Barefoot Contessa Tuna Casserole Recipe (2024)

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Tuna casserole is a very popular dish, and it’s easy to whip up. It has a creamy texture and a delicious flavor, so you can serve it as a side dish or a main course. You can use it to serve guests as well. Tuna casserole is a delicious comfort dish. You can make it with fresh tuna or salmon, but if you want to add some extra flavor you can use tuna steak instead, as well. This is a simple dish to put together, but don’t expect it to be perfect or to look pretty.

Today I am going to share with you a barefoot contessa tuna casserole recipe that is extremely delicious. It’s a healthy recipe, with a very delicious taste. The best part about this dish is that it’s quick to make and easy to prepare. This recipe is also great for entertaining because it has a very substantial flavor. If you love tuna, you’ll love this dish. This is the best recipe for you.

The cold weather is here and I can’t wait for spring. That means it’s time for a big meal. I thought about cooking something light, but I decided to go with a tuna casserole. Everyone loves turkey and I’m sure you’re leaving with a big smile on your face. When you’re looking to make tuna casserole, you need some ingredients, so follow along and learn how to make this tasty meal.

How To Make Barefoot Contessa Tuna Casserole

Barefoot Contessa Tuna Casserole is a classic dish that is loved by many. Tuna casserole is one of those foods that seems as if it could be incredibly easy to make but ultimately is incredibly hard to pull off. I don’t even know how it’s possible to eat this dish every single day, because it is so tasty and easy to make. A bowl of tuna casserole is one of those comforting meals that you can eat whenever you feel like it; certainly not a bad thing.

This delicious casserole is perfect for lunches or dinners. Filled with fresh ingredients and topped with a creamy sauce, this casserole is a great choice for any time of the day. It’s a staple in many national cuisines, and it’s one of the easiest fish dishes to prepare, especially because you can use store-bought cans in place of the fresh tuna. Despite its simplicity, it’s a tasty dish, and it will taste even better the second time you make it, making it another step towards bettering your cooking skills. Give it a try today!

Ingredients

  • Solid light tuna, 2 cans (6 oz each)
  • Tubetti or elbow macaroni, 3/4 pound
  • Panko, 1 cup
  • Parmesan (grated), 1/2 ounce
  • Extra-virgin olive oil, 4 teaspoons
  • 1 yellow onion (finely diced)
  • All-purpose flour, 3 tablespoons
  • Chicken broth (low-sodium), 2 1/2 cups
  • Whole milk, 1 1/2 cups
  • Water (drained and flaked)
  • Frozen peas (thawed), 1 cup
  • Coarse salt and ground pepper

Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare pasta according to package directions, but cook it for two minutes less. Drain and set aside the cooked pasta.

Step 2

In a small bowl, combine panko, Parmesan, and 2 teaspoons of oil.

Step 3

In a medium pot, heat 2 tablespoons of oil. Then add onion, season with salt and pepper, and cook for 8 minutes, until soft.

Step 4

Coat the onion in flour and whisk it well. Slowly pour in the milk and broth while whisking. Bring the sauce to a boil while stirring continuously.

Step 5

As the sauce simmers, stir frequently until it has thickened. This should take about 8 to 10 minutes.

Step 6

Toss pasta with tuna and peas, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Furthermore, you can also add seasonings like dry herbs, rosemary, etc.

Step 7

Fill a greased 9-by-13-inch baking dish with the tuna mixture. Add the panko mixture on top. Be sure the dish is completely covered with panko.

Step 8

Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbling and the crust is golden and lightly browned.

Step 9

Remove the baking dish from the oven. Allow it to cool for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy!

In Closing

We hope you enjoyed this recipe for Barefoot Contessa tuna casserole. Tuna casserole is one of the classic American comfort foods. It is easy to make and provides a great meal for a busy weeknight. We would love to hear what you thought of it, so please leave us a review or comment below. We hope you take a moment to check out our other recipes to find something you will love.

More Amazing Barefoot Contessa Copycat Recipes

  • Barefoot Contessa Banana Bread Recipe
  • Cream of Asparagus Soup Barefoot Contessa
  • Barefoot Contessa Sirloin Tip Roast Recipe

Barefoot Contessa Tuna Casserole Recipe

Cuisine: American

Cuisine type: Dinner

Servings: 6 Servings

Preparation time: 30 Minutes

Cooking time: 30 Minutes

Total time: 1 Hour

Barefoot Contessa Tuna Casserole Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is my tuna casserole so dry? ›

Your tuna casserole can also become dry due to overbaking. Even if it turns out perfect when you first cook it, it may still dry out when you reheat it. Luckily, these mistakes are quite easy to fix. For example, adding fewer noodles or just a little bit more sauce can help restore moisture and enhance the flavor.

