Tuna Casserole with Peas
Pasta, tinned tuna, peas and a creamy mushroom sauce topped with breadcrumbs and cooked for 35 minutes. Four servings in 50 minutes.
Photograph credit: Tuna casserole by goblinbox_(queen_of_ad_hoc_bento) · CC BY 2.0 · Flickr
Before You Start
Undercook the pasta slightly.
Keep the sauce loose.
If your oven runs hot, check at 28 minutes.
Fold in the tuna gently.
Cooking Tuna Casserole with Peas
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Heat the oven to 190°C / 375°F. Boil the macaroni for 2 minutes less than the packet says, then drain.
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Melt the butter, fry the mushrooms for 5 minutes, stir in the flour for 1 minute, then whisk in the milk, mustard and salt. Simmer for 5 minutes.
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Fold in the macaroni, tuna and peas and tip into a baking dish.
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Scatter with the cheddar and breadcrumbs and cook for 35 minutes, until golden.
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Stand for 5 minutes.
What's Going On Here
Why does a tuna casserole so often come out dry? The pasta keeps drinking sauce as it cooks, and by the time it is done there is nothing left to coat it.
Cook the pasta for 2 minutes less than the packet says, since it carries on softening in the oven. Make the sauce looser than you think it should be: it should pour easily.
The sauce is butter, flour, milk and sliced mushrooms, with a little mustard for bite. Fold in the tuna and peas gently at the end, so the fish stays in chunks and does not turn to paste.
Top with breadcrumbs and grated cheddar. Cook at 190°C for 35 minutes until the crumbs are golden and the edges bubble. If your oven runs hot, check at 28 minutes. Let it stand for 5 minutes before serving. Choose tuna in oil or spring water, drained well, and avoid anything with brine, which adds more salt than the sauce needs.
Leftovers, Reheating and Keeping
Keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat with a splash of milk.
Serving Tuna Casserole with Peas
- Green salad
- Garlic bread
- Steamed broccoli
- Tomato salad
Questions and Answers
How long does Tuna Casserole with Peas take to make?
About 50 minutes in total — 15 minutes of preparation and 35 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 4.
What are the key tips for making Tuna Casserole with Peas?
Undercook the pasta slightly. Keep the sauce loose. If your oven runs hot, check at 28 minutes. Fold in the tuna gently.
What should I serve with Tuna Casserole with Peas?
Green salad; Garlic bread; Steamed broccoli; Tomato salad.
How should Tuna Casserole with Peas be stored?
Keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat with a splash of milk.
Is Tuna Casserole with Peas suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is low-carb, keto and no added sugar. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
Nutrition per Serving
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
Reader Reviews
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Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.
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