broccoli Chicken and Cheese Casserole
Baked Ziti Casserole
Marshmallow Yam Bake
Pure Comfort Food
I think everyone would agree that tuna noodle casserole is pure comfort food.
It really is pretty inexpensive to make and can feed a large family.
I have even substituted chicken and this dish comes out great with chicken also, if you have fussy non-fish lovers in the house.
I also add broccoli or spinach in it when making it a chicken casserole.
Mom's Italian Style Tuna Noodle Casserole
Yield: 6
prep time: 15 Mcook time: 30 Mtotal time: 45 M
This is the classic tuna noodle casserole made from scratch. This has no soup in it. All of the flavors come from homemade starting from scratch ingredients. A delicious sauce that will create a memory in everyone that eats this, it's fabulous!
ingredients:
- 2 cloves of fresh cleaned garlic finely chopped
- 4 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 10 oz mushrooms, trimmed and sliced 1/4 inch thick (4 cups)
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 cup sherry
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 2 cup whole milk, evaporated milk or half and half
- 1- 6 oz ( if you like lots of tuna use two cans) can tuna in olive oil, drained ( mom used baby shrimps when we had the extra money I always use 2 cans of tuna)
- 3 1/2 cups dried noodles (I like the wide ones like fettuccine) of course traditional style egg noodles is fine
- 1 1/2 cups Italian flavored freshly made bread crumbs or use crushed Buttery flavored crackers (I used in this recipe)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese or shredded provolone
- 1/2 cup shredded Italian blended cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon each of cayenne pepper, garlic powder
- salt and pepper to taste
instructions:
How to cook Mom's Italian Style Tuna Noodle Casserole
- Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 375°F.
- Prepare pan. Butter and oil spray the bottom of a shallow glass 13 x 9 baking dish.
- Cook garlic in 1 1/2 tablespoons butter with a pinch of salt in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately low heat, covered, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 2 minutes.
- Increase heat to moderately high and add mushrooms, then saute, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms begin to give off liquid, about 2 minutes.
- Add Worcestershire sauce and continue to saute mushrooms.
- Add sherry and boil, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat.
- Melt remaining 3 tablespoons butter in a 2- to 3-quart heavy saucepan over moderately low heat and whisk in flour, then cook roux, whisking, 3 minutes.
- Add broth in a stream, whisking, and bring to a boil, whisking. Add in milk and simmer sauce, whisking occasionally, 5 minutes.
- Stir in mushroom mixture, add seasonings and salt, pepper to taste. Flake tuna into the sauce and stir gently.
- Cook noodles in a 5- to 6-quart pot of boiling salted water until al dente. Drain noodles in a colander and return to pot.
- Add sauce, 1/2 cup shredded cheese, and stir gently to combine. Transfer mixture into prepared oil sprayed or buttered baking dish, spreading evenly.
- Toss together bread crumbs or crackers crumbs with more shredded cheddar cheese in a bowl. Drizzle with oil or melted butter and toss again, then sprinkle evenly over top of casserole.
- Bake until topping is crisp and sauce is bubbling 20 to 30 minutes.
- Optional: Garnish with shredded Pecorino Romano cheese.
Calories
275
275
Fat (grams)
18
18
Sat. Fat (grams)
9
9
Carbs (grams)
18
18
Net carbs
11
11
Sugar (grams)
9
9
Try One of Our Other Favorite Comfort Foods
Chicken and Dumplings
Baked Zucchini Casserole
Mom's Italian Style Tuna Noodle Casserole Pin for later
Disclosure: This recipe was originally shared in 2011. It was edited and re-published in 2019.
O Mama mai yes please come and comfort me with this creameness:)
ReplyDeleteWhat a tasty pasta, rich and flavorful. It looks very appetizing. Bye, have a great Sunday
ReplyDeleteDelicious! I would definitely be a 2 cans of tuna guy!
ReplyDeleteMoms always made it the best. But just remember, that will be your recipe to your kids!
My mom always put chopped pecans in tuna salad. (A Texas thing I guess)
Are you aware that when I view your site the first couple of comments at the bottom overlap other stuff. Yours is the only site I've had this problem with. Mystery. In any case, I have been reading some postings lately (and this is one of them) that have me thinking about a 40's and 50's cookbook. I love the sound of this.
ReplyDeleteLove this version Claudia - especially with the Fontina. Be sure to share this in Comfort Food Classics in CES. Have a great weekend and hope all is well! xo
ReplyDeleteAnytime a recipe name starts with mom's or grandma's (especially an Italian), I immediately pert up and this recipe re-confims my thinking. It sounds super delicious.
ReplyDeleteI love this! It sounds so tasty.
ReplyDeleteFunny you made this. I was just making a list of dishes I wanted to put my spin on and Tuna Noodle Casserole was one of them. Maybe I'll cross it off the list now.
