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
  • Barefoot Contessa’s Cream of Asparagus Soup
  • 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? ›

Tuna casserole can become dry if it's overcooked or if there isn't enough moisture in the dish. Be sure to follow the recipe instructions and adjust the cooking time as needed to prevent it from drying out.

How do you make a casserole not soggy? ›

To prevent a soupy casserole, be sure to fully thaw any frozen vegetables in a colander over a bowl, and pat dry, squeeze excess moisture out of greens like spinach or chard, and quickly precook watery fresh vegetables like onions, mushrooms or squashes just until they release their moisture.

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.

How long will tuna casserole last in the refrigerator? ›

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 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 do you make a casserole taste better? ›

Adding a crunchy element on top of your one-dish wonder is an easy way to add extra texture and flavor. Try crushed crackers, buttered bread crumbs, toasted almonds, French fried onions or—if you're really Midwestern—frozen tater tots.

Do I bake my casserole covered or uncovered? ›

Uncovering the foods promotes browning and crisping, and reduces the amount of liquid in the finished dish. If a casserole looks soupy when it's ready to bake, bake it uncovered unless the ingredients include pasta or rice, which absorb liquid.

How long should a casserole be cooked for? ›

The time a casserole takes to cook will vary from 2-2½ hours for chuck, blade and thick flank, up to 4 hours for shin, leg and neck. Pork cuts for braising and casseroling normally take 1½ hours, and lamb much the same.

Is it better to cook casserole the day before or? ›

Make-ahead meals (especially baked casseroles) are terrific because you can completely assemble them in advance and bake them just before serving. They're the ultimate comfort food as they come bubbling hot and delicious straight from the oven to the table to the delight of family and friends.

How to know when casserole is done? ›

Poking a casserole with a toothpick or a fork to see if it comes out clean is a helpful way to know what's happening in the center. Shaking the pan will also tell you if everything is cooked and set.

How do you reheat tuna casserole without drying it out? ›

For reheating, add a splash of milk or a little water to keep the casserole moist and prevent it from drying out. Cover with a lid or foil while reheating to ensure it stays bubbly and cheesy.

Is it OK to freeze tuna casserole? ›

Lastly, you can freeze cooked tuna casserole if you cannot eat it within 3-4 days. Whether it's fresh out of the oven or leftovers, you can freeze it in an airtight container for up to 3 months. If straight from the oven, allow it to cool completely before sealing it so it doesn't continue to cook.

Can I eat tuna that's been in the fridge for 3 days? ›

Raw fish and shellfish should be kept in the refrigerator (40 °F/4.4 °C or less) only 1 or 2 days before cooking or freezing. After cooking, store seafood in the refrigerator 3 to 4 days. Any frozen fish or shellfish will be safe indefinitely; however, the flavor and texture will lessen after lengthy storage.

Can you eat cooked tuna cold the next day? ›

Cooked fish and other seafood can be safely stored in the refrigerator 3 to 4 days. Refrigeration slows but does not prevent bacterial growth. Therefore, it's important to use food within recommended time before it spoils or becomes dangerous.

What can I add to tuna to make it less dry? ›

Add a little moisture to the mix

But if you're averse to the white and creamy condiment or don't have it in your fridge, here are some other great options that add moisture and make tuna palatable: Oil. Olive, truffle, and even toasted sesame (which I use in my recipe below) are just a few drool-worthy examples.

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.

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.

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