Tuna casserole

Tuna casserole

American tuna casserole
Place of origin	unknown
Main ingredients	Egg noodles, tuna
Variations	Peas

Tuna casserole closeup

Tuna casserole or tuna mornay is a casserole primarily made with pasta or rice and canned tuna. It is eaten in North America, Italy, Australia, Japan and Finland, and presumably elsewhere.

In North America

In North America, egg noodles are a popular choice for the pasta. It is often made with cream of mushroom soup. Peas are sometimes added, and the dish may be topped with something crunchy, such as breadcrumbs, fried onion, potato chips or corn flakes. ^[1]

Casseroles became popular in American households in the 1950s mainly because the ingredients were cheap and easy to find at the supermarket. In 1952, Campbell's published a book of recipes using canned soup which included a recipe for tuna casserole. Tuna casserole became popular to take to potlucks, especially in the Midwest, or taken to the home of someone who was sick or going through bereavement so that they wouldn't need to cook. ^[2]

In Finland

In Finland the dish is called tonnikalavuoka or tonnikalapastavuoka "tuna pasta casserole". The primary ingredients are tuna and pasta, often with tomatoes and garlic included and shredded mozzarella sprinkled on top. ^{[3] [4]}

Tuna casserole is one of the most popular school meals in Finland. ^[5]

In Australia

In Australia the dish is called tuna mornay. It is called this because Mornay sauce (a type of Bechamel with grated cheese) is used as a topping. It is commonly prepared with potatoes instead of pasta, and regional variants can contain additional ingredients such as frozen peas and corn, or pineapple.

Modern adaptations

Some modern recipes replace white pasta or rice with whole grain or legume-based alternatives, such as whole-wheat or chickpea pasta. Lower-fat dairy products—such as skim milk, Greek yogurt, and reduced-fat cheese—are also used. ^{[6] [7] [8]}

Additional vegetables, such as spinach, mushrooms, broccoli, green peas, or carrots, are commonly added. ^[9] In plant-based versions, dairy ingredients may be substituted with non-dairy milk, nutritional yeast, or cashew-based sauces. ^[10] Some adaptations also include legumes or eggs alongside tuna.

See also

• Hotdish
• Comfort food
• Funeral potatoes
• Green bean casserole
• List of tuna dishes
• Midwestern cuisine
• Australian cuisine
• Timballo

References

1. Moore, Mary (15 December 1952). "Fresh from the Kitchen: Buffet Supper for Holiday at Small Cost". Windsor Daily Star. p. 30. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
2. Smith, S. E. "What is Tuna Casserole?". wisegeek. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
3. "Tonnikalapasta uunissa" (in Finnish). K-Ruoka. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
4. "Tonnikalapastavuoka" (in Finnish). Calvo. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
5. Siivonen, Marissa (10 February 2022). "Yksi kouluruoka on selkeä suosikki eri puolilla Suomea, paitsi Tampereella – suosituimpien listoille on noussut myös uudempiakin annoksia". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 20 January 2023.
6. Alexa Wimberly, Camryn (17 December 2024). "12 High-Protein Casseroles to Help Reduce Inflammation". EatingWell . Retrieved 30 June 2025.
7. Arnicans, Arturs. "Tuna Rice Casserole". cook.me. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
8. Siferlin, Alexandra (14 September 2015). "Mediterranean Diet With Olive Oil Linked to Lower Breast Cancer Risk". Time . Retrieved 30 June 2025.
9. Hale, Juliana (18 February 2025). "Tuna Noodle Casserole". Allrecipes . Retrieved 30 June 2025.
10. Werner-Gray, Liana (27 October 2021). "Modern Tuna Noodle Casserole". Vitacost . Retrieved 30 June 2025.