Tuna Noodle Hotdish
One of the most classic hotdish recipes: Tuna noodle hotdish is a hearty, tasty dish that will feed a crowd or be a welcome addition to a potluck. Less than 20 minutes prep time required.
There’s a reason hotdish is so popular in Minnesota:
It’s easy to make.
It feeds a crowd on a budget.
It doesn’t cost a lot.
It warms the kitchen on chilly nights.
There’s a variety for everyone!
Whatever you call it – tuna noodle hotdish or tuna noodle casserole – this is a recipe every home cook should know how to make. It’s one that my family has enjoyed for decades.
About The Recipe: Tuna Noodle Hotdish
This is a classic tuna hotdish recipe, with a couple of delicious add-ins.
I added some chopped red bell pepper for some crunch and sweetness. I also added a pinch of turmeric for some flavor – and it’s something I like to add to recipes for its health benefits.
I added a crunchy panko topping to the hotdish. This balances out creaminess of the dish.
What You’ll Need To Make Tuna Noodle Hotdish
The ingredient list is pretty short, keeping costs down and prep time minimal:
- Noodles: Virtually any type of noodle will work here. I used rotini, but elbow, penne or egg noodles would work well.
- Cream of mushroom soup: Would it even be hotdish without this essential ingredient?
- Tuna: Look for affordable canned tuna in water for this recipe.
- Veggies: I added red bell pepper, peas, and onion for flavor and crunch.
- Cheese: I added shredded cheddar cheese to the mix, but you could experiment with shredded colby jack or even pepper jack.
- Spices: Turmeric, garlic powder, salt and pepper add flavor.
- Panko topping: Buttery panko breadcrumbs are added to the top for crunch and texture.
More Hotdish Recipes
I grew up eating various types of hotdish at home in rural Minnesota. In addition to tuna hotdish, my mom would make the following:
- Chow mein noodle hotdish
- Three-bean hotdish
- Ring bologna hotdish
- Cheesy corn hotdish
- Pizza hotdish
- Crab rangoon hotdish
- Chicken broccoli hotdish
- Tater tot hotdish
- Simple hamburger hotdish
- Thanksgiving leftover hotdish
Tuna Noodle Hotdish
This is a classic recipe with a couple of modern twists: Red pepper, a dash of turmeric, and a crunchy, buttery panko topping.
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound pasta (rotini, shells or egg noodles work well)
- 2 cans cream of mushroom soup (10.5 ounces each)
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 cans tuna packed in oil (5 ounces each)
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1/2 cup chopped red pepper
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 3 tablespoons butter
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions to al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water.
- Mix cold pasta with mushroom soup, milk, sour cream, tuna, peas, red pepper, onion, cheese, turmeric, garlic powder, and salt and pepper. Place in a casserole dish.
- Melt butter and mix with panko breadcrumbs. Season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Place on top of the hotdish.
- Bake in a 350F oven for 35 to 40 minutes.