Healthy Tuna Casserole Recipe

This Healthy Tuna Casserole recipe is a classic dish that the whole family loves. Featuring a rich and creamy sauce, tender pasta, and a cheesy topping, you can’t go wrong. It is easy to make and even easier to eat!

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Easy bakes like this Healthy Tuna Casserole are perfect for weeknight dinners. For more yummy tuna recipes try this Tuna Avocado Salad or these Zucchini Tuna Melts! Check out all of our Healthy Dinner Recipes for more inspiration.

Why YOU will love this recipe

• It is made with wholesome ingredients. There are no canned soups, panko breadcrumbs, or potato chips here.
• This recipe is easy to customize to accommodate different tastes.
• Tuna is a high-quality yet affordable protein making this dish a budget-friendly one.
• Who doesn’t love healthier comfort food? The cheesy, creamy flavor is always welcome and this dish is really nostalgic.

Ingredients

Find the full ingredient list, with measurements, in the recipe card below.

• pasta – Elbows are the traditional choice for tuna casserole but you can substitute egg noodles, fusilli, rotini, or penne pasta. After putting it to the test, we chose spelt pasta as our fave.
• cream cheese – This brings that creamy texture instead of the canned soup.
• mayonnaise – We use our homemade lemon mayonnaise. 
• shredded cheese – We like to use marble cheddar cheese and recommend shredding your own. The pre-shredded products can contain additives. Parmesan cheese is also delicious with tuna.
• garlic powder – To add a bit of kick to the creamy sauce.
• fine sea salt + black pepper – Essential seasonings to bring out the flavors in your recipe.
• canned tuna – We use a pole and line caught tuna which is a sustainable fishing method. We generally choose albacore tuna – drawing from my experience its tender texture is perfect for casseroles.
• spinach – This adds a pop of green to the dish. Typically, tuna casserole is made with frozen peas which you can substitute instead of spinach if you prefer. Use one cup of frozen peas. Chopped kale is also a great substitute.

Equipment

• saucepan – For cooking the pasta.
• mixing bowl and small spatula for stirring.
• baking dish – We use an 8×11 ceramic casserole dish for this recipe.

Instructions

Scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom for the FULL recipe details.

Step 1

Start by preheating the oven to 375° and lightly greasing the casserole dish.

Step 2

Next, boil a large pot of salted water and cook the pasta according to the package directions.

Step 3

Meanwhile, while the pasta is cooking, add the softened cream cheese, mayo, shredded cheese, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to a mixing bowl. 

Stir everything well to combine the mixture.

Step 4

Once the pasta is cooked to al dente, remove it from the heat and drain the water.

Step 5

Pour the hot pasta into the bowl with the cream cheese mixture and stir it well. The heat from the pasta creates a lovely, creamy sauce.

Step 6

Next, add the can of drained tuna to the bowl and stir again. 

Lastly, stir in the spinach.

The warm pasta will slightly wilt the spinach so there is no need to cook it beforehand.  

Step 7

Next, pour the mixture into the prepared casserole dish.

Spread it out evenly and then cover it with the rest of the shredded cheese.

Step 8

Finally, place the casserole dish in the oven and bake for 15 minutes.

If you like a crispier, browned top, turn on the broiler and broil the casserole for 2-3 minutes. Just be sure to keep an eye on it so nothing burns!

It should look like this:

Expert tip 

Be sure to liberally salt the pasta water before cooking.

As the pasta cooks it absorbs some of the salt which results in seasoned and flavorful noodles.

Recipe variations

• Bump up the nutrition by adding more vegetables such as mushrooms and broccoli.
• Experiment with different pasta such as whole wheat or gluten-free pasta if you have allergy concerns.
• Substitute cauliflower rice instead of pasta for a low-carb option.
• Switch up the protein and use cooked chicken instead.
• If you like a bit more crunch for the topping mix in some breadcrumbs or ground flaxseed with the cheese. Try making your own bread crumbs for optimum freshness.

Serving suggestions

• Serve this dish with a green side salad with a few cherry tomatoes and cucumber slices all tossed together in a simple balsamic dressing.
• Garnish the plate with lemon wedges and brighten the taste by squeezing a splash of fresh lemon juice over the casserole.
• Add more color and nutrition with a side of steamed or roasted veggies.
• Sprinkle chopped fresh herbs like parsley, dill, or chives over the casserole just before serving to add a pop of freshness and color.

FAQS

Storage tips

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. These will easily be reheated in the oven or microwave.

More healthy casserole recipes

If you’ve tried our Healthy Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe, please rate it and let us know how it turned out by leaving us a comment below. We’re always interested in feedback!

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