One-Pan Tuna-White Bean Casserole Recipe (2024)

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Cooking Notes

Lindsay

I use 1 and a half cups Panko crumbs,1cup of grated Parmesan and 4 tablespoons Olive oil.Mix them up till the olive oil has darkened the crumbs and cheese and then top with that. then bake for the 25 minutes. delicious

lee

How about Panko or regular breadcrumbs sauteed in some olive oil to brown them a bit?

Monika

I don't happen to keep potato chips on hand and don't want to buy some just for the topping. Suggestions on a substitution? Would saltines or some other crisp cracker work or perhaps skip the topping entirely?

Nik Cecere

If you are in the grocery store anyway and don't usually have potato chips around, you could buy one of those individual serving packs of chips and have all you need for the recipe as written.

Maria

I feel like i might put mushrooms in this. But then, I feel like i might put mushrooms in everything.

Marilyn

I added a little Dijon mustard at the beginning, when I was cooking the beans and the wine, and it brightened the flavor nicely.

Helene

You don’t have to sauté the panko.... if you mix/rub it with olive oil first the crumbs will brown in the oven; no need to dirty another pan.

Karen Artiaco

Depending on what’s in the vegetable bin, adding vegetables would add nutrition and also give you an easy one pot meal. A handful or two of leafy greens like spinach, chard, kale, etc. could be thrown in before baking. Coarsely chopped broccoli or cauliflower could be lightly microwaved before adding, or left raw to give a little crunch. Frozen vegetables could also be used. Good versatile recipe!

JP55

The original recipe cited (which was a wonderful comfort food dish during the start of the pandemic) uses Panko bread crumbs as a topping.

Roald

I apologize in advance since I am sure to offend many. For the record, I love the NYTs cooking section, and I have "saved recipes" since the site went online. It is always my "go to" when looking for inspiration. Plus I am a big fan of Melissa Clark. Finally, the potato chips sold me. But this concoction of wallpaper paste was essentially inedible. I should have been suspicious: mashing beans for a casserole is never a good idea, as this unfortunate recipe conclusively demonstrates. Flee

Deb

I had a good chuckle when I came to the crushed potato chip ingredient. We used that in my 8th grade cooking class in the mid 60's on top of a tuna noodle casserole.

Jen

I don't know if I'd give this 5 stars as written, but after seeing the very mixed reviews in the comments, I made a few changes and it was spectacular: added capers, doubled the herbs & liquid (I used veg broth), and mashed about 1/3 cup of beans beforehand rather than letting the liquid reduce too much. Cooked 12 min at 425 and broiled 1 min to brown the cheese. It came out the perfect consistency & flavour.If you're eating with toast you can skip the chip topping, but don't skip the anchovy!

S Schwarzy

I hesitate to top this with potato chips. Any suggestions for potato chop topping substitute?

Gregg

Surprisingly really delicious! I followed the recipe exactly, adding the optional anchovies and sprig of rosemary. For the herb mixture I used half fresh basil and fresh tarragon. Of course, I topped it with a cup of crushed potato chips. We all agreed it was a keeper! Wonderful, fresh flavors when finished with a squirt of lemon juice.

Millie

I'm guesstimating about 1/2 to 2/3 cup of dry beans, but really you might as well cook up a cup of beans, use the 1 3/4 cups of cooked beans that equals a 15-oz can for this recipe, and find another use for the rest of it -- some cooked white beans would enhance many dishes. Cooked beans freeze well, too.

joyce

Added an extra can of tuna and forgot the milk, whoops. It was still delicious. A modern twist on a 1970s classic.

Emily

I love this recipe! I will take beans over pasta and tons of heavy cream any day. I'm using some store-bought fried onions for the topping for my second time making this, but my teen boy loved the potato chips.

Celeste

There's potential for a favorite here. As always, make it as recommended once and then adjust to your preferences another time, although I did delete the anchovies and reduce the salt overall for dietary reasons. Next time I will add garden peas and baby carrot medallions for some color and flavor variety. Will also only crush about a quarter of the beans to make the sauce, leaving the rest whole to show the veggie ingredients.

gus

Delicious flavors but I can see where some could find it too mushy. To this end, I barely mashed the beans and tuna. Also used slightly less wine and milk. A crisp romaine salad on the side helped immensely!

Kate in Minnesota

I used sliced almonds in place of the potato chips and because I made one half of the recipe and didn't have tuna, used 2 packes of wild pink salmon in olive oil. I also added dijon as recommended in a review and capers. Once baked I added a drizzle of quality EVOO. It was a delight!

Morgan

I highly suggest using kettle cooked chips for the topping. They stay nice and crisp. No soggy chip parts in sight.

Michael M

Nice recipe, lends itself to customization. I left out the milk and butter to make it much lower dairy for a lactose intolerant person. Subbed panko for potato chips and added mushrooms for bulking it up a bit. Family enjoyed quite a bit. Anchovies are necessary I used 3 filets.A couple possible additions: a little dijon, a lot more herbs, a tablespoon of tomato paste.

philippa

This is a well loved dish at my house. I had not made it for some time and discovered tonight that now having a teenager in the house greatly reduces the serving size. Would definitely recommend increasing by half to more comfortably feed 4 as a main meal.

Tamelon

This was a flop. Followed recipe. Texture was seriously off-putting and despite lots of fresh herbs, flavor was musty. There are much better ways to make a pantry meal.

Mark Cullings

Have now made this twice. First time found it to be rather bland and quite dry. This time, doubled the anchovies, added capers, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, leftover frozen peas, salt and maybe 3T chicken broth before the chips topping. Made a big difference.

