This one pot tuna casserole recipe has been a staple in our home for years. As an allergy family, I’ve learned that classic comfort food often needs a little adapting. This dish is one I’ve slowly changed over time to make sure it’s safe for our family while still being affordable.
Even with those changes, it’s still one of our most-requested meals. It’s creamy, cozy, filling, and made with simple pantry staples. Best of all, it’s cooked in one pot, which means easy cleanup, something every busy family can appreciate.
Why This Tuna Casserole Works for Allergy Families
When you’re cooking for food allergies, flexibility matters. This allergy-friendly tuna casserole is easy to adjust depending on what your family can and cannot eat. I do not use any condensed soups in my recipes because they contain too many ingredients. They can easily be replaced with other ingredients. I use a lot of cream cheese, greek yogurt or blended cottage cheese in my recipes to make them more creamy as well as homemade stock. Garlic and herb seasoning is a staple in my cooking and also used in this recipe to provide delicious flavor.
I’ve adapted this recipe over the years as our needs changed, it’s become a dependable meal that feels safe and comforting, without sacrificing flavor.
Use Any Pasta You Have (Shop Your Pantry First)
One of the easiest ways to save money on groceries is to use what you already have before heading to the store. This recipe works with any pasta, not just egg noodles. Use whatever you have in your pantry whether that is macaroni, rotini, penne, or shells. If you are working on growing your pantry, check out my blog about pantry essentials for some tips on what items I recommend keeping on hand.
Dry pasta lasts longer when stored properly. I recommend transferring pasta into glass jars with metal lids. This keeps it fresh, organized, and visible, so you’re more likely to use it instead of rebuying it.
One Pot Tuna Casserole For Easy Cleanup
This is a true one pot tuna casserole, meaning everything is cooked in the same pot from start to finish. When we were going through our kitchen remodel there was over a year when we didn’t have a stove or oven so everything had to be made on a hot plate. I got creative with the meals that we were making with just a single heat source. Cooking in just one pot means fewer dishes, faster clean up, and less stress!
Ingredient Storage Tips to Save Money
If you buy cream cheese in bulk, it freezes beautifully. Frozen cream cheese works especially well in recipes like casseroles where it melts into sauces. Just thaw and use, no waste, no last-minute store run.
Shredded cheese stays fresh longer when stored in a glass jar with a metal lid. This helps reduce moisture and prevents the cheese from spoiling as quickly. Get all of my best tips for buying cheese in bulk and keeping it fresh in this video.
If you end up with extra breadcrumbs, store them in the fridge in a glass jar. They’ll stay fresh and can be used for future meals like casseroles, roasted vegetables, or baked chicken.
One Pot Tuna Casserole
Ingredients
- ¼ cup panko or italian bread crumbs
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese
- 3 T butter
- ½ onion
- 2 stalks celery
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup milk
- 3 cups egg noodles
- 1 T Italian seasoning
- 1 T garlic and herb seasoning
- 4 oz cream cheese
- 1 can tuna
- ½ cup frozen peas
- 1 cup shredded cheese
Instructions
- In a large pot, melt 1 tablespoon butter. Add breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese
- Stir until lightly golden. Remove from the pot and set aside
- In the same pot, add 2 tablespoon butter, onion, celery, salt, and pepper. Cook until softened and fragrant
- Pour in chicken broth and milk
- Add pasta and stir, bring to a boil
- Once boiling, add Italian seasoning, garlic herb seasoning, salt, and pepper
- Reduce heat to low, cover with a lid, and cook for 10 minutes
- Remove the lid and add cream cheese. Stir until fully melted and incorporated
- Stir in the tuna and peas until evenly mixed
- Add shredded cheese and stir until melted
- Sprinkle with breadcrumb topping (use as much as you like) and serve warm
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