That's Some Kind of Tuna Casserole

Here's one chicken-of-the-sea casserole that will light your fire! Mexican cheesiness, pimiento and a pinch of chili powder transform a traditional tuna and noodle dish into an explosion of ai-yi-yi!

Category: Main Dish

Cuisine: Americana

5 reviews 
Ready in 40 minutes
by tastygrub

Ingredients

2 tbsp. olive oil

1 medium onion small dice

1 tbsp. lemon juice

8 oz. fusilli or rotelle pasta cooked 2/3 of recommended time

1 tsp. chili powder

3 tbsp. pimiento small dice

1/2 c. milk

10 oz. cream of mushroom soup prefer Campbell's Healthy Request condensed

3 tbsp. capers

2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar

1/2 c. breadcrumbs panko is good

12 oz. tuna in water

3 tbsp. butter don't skimp on the butter

4 oz. shredded mexican cheese blend


Directions

1. Boil water in medium-size pot, add pasta, cook 2/3 of recommended time, drain, set aside. Pre-heat oven to 350F. 2. Heat oil in large skillet over medium high heat. Add onion, cook till translucent. Add chili powder, lemon juice & cider vinegar, stir. 3. Then to skillet add the mushroom soup, milk, pimiento, capers and stir all till bubbling over medium heat. Remove from heat, set aside. 4. In large mixing bowl, combine tuna, pasta and cheese. Two forks work well for stirring this all together. 5. Coat an 8x8" (2 qt.) baking dish with cooking spray. To the baking dish, add about 1/2 of the tuna/pasta/cheese, then top that with 1/2 the skillet mixture, then other 1/2 tuna followed by other 1/2 skillet mix. 6. Heat butter till melted, add breadcrumbs immediately, stir. Distribute buttery breadcrumbs over top of mixture in baking dish. You do not need to perfectly cover entire top surface of the casserole. 7. Baking dish goes in oven at 350F for 25 minutes. 8. Optional step to help casserole hold together when slicing, also enhances the flavor: cover with foil and let casserole firm up in fridge for about an hour. At dinner time, re-heat at 300F for 15-20 minutes. 9. Serve to applause and fireworks.

Reviews


This disjointed adventure of piquancy and that beloved pelagic species.. well, you know the fish kissed by a Star? Packed in life-giving water, it's even better when combined with this recipe. This is my wife's new "Favorite Meal". I guess I've followed this recipe about four times, and concluded that ground Cayenne vice Chipotle works better for us. I've prepared this in the 8"X8" no worries. I'll be republishing the recipe text in a manner better to follow, like sequentially listed steps? Good on the English as a second language Chef who has shared this concoction!

Travieso

The sauce has a wonderful taste. Mine turned out too heated, not sure if I didn't measure correctly, but I will make this again!

sharontea

Very tasty casserole! Not your typical tuna noodle casserole of old. i made a few changes. i used shallot versus vidalia onion. i omitted the capers and lemon juice and added one tsp. of worchestershire sauce. Great recipe!! i will surely add more chipotle next time!

baklavaglue

We love it! Best tuna dish ever.

danielcerta

This tuna dish rocks! I add a half-tsp cyan pepper powder. I've served this twice in two weeks to rave reviews.

danielcerta

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