All recipes

Lighter Tuna Bow-Tie Casserole

This lighter tuna noodle casserole combines whole-grain bow-tie pasta, tender mushrooms and colorful vegetables with creamy light Alfredo sauce, sour cream, Parmesan, dill and flaky tuna. A whole-wheat panko topping adds a crisp finish, while lemon wedges brighten each serving. It makes a comforting family dinner with more vegetables than the classic version.

  • Prep20 mins
  • Cook50 mins
  • Serves4
  • DifficultyMedium
Lighter Tuna Bow-Tie Casserole

easyChef Pro health score

Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Lighter Tuna Bow-Tie Casserole, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.

54 Health Score
Glycemic ImpactFair
60 / 100
Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
Nutritional DensityPoor
16 / 100
Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
Energy DensityGood
90 / 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.

32
Heart Health
90
Metabolic
56
Digestive
28
Inflammatory
45
Performance
57
General Wellness
  1. 1

    Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Coat a 2-quart baking dish with nonstick spray.

  2. 2

    Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook bow-tie pasta, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 12 minutes. Drain and set aside.

  3. 3

    Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add mushrooms, onion, celery, bell pepper, and carrot; cook until vegetables are tender, about 8 minutes.

  4. 4

    Whisk together Alfredo sauce, sour cream, Parmesan, dill, and black pepper in a large bowl. Stir in cooked pasta, vegetables, and tuna until combined. Transfer to the prepared dish. In a small bowl, stir together panko and Parmesan; sprinkle over the casserole. Lightly coat with nonstick spray.

  5. 5

    Bake in the preheated oven, uncovered, until browned and bubbly, about 25 minutes. Serve with lemon wedges.

About This Recipe

Lighter Tuna Bow Tie Casserole is made with 20 ingredients and serves 4. It takes about 1 hr 10 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Alfredo Sauce, Black Pepper, Canned Tuna, and Canned Tuna in Water. Each serving provides about 677.73 kcal, and is a good source of protein.

Recipe Questions

What is Lighter Tuna Bow-Tie Casserole made of?
The main ingredients are Alfredo Sauce, Black Pepper, Canned Tuna, Canned Tuna in Water, Carrot. The full list of 20 is above.
How long does it take to make Lighter Tuna Bow-Tie Casserole?
About 1 hr 10 mins in total: 20 mins to prepare and 50 mins to cook.
How many calories are in one serving?
One serving provides about 677.73 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
Is Lighter Tuna Bow-Tie Casserole easy to make?
This recipe is rated medium, with 20 ingredients and 5 steps.
Is Lighter Tuna Bow-Tie Casserole healthy?
Lighter Tuna Bow-Tie Casserole has an easyChef Pro health score of 54/100. Per serving, it provides 677.73 calories and 30.57 g of protein, or 61% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of dietary fiber, calcium, iron, potassium and vitamin C. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 771.58 mg (34% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 7.15 g (36% of the Daily Value). It contains Citrus, Fish, Milk, Wheat, Gluten, Celery 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.

How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products

easyChef Pro analyzes up to 41 nutrients using data sourced from USDA and other verified food databases. Its scoring method uses the nutrients relevant to nutrition quality, calorie density, processing level, and your selected health goal. Recipes and food products get a health score from 0 to 100, calculated using consistent rules instead of being estimated by AI. The same nutrition data, serving size and health goal will produce the same result.

The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.

Your health goal also matters. easyChef Pro evaluates recipes and products across six health areas and adjusts their importance for your selected goal. This means the same food may be a better fit for one health goal than another.

For recipes, changing an ingredient, quantity or serving size changes the nutrition and may change the score. Remix the recipe in easyChef Pro to calculate fresh nutrition and scores for the version you actually make. Product scores are based on the nutrition and serving information associated with that specific product.

Score a recipe free, no app required

Learn More