Steve

I made this two years ago with what I could find at the store during lockdown overseas, and it was just ok. I tried it again tonight on a whim and added the rosemary sprig and some anchovy paste vice anchovies. Wow. It was really tasty. I couldnt stop noshing.

Paul

Used one (1) chipotle in adobo instead of the pinch of red pepper and used mild BBQ kettle chips (Manishevitz). Went heavy on the herbs. OMG good!

vb cooks

Spurred on by others, I made some changes. Added peas and mushrooms along with the leeks. Added a bit of mustard to the sauce. And used sour cream and chive potato chips. I didn’t have wine so used white vermouth. Totally forgot the milk and the lemon. But it was good as I did it. Would recommend adding them though.

Tylwyth

Made this in a cast iron skillet. My son suggested it was a childhood regression meal [potato chips tuna] and he was not wrong. A great family meal! Everyone loved it!

Martha

I made this but lightened it up a little and used things I had. Multigrain bread crumbs (for chips), oat milk (for milk), and a splash of vermouth in water (for wine). I also added a bag of frozen spinach with the beans, for a little extra green in dinner. So good. I think it would also be great with kale! Love this and will make it again. Will be great tomorrow spread on toast or a wasa cracker.

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One-Pan Tuna-White Bean Casserole Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is my tuna casserole so dry? ›

Tuna casserole can become dry due to overbaking or using an insufficient amount of sauce. To prevent dryness, it's essential to monitor the baking time closely, every oven is different! Take care to simmer the sauce so it's thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.

How do you moisten leftover tuna casserole? ›

For reheating, add a splash of milk or a little water to keep the casserole moist and prevent it from drying out. Cover with a lid or foil while reheating to ensure it stays bubbly and cheesy.

What is tuna noodle casserole made of? ›

Use 2 cans soup, 1 cup milk, 1/4 cup pimiento, two 12-ounce cans tuna, 6 ounces (about 4 cups) egg noodles, 2 tablespoons bread crumbs and 1 tablespoon butter. Bake in a 2-quart casserole for 30 minutes or until hot, then for another 5 to brown the bread crumb mixture.

Where did tuna noodle casserole originate? ›

Although most associated with 1950s Middle America, this iconic bootstrap recipe first popped up in the Pacific Northwest in 1930.

How do you keep a casserole moist? ›

Covering a casserole (whether with a lid or with aluminum foil) is important because it helps keep moisture and heat inside the baking dish. This encourages even baking throughout, ensuring that noodles come out perfectly al dente and cheese melts uniformly.

How do you keep tuna moist when cooking? ›

Tuna dries out quite quickly and turns crumbly, so it should be cooked very briefly over a high heat in a frying pan, on a griddle or over a barbecue; or cooked under oil (confit), sous vide or simmered in a sauce.

How do you fix a casserole that is too dry? ›

If you've already cooked your casserole and find out it's too dry, another easy fix is to warm some broth and then pour it over the top of your casserole. Cover the dish with aluminum foil to prevent the liquid from evaporating and wait for 10 minutes or so before serving.

How do you thicken tuna casserole? ›

Condensed cream of mushroom soup will create a thick sauce for tuna casserole, but only if you don't dilute the soup. If the tuna casserole looks a little thin after baking, mix in an extra 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Let the casserole bake, uncovered, for a little longer and it should thicken right up.

Can I eat tuna casserole that was left out overnight? ›

If you reheat food that was forgotten on the counter overnight or was left out all day, will it be safe to eat? TWO HOURS is the MAXIMUM time perishable foods should be at room temperature (ONE HOUR at temperatures 90 degrees F and higher). This INCLUDES the time they're on the table during your meal.

Why doesn't canned tuna need to be cooked? ›

If you're a fan of canned tuna, you'll be happy to know it's safe and ready to eat straight out of the can since it is pre-cooked for your convenience. Canned tuna is a wonderful seafood option, considering not everyone has access to fresh fish, not to mention it's super affordable.

What is the crunchy stuff in my can of tuna? ›

These small fragments are crystals of a substance know chemically as magnesium ammonium phosphate, commonly called "struvite." If you find glass-like crystals in your canned seafood, don't be alarmed. These are natural occurring minerals called struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate).

What does the binder of a casserole do? ›

The binder is the sauce, which holds ingredients together.

What is the oldest known casserole? ›

Macaroni and cheese is the oldest written casserole recipe found in 1250.

Why is my tuna noodle casserole dry? ›

Your tuna casserole can also become dry due to overbaking. Even if it turns out perfect when you first cook it, it may still dry out when you reheat it. Luckily, these mistakes are quite easy to fix. For example, adding fewer noodles or just a little bit more sauce can help restore moisture and enhance the flavor.

Does tuna casserole need to be refrigerated? ›

According to Project Meal Plan, a cooked tuna casserole can last for about four days when kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator. However, if there are signs of spoilage like atypical aromas or the presence of mold, then it's wise to dispose of the casserole.

What can I add to tuna to make it less dry? ›

To prevent your tuna salad from being dry, you'll need to stir in at least one tablespoon mayo per one (5-ounce) can of tuna. After mixing in the rest of your ingredients, taste the salad. If you want it creamier, stir in another tablespoon or two of mayo. A squeeze of lemon juice also adds moisture.

What if pasta casserole is too dry? ›

The problem is that sometimes this classic comfort food turns out dry and crumbly, even if you use all the right ingredients. A possible reason for this is that you added too much pasta or not enough liquid. The pasta absorbs liquid, so you should use a generous amount of sauce to keep the dish moist.

Why tuna meat is dry? ›

Like all fish, however, the connective tissues in tuna are much easier to break down by cooking than those of beef. That means it is much easier to cook a tuna steak into a dry, crumbly mess than beef.

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