Delicious, creamy and made healthier with a few ingredient swaps, this Lightened Up Cheesy Tuna Noodle Casserole has all the flavors you loved from when you were a kid!
Craving Seafood? Try these Grilled Shrimp Tacos They’re delicious and super easy to prepare.
I interrupt these St. Paddy’s day recipes to bring you something nostalgic. To remind you of your childhood and bring back some delicious or not so delicious memories. This Lightened Up Cheesy Tuna Noodle Casserole will not bring back sour memories of the tuna casseroles your grandmother use to serve you. This one is cheesy, creamy and ultra tasty!
I don’t post seafood recipes too often on the blog and the truth is, we don’t eat it that much. To be honest, I’m not really sure why. We don’t LOVE seafood but shrimp, tilapia and tuna are some of the seafood we do enjoy. I wanted to give you guys more options as I know some of you cannot eat meat, on Friday, during Lent so I wanted to create a recipe that’s delicious, easy and something you can enjoy. BTW, I have heard the Cardinal has pardoned you from enjoying meat on St. Patrick’s Day so bring on the Slow Cooker Corned Beef.
I’ve loved tuna since I was little. Tuna salad sandwiches are something my mom would make me regularly for lunch and I still enjoy them to this day. She would also make tuna noodle casserole but I don’t recall it having cheese. If you know one thing about me, you know I live and breathe cheese. I’d make a meal out of a cheese tray in a heartbeat.
I have a foodie bucket list (what, don’t you?) which includes cooking lobster. We had some delicious grilled lobster on a trip to Mexico one year and I’ve always said I’d like to try to make it at home. It’s so intimidating to me but you’ll never know how something is until you really dive into it, immaright?
As for this Lightened Up Cheesy Tuna Noodle Casserole, it couldn’t be easier and more delicious. I found the recipe in a BHG magazine but changed the recipe significantly so I could scale back the calories, fat and sodium. I mean it’s time for me to jump back on the bandwagon of my healthier lifestyle as the warmer weather is approaching.
My husband ate 2 servings, my daughter devoured hers and as soon as we told my son it was chicken, he gobbled his up too. Yeah, I know, parenting of the year but a this moment in our lives, it takes all efforts to get our son to eat. He loves chicken and pork so that is what we go with.
What I also love about this Lightened Up Cheesy Tuna Noodle Casserole, it’s freezable, so you could make it and freeze it for later or take it to someone you know who is expecting as a casserole they can bake for when baby arrives.
And I’m always curious, as this little blog of mine grows. What would you like to see more of? Seafood, freezer meals, slow cooker, grilling? You name it, I’m on it. I love to give my readers what they are looking for so all suggestions are always welcome. As for this Lightened Up Cheesy Tuna Noodle Casserole, do make it soon. Tomorrow even. After all it will be Friday and if you follow Lenten, you’ll be able to enjoy this dish!
Lightened Up Cheesy Tuna Noodle Casserole
Prep
Cook
Total
Yield 6 1 cup servings
Delicious, creamy and made healthier with a few ingredient swaps, this Lightened Up Cheesy Tuna Noodle Casserole has all the flavors you loved from when you were a kid!
Ingredients
3 cups dried wide egg noodles
3 tablespoons butter
1 cup red sweet pepper, chopped
1 cup celery, chopped
1/2 cup onion, chopped
3 tablespoons flour
1 tablespoons dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 1/4 cups nonfat milk
1 cup chicken stock, unsalted
2 (5 ounces cans) chunk white tuna (water pack), drained
4 ounces reduced fat cheddar cheese
1/2 cup whole wheat panko
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon snipped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon butter, melted
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375° Spray an 8.5 x 11 casserole dish with cooking spray and set aside.
Prepare egg noodles according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
In a medium saucepan, melt butter. Add in peppers, celery and onion and cook until tender. Stir in flour, dijon, salt and pepper. Gradually stir in milk and chicken stock and cook until thickened.
Stir in tuna and cheese and cook until cheese is melted.
Pour into prepared casserole dish.
In a small bowl, combine panko, parmesan and parsley. Stir in melted butter and mix to combine. Evenly spread over casserole.
Bake for 25-30 minutes or until top is golden brown.
