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This tuna casserole with tangy sun-dried tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, short-cut pasta and a creamy, tomato-pesto Alfredo sauce is a delicious, easy meal for the whole family to enjoy.

Tuna casserole in casserole dish with marble background.

While tuna casserole is a classic comfort meal on its own, this recipe gives the traditional combination of creamy Alfredo and tuna a fresh update with added sun-dried tomatoes and a tomato-based pesto.

Alfredo by itself is great, but a sauce that is part alfredo and part tomato pesto-based adds a sweetness and tang to balance out the creamy sauce. The end result is hearty without being too heavy, and is finished cooking in about 25 minutes.

Ingredients

Tuna casserole ingredients prepped on marble background.
  • dry shell pasta – or another short-cut pasta like elbow
  • sun-dried tomato pesto
  • Alfredo sauce
  • milk
  • oil-packed/sliced sundried tomatoes – I drain the oil from the sun-dried tomatoes before adding them to my milk and Alfredo sauce. Sun-dried tomatoes also add some textural contrast to the tuna with their chewiness.
  • canned solid white tuna – also known as albacore tuna
  • mushrooms
  • Parmesan cheese Parmesan’s natural nuttiness lends another layer of flavor without having to add much extra. It adds a cheesy top layer to this already-delicious casserole.
  • fresh parsley

Tips & Tweaks

Tuna casserole on a plate with a fork.
  • You can add whichever extra spices you like, but I like to keep it simple with salt and pepper as to not overpower tuna’s delicate flavor or change the sauce’s flavor profile.
  • Make sure to use solid white tuna (Albacore) rather than light flaked tuna, even though it is a tad more expensive. It is well worth it in this recipe for its firmer texture and milder flavor.
  • As for drink pairing, I recommend a crisp white wine like a Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay, as they are a good match with cream-based sauces and tuna.

Storage

This tuna casserole keeps well in the fridge in an air-tight container for 3 to 4 days.

Tuna casserole in casserole dish with marble background. Plate with forks on the side.

This is one of our special, comfort-food dishes that my family loves to dig into on a regular basis. Let me know in the comments how it turned out for you and please share the recipe!

Tuna casserole in casserole dish with marble background.

Creamy Tuna & Sun-Dried Tomato Casserole

Joss D
Tuna casserole with tangy sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms, Parmesan cheese, shell pasta and a creamy, tomato-pesto Alfredo sauce.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 6
Calories 429 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 3 cups dry shell pasta - or another short-cut pasta like elbow
  • 3 tablespoons sun-dried tomato pesto
  • 12 ounces Alfredo sauce
  • ¼ cup milk
  • ¼ cup oil-packed/sliced sun dried tomatoes - drained of the oil
  • 12 ounces canned solid white tuna - drained and broken into chunks
  • 1 cup mushrooms - sliced
  • ½ cup fresh Parmesan cheese - finely shredded
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley - chopped
  • Salt and pepper - to taste

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 425°F.
  • Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and transfer to a 9” x 13” casserole dish.
    3 cups dry shell pasta
  • In a bowl, mix together pesto, Alfredo sauce, milk, and sun-dried tomatoes.
    3 tablespoons sun-dried tomato pesto, 12 ounces Alfredo sauce, ¼ cup milk, ¼ cup oil-packed/sliced sun dried tomatoes
  • Add to the pasta, stirring to coat. Fold in the tuna and mushrooms. Add salt and pepper, to taste. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and parsley.
    12 ounces canned solid white tuna, 1 cup mushrooms, ½ cup fresh Parmesan cheese, 2 tablespoons fresh parsley
  • Cover the dish with foil and bake for 15-20 minutes or until bubbly and cheese is melted.
  • Serve!

Equipment

9" x 13" casserole dish

Nutrition

Calories: 429kcalCarbohydrates: 43gProtein: 26gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 70mgSodium: 813mgPotassium: 420mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 622IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 138mgIron: 2mg

Nutrition information on In the Kitch is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. It may not include toppings and/or sauces.

Keyword casserole
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