ReplyDeleteOh, this sounds SO much better than the mushroom soup version that my hubby loves. I could eat his share of the mushrooms and we'd both be happy!!!
ReplyDeleteThis looks so delicious. I would love this for dinner tonight. One of my favorite dishes.
ReplyDeleteI love tuna noodle casserole and make it all the time only I make those versions from the 70s with spinach, florentine style. I look forward to trying yours. I'm sure it will taste better without the canned soup. I'm almost embarrassed to say that but hey there's something about comfort foods and childhood memories that are hard to shake.
ReplyDeletecasserole looks fabulous
ReplyDeleteThis is a lovely dish for sure, the best version I've ever seen.
ReplyDeleteThank You.
Sh Sh Sh Let the Baby Sleep
Trouble on Earth Day
Author Kathy Stemke (my spouse)
I adore comfort foods too - haven't had a tuna casserole in ages - looks deliciously cheesy!
ReplyDeleteHi Claudia, I love this recipe. Never once did I try or even think of adding sherry to a tuna noodle casserole. This is my son Red's favorite meal ever!! Next time he comes home I'm gonna make this for him.
ReplyDeleteHappy Sunday :)
Tuna casserole...I don't think I like it, but I think it's all in my head...I'm not even sure if I ever had it....I really need to try it.
ReplyDeleteGreat dish.
ReplyDeleteThis looks so delicious!!
ReplyDeleteI love hearty one dish meals and you have come up with another winner in that category. Thanks for sharing this tasty recipe Claudia!
ReplyDeleteWhat I love about your post best of all? You give mom credit. How sweet!
ReplyDeleteMake it a great day :)
I hate to admit this, but the last time I had a tuna casserole was when I was in college and it came from (gulp) Tuna Helper (AKA Hamburger Helper) I know! Horrible! But, thanks for sharing this recipe. I think I am going to make one from scratch this time! Yum!
ReplyDeleteGreat recipe from Mom!! This casserole sounds wonderful! I've never made it from scratch like this so you've inspired me to try!
ReplyDeleteLove the flavour of this pasta. Sounds terrific for dinner.
ReplyDeleteThanks again for sharing such wonderful recipe.
Kristy
Tuna noodle casserole never goes out of style, always a crowd pleaser! Making me want some right now!
ReplyDeleteI love a tuna pasta bake and this looks so creamy and comforting. I am craving it now!
ReplyDeleteYes Claudia, you hit the nail on the head. Comfort, comfort and more comfort food here! I love the addition of the mushrooms and garlic too. Extremely tasty combination of ingredients x
ReplyDeleteThis casserole sounds like the perfect meal for winter.
ReplyDeleteMoms always have the best comfort food recipes, and this tuna noodle casserole is no exception! Yum!
ReplyDeleteI would like to try this casserole for dinner. This is awesome! Yup this looks pretty darn perfect to me. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteMy mom made tuna noodle casserole as well and I loved it. Your recipe looks delicious and I like that there is no canned soup in it, its all from scratch!
ReplyDeleteYou know...I have never had a tuna noodle casserole (that I can remember). I'm sure this is the one to try though, all your recipes always remind me of how my mom and Italian grandmother cook :)
ReplyDeleteSome people get all pretentious when talking about dishes like Tuna Noodle casserole. Not me. I love it! Particularly when you make your own creamed sauce, as it is pretty much as easy as canned and tastes better.
ReplyDeleteThis is a down home comfort food indeed! Can't imagine anyone now loving it.
ReplyDeleteTuna noodle casserole is one of my son's favorite food. His grandma makes it for him all the time. Your recipe sounds better than hers, but I'm a little scared to compete. I might have to give it a try in secret. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great version of a casserole! Thanks for sharing this recipe!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds so heavenly. We love tuna in our home and my kids can eat tuna almost every day - no complains. This sounds delish
ReplyDeleteTuna casserole is such a classic dish. And Italians do used canned tuna for many dinner dishes. What better way to extend the food budget. I do like your mom's flavors - fondly remember our tuna dishes.
ReplyDeleteSuch a classic but I love the Italian twist! My Italian Mom would have too!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds terrific, esp. if you are craving some homemade pasta for the dinner!
ReplyDeleteThis looks so delicious and so much better than the tuna casserole recipe I found on the back of the soup can. Pinned.
ReplyDeleteI love a good tuna casserole and this is certainly a tasty one! The worcestershire sauce adds a yummy umami flavor to this dish!
ReplyDeleteI love a good tuna casserole and this one is it! The worcestershire sauce adds that extra umami flavor to this tasty dish!
ReplyDeleteProbably the best tuna noodle casserole I've ever had! The sherry really put it over the top.
ReplyDelete