Notes
*Adapted from Cheesy Tuna Noodle Casserole
Courses Main
Cuisine Seafood
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1 cup
Amount Per Serving | ||
|---|---|---|
Calories 340 | ||
% Daily Value | ||
Total Fat 14 g | 22% | |
Saturated Fat 8 g | 40% | |
Trans Fat 85 g | ||
Sodium 452 mg | 19% | |
Total Carbohydrates 34 g | 11% | |
Dietary Fiber 4 g | 16% | |
Sugars 9 g | ||
Protein 24 g | 48% | |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
What I love about this Lightened Up Cheesy Tuna Noodle Casserole, it’s totally adaptable. If your family doesn’t like red peppers, swap them out for peas. Or if you like both, add both. This casserole is super creamy and doesn’t require a canned soup to achieve that. It’s lightened up and still has 2 types of cheese! YES! It was a hit with my family and I know it will be with yours too!
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Just Jo says
I really love the look of this fish dish and I even have all the ingredients in at home! Looks like tomorrow night’s dinner is sorted – thank you 😀
Pam Wattenbarger says
I haven’t had tuna noodle casserole in forever. This lighter version would be perfect to make for dinner for the family sometime soon.
ManilaSpoon says
I consider tuna as one of my comfort foods and, thankfully, my kids enjoy them, too. I haven’t made tuna casserole in awhile and seeing this delicious casserole inspires me to add this to our menu soon!
Leah says
This sounds like a delicious dinner! I love the dijon mustard in here as well, sounds like the perfect extra ingredient! Yum!
Adriana Lopez Martn says
Such a classic family meal. Perfect for lent too. Has been years since I have made a tuna casserole must try yoru recipe this week.
Veena Azmanov says
Oh wow.. I makes something similar but with Pasta and my kids call it Tuna Quiche.. because they love anything quiche lol. This look delish..
Marisa Franca @ All Our Way says
What a great classic. I think this is one way to help a family with the food budget. It’s comforting, it’s filling, and it’s tasty. I really like how you lightened it up. It looks really good.
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
Casserole is a lovely way to feed a crowd. Recipes like this especially are loved by kids and adults and it is so easy to make for family dinners.
Christine says
I grew up eating a similar cheesy tuna casserole, so this recipe hits home for me! Can’t wait to try it and go down memory lane 🙂
Stephanie@ApplesforCJ says
Casseroles are really one of my favorite go to dinners and I love how you lightened this up and made it customizable. Tuna casseroles just remind me of growing up since it was something I can remember eating a lot of..That and tuna sandwiches 🙂
Byron Thomas says
Is it wrong that I think tuna casserole is the ultimate in comfort food? My mom used to make the best tuna casserole and I’ve never been able to recreate it. But, from what I’ve read, this one seems very similar. 🙂
Noel Lizotte says
Must be the season! I just made a pan of tuna noodles the other day and we also devoured it in two meals! My husband loves this dish .. even tho he fusses when I put peas in the dish. Too bad, I like peas and I’m making it. I’ll share your recipe with the red peppers so the next time, he can make the meal.
Kylee from Kylee Cooks says
I love this lightened up version! It looks really pretty with the added colors, not at all like what the “typical” one looks like. This looks AMAZING.
Heather says
this is a beautiful recipe! Tuna noodle casserole was one of the first things I think I ever learned to cook and that’s back when I was 19 and living on my own. Needless to say mine was nowhere near as lovely as your recipe. Gorgeous!
Molly Kumar says
I’m always ready for healthy or lightened up recipes. The casserole looks so delicious and I can imagine all that mix of veggies+tuna with noodles would make it so flavorful.
Rachel says
Could I use canned chicken in place of tuna?
Megan | Strawberry Blondie Kitchen says
Absolutely! I think that is a great idea! Please let me know how it turns out!
Emily says
This was so easy and delicious!! I liked it better than the original. But, we did use regular cheddar cheese and 1% milk. Still think that is healthier than the classic though 😉
Thank you so much for sharing! I’ve bookmarked this to use again and again.
Megan | Strawberry Blondie Kitchen says
YAY! I LOVE to hear this! So glad you liked it! Thank you for sharing! 🙂