How to thicken tuna casserole? ›

Make a cornstarch slurry for a fast and easy thickener.

Use one tablespoon of cornstarch per cup of liquid you would like to thicken. Stir out all the lumps. A few minutes before your casserole is done, add it a little at a time until you are happy with the thickness. Then, let the casserole finish baking.

What is tuna casserole made of? ›

Use 2 cans soup, 1 cup milk, 1/4 cup pimiento, two 12-ounce cans tuna, 6 ounces (about 4 cups) egg noodles, 2 tablespoons bread crumbs and 1 tablespoon butter. Bake in a 2-quart casserole for 30 minutes or until hot, then for another 5 to brown the bread crumb mixture.

How do you moisten leftover tuna casserole? ›

Alternatively, Foods Guy recommends adding a splash of water or chicken stock to your casserole and covering it with plastic wrap before microwaving, which will add new moisture and lock in the steam, ensuring a perfectly moist reheated tuna casserole.

How do you keep a casserole moist? ›

Pro Tip: Avoid Dry Casserole.

The best way to prevent it from drying out is to add a little bit of water, around ¼ cup, to the top of it. Allow the water to seep between the food and the sides of the baking dish. Cover with aluminum foil to seal in the moisture.

How to make a casserole less dry? ›

Paulette recommends
  1. Set the casserole out for 30 to 60 minutes prior to reheating it in the oven.
  2. Preheat the oven.
  3. If the casserole looks particularly dry, add a small amount of water to it to help rehydrate the casserole. ...
  4. Cover the casserole tightly with a cover or aluminum foil to help retain moisture.
Sep 7, 2022

How to know when casserole is done? ›

It's important to heat a casserole thoroughly before eating it; use an instant-read thermometer to make sure the casserole is at 165 degrees F for safe consumption.

What ingredient is added to casseroles to thicken the dish? ›

The three main thickening agents for gravies are flour, cornflour and arrowroot. The first two are normally used in savoury dishes while arrowroot tends to be used in sweet dishes – that said, arrowroot will work in a savoury dish as it has no flavour.

Should you cook canned tuna? ›

Can you cook canned tuna? Canned tuna is actually already cooked before it's canned, so technically, you can eat it straight from the can if you want. However, you can add canned tuna to a dish that you're cooking to add some healthy protein. For instance, you can add canned tuna to a pot of mac and cheese.

What method should be used to cool tuna casserole? ›

Proper cooling methods for food
  1. Separate food into smaller portions. A large pot of hot food put right into the fridge can become dangerous. ...
  2. Cover food loosely while it cools. ...
  3. Stir loose foods. ...
  4. Use an ice bath. ...
  5. Add ice as an ingredient. ...
  6. Use a blast chiller or tumbler.

Is tuna cooked when canned? ›

Canned tuna fish is an effortless meal option that can be especially handy on occasions when you don't feel like cooking, or perhaps are in a situation where you can't cook, like when you are camping. Being that it is already pre-cooked, it is safe to consume straight from the can with no other preparation.

Can I eat tuna casserole that was left out overnight? ›

Keep food cold by nesting dishes in bowls of ice or use small serving trays and replace them often. Discard any cold leftovers that have been left out for more than 2 hours at room temperature (1 hour when the temperature is above 90 °F).

How many days is tuna casserole good for? ›

Store your leftover tuna casserole in a shallow, airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. Reheat in the oven or in the microwave.

How long is tuna casserole safe to eat? ›

According to Project Meal Plan, a cooked tuna casserole can last for about four days when kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator. However, if there are signs of spoilage like atypical aromas or the presence of mold, then it's wise to dispose of the casserole.

Why is my tuna mayo dry? ›

To prevent your tuna salad from being dry, you'll need to stir in at least one tablespoon mayo per one (5-ounce) can of tuna. After mixing in the rest of your ingredients, taste the salad. If you want it creamier, stir in another tablespoon or two of mayo. A squeeze of lemon juice also adds moisture.

Why tuna meat is dry? ›

Like all fish, however, the connective tissues in tuna are much easier to break down by cooking than those of beef. That means it is much easier to cook a tuna steak into a dry, crumbly mess than beef.

Why does tuna taste dry? ›

Note that tuna is a very lean fish and tends to dry out quickly on the grill. To help with this, you can marinate the tuna but the marinade should be pretty mild and the tuna should not marinate for very long.

Why is my pasta bake so dry? ›

If there's too much pasta and not enough sauce, you can end up with a dry bake. It's best to follow the recommended amounts in the recipe for a pasta bake that's just right.

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