Chef John's Tuna Noodle Casserole
This comforting bake pairs tender egg noodles with a rich white Cheddar sauce, briny tuna, and sweet pops of peas, all finished with a golden, crunchy breadcrumb-Parmesan topping. Chef John's Tuna Noodle Casserole is hearty and nostalgic, perfect for a cozy family dinner or a potluck where classic flavors shine.
- Prep15 mins
- Cook55 mins
- Serves8
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Chef John's Tuna Noodle Casserole, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 48 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 3 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityFair
- 57 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 23
- Heart Health
- 60
- Metabolic
- 23
- Digestive
- 21
- Inflammatory
- 39
- Performance
- 32
- General Wellness
- 1
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly butter a 9x13-inch casserole dish.
- 2
Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Sauté onion with 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt until it begins to soften and turn translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the flour and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes, lowering the heat if needed.
- 3
Pour in cold milk and whisk for 1 minute. Increase the heat to medium-high and cook, stirring often, until the sauce thickens and reaches a simmer. Remove from the heat, whisk in Cheddar cheese, and set aside until needed.
- 4
Fill a large pot with water and the remaining salt and bring to a rapid boil. Cook egg noodles for 5 minutes. Drain well and transfer to a large mixing bowl. Stir in the reserved sauce, then add tuna, peas, cayenne, black pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. Mix with a spatula until evenly combined.
- 5
Pour the mixture into the prepared dish. In a small bowl, mix bread crumbs, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, and olive oil until combined and the texture resembles wet sand. Sprinkle evenly over the casserole.
- 6
Bake in the center of the preheated oven until browned and bubbly, about 30 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes before cutting and serving.
- Calories 470.09 kcal High 24%
- Protein 26.59 g Good Source 53%
- Carbohydrate 48.62 g 18%
- Total Fat 18.11 g High 23%
- Saturated Fat 8.17 g High 41%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 91.38 mg High 30%
- Sodium 452.26 mg Moderate 20%
- Dietary Fiber 2.57 g Low Source 9%
- Total Sugars 9.12 g --
- Added Sugars 0.25 g Low Source 1%
- Calcium 425.33 mg Good Source 33%
- Iron 2.66 mg Moderate 15%
- Potassium 492.09 mg Moderate 10%
- Vitamin A 122.78 mcg Moderate 14%
- Vitamin C 4.7 mg Low Source 5%
- Vitamin D 2.04 mcg Moderate 10%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Fish 🐟
- Eggs 🥚
- Milk 🥛
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Chef John's Tuna Noodle Casserole is made with 15 ingredients and serves 8. It takes about 1 hr 10 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include All Purpose Flour, Black Pepper, Bread Crumbs, and Butter. Each serving provides about 470.09 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Chef John's Tuna Noodle Casserole made of?
- The main ingredients are All-Purpose Flour, Black Pepper, Bread Crumbs, Butter, Canned Tuna in Oil. The full list of 15 is above.
- How long does it take to make Chef John's Tuna Noodle Casserole?
- About 1 hr 10 mins in total: 15 mins to prepare and 55 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 470.09 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Chef John's Tuna Noodle Casserole easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 15 ingredients and 6 steps.
- Is Chef John's Tuna Noodle Casserole healthy?
- Chef John's Tuna Noodle Casserole has an easyChef Pro health score of 36/100. Per serving, it provides 470.09 calories and 26.59 g of protein, or 53% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of calcium. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 452.26 mg (20% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 8.17 g (41% of the Daily Value). It contains Fish, Eggs, Milk, Wheat, Gluten and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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