Grandpa’s Tuna Casserole – No Cream Soup Needed
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Did you grow up on casseroles? As a child of the 80’s, I definitely did. Tuna casserole was always a favorite. Since moving away from home, I think I’ve only had a casserole a handful of times.
My husband is the main cook in our house (I’m the baker) and he usually makes meat with a side of some kind. He doesn’t follow recipes if he can help it. I decided that I was going to make dinner instead of baking this weekend and I have to follow a recipe in order to cook, haha.
I went through my grandma’s cookbook as well as my grandpa’s. This recipe stood out to me because it was a casserole without “cream soup.” It called for fresh vegetables and it seemed easy enough to follow.
It was the perfect size for our family, but if you have older kids or more than 4 people to feed, you may want to double it. To save time, cut up the vegetables ahead of time. This recipe would also be good with fresh or canned chicken.
Have you had a casserole since the 80’s? What kind was it?
Recipe
1 Cup uncooked macaroni
2 Tablespoons butter
1/2 Cup chopped onion
1/2 Cup thinly sliced celery
1/2 Cup chopped red or green pepper
2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 1/2 Cup milk
1 can (6 ounces) tuna packed in water, drained
1/2 Cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
1 Cup crushed potato chips, optional
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray an 8×8 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
Start by cooking macaroni according to package directions. Drain and set aside. Next, melt butter in skillet over medium heat. Add onion. Cook and stir for 3 minutes. Add celery and red or green pepper. Cook and stir for 3 more minutes. Then, sprinkle flour, salt, and pepper over vegetables. Cook and stir for 1 minute. Next, stir in milk. Then cook and stir until thickened. Remove from heat. Then, add macaroni, tuna, and 1/4 Cup cheese to skillet. Stir until pasta is well coated. Finally, pour mixture into prepared baking dish and sprinkle with the other half of the Parmesan cheese.
Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes or until hot and bubbly. If desired, sprinkle crushed potato chips on top and cook an additional minute.
Other Recipes You May Like
- Homemade Cornbread Stuffing
- Homemade Pizza Rolls
- Avocado Tuna Salad – from Sharon at The Honour System
- Air Fryer Cod – from Anne at Upstate Ramblings
- Doritos Casserole – from Chrysa at Thrifty Jinxy
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34 Comments
Elise | Freelance Writers Hub
Oh, I LOVE tuna casserole! I never grew up on it because my father hated casseroles, but once I started cooking for myself I discovered it and started making it every so often. It’s such a great comfort food. Never thought about adding parmesam cheese… sounds INCREDIBLE! Will have to try this one soon to get me through the rest of the winter…
Heidi Bruaw
Yes, it is such a great comfort food! The parmesan cheese really adds to the flavor. I love it! Let me know if you try it. 🙂
Lynn Mejia
Honestly, I’ve never really had a casserole before. My family never did this. I’ll have to try this out one day! I love tuan 🙂 Thanks for sharing x
ww.lynnmumbingmejia.com
Heidi Bruaw
Casseroles are amazing, but definitely not for everyone. If you haven’t had one you will have to try it and see what you think. If you like tuna, you will probably like this one. 🙂
Charley
This sounds pretty similar to Tuna pasta bake we make in the UK! Sounda delicious – I’ll have to give your recipe a go! Thanks for sharing! X
Heidi Bruaw
Thank you! I hope you like it. 🙂
diningwithali
My family never made casserole but this looks great!
Heidi Bruaw
Thank you! It’s definitely a love or hate thing! But if you haven’t had casserole, you should try it. 🙂
Kelly Diane
This sounds like a great recipe. I don’t like Tuna but my hubby loves it. I’m definitely going to try and make this for him.
Heidi Bruaw
You can also make it with shredded chicken or turkey if you don’t like tuna. 🙂
Lisa's Notebook
I did grow up on casseroles and detested them because they always had lumps of fat or gristle in them! But a tuna casserole is a whole different ball game, I LOVE tuna and the addition of crushed crisps on the top is a genius tip – yum, thank you so much for sharing this!
Heidi Bruaw
Oh yeah, I wouldn’t like them then either! This is definitely different and very yummy! Let me know how you like it. 🙂
Simona ~ The Grumpy Olive
I’ve never had a casserole but this one looks absolutely yummy! I love tuna! Thank you for sharing Heidi x
Heidi Bruaw
You definitely have to try a casserole to see how you like them. Thank you! I hope you get to try it. 🙂
nortoncharity
I’ve actually never tried to make tuna casserole before! Can you believe that?! I need to try this recipe out though because it sounds amazing
Heidi Bruaw
It’s super easy! You should try it and let me know what you think! 🙂
Monique
Sounds like you and your husband have a lot of fun time in the kitchen! I haven’t tried casserole but that looks delicious! I’ll try to make this by the weekend and hopefully my grandmother would like it haha. Thanks for sharing.
http://www.lifebeginsattwenty.com
Heidi Bruaw
Yes, we do! If you haven’t had casserole, you should give it a go! I bet your grandmother will like it, lol. Let me know what she thinks! 🙂
Jessica Khater
This is so new to me. I’d love to try it out sometime.
Heidi Bruaw
Try it out and let me know what you think! 🙂
Karly
Great recipe! I love tuna casserole but don’t like that the canned cream soup has so much sodium. This seams like a great alternative recipe!
Heidi Bruaw
Thank you! Creamed soups have a place but I don’t like how they seem to be in almost every casserole. This recipe tastes just fine without it. 🙂
Fransic verso
We had tuna before but never Tuna Casserole and from your picture, it looks so delicious. Definitely going to try it. Thank you for sharing!
Heidi Bruaw
Thank you! I hope you like it. 🙂
Lana Davis
Love casseroles!! The parmesan cheese and potato chips are an unexpected twist! Can’t wait to try it!
Heidi Bruaw
Thank you! I think the parmesan cheese adds great flavor. I hope you like it! 🙂
danielle nieman
This recipe looks delicious!
Heidi Bruaw
Thank you! 🙂
aspoonfulofvanilla
I don’t like Tuna but I know my partner would absolutely LOVE this! I am going to try and make it next week!
Heidi Bruaw
You can also make it with shredded chicken or turkey. 🙂
katieemmabeauty
OMG my mum used to make something so similar to this when I was a kid! And I was trying to explain it to my boyfriend the other day and he kept just going ‘crisps?’! Now I have an actual recipe, I think I might make it for him! Thank you so much! haha
Katie | katieemmabeauty.com
Heidi Bruaw
Haha, that is too funny! Now you definitely have to make this! Let me know how he likes it. 🙂
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