Tuna casserole is just one of those classic homemade comfort foods. It’s easy to make, cheap to feed your family, and there’s just something so homey about it. I decided to put a modern spin on this dish with an air fryer tuna casserole recipe.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
That’s right, we’re ditching the oven and looking to the air fryer to make classic tuna casserole. The benefit here is that you don’t need to heat up the whole house by leaving the conventional oven on, making it easy to enjoy casseroles even in the summertime!
While you can pre-boil the noodles and save a little time, I’m all about the one pan methods that create less mess. Plus, who wants to stand over a hot stove stirring noodles anyway?
This casserole is so simple to throw together and requires little tending, making it a perfect weeknight dish that the whole family will love when you’re craving a delicious home cooked meal!
Katie’s tip
If you’re craving tuna for lunch, then you can’t go wrong with my delicious Air Fryer Tuna Melt recipe!
Ingredients Needed
- 2 cups dry egg noodles
- 1 ½ cups chicken stock or milk
- 10.5-ounce can cream of celery soup
- 1 shallot, finely diced
- ½ cup frozen peas
- 5-ounce can tuna (Albacore preferred), drained and flaked
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp dried dill
- ½ tsp dried parsley
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided
Topping
- ¼ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 Tbsp butter
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Other types of noodles can be swapped in, but cooking times will vary based on the size and shape you choose, so you’ll need to check them and adjust as you cook
- Milk will give a creamier texture than the broth, but both work fine (I used skim milk)
- You may substitute cream of mushroom soup in place of the cream of celery if preferred to form the base of the sauce
- About ¼ of a yellow or sweet onion can replace the shallot if desired
- Feel free to use different frozen veggies – peas and carrots, mushrooms, or broccoli are other good choices
- You can double the tuna if you want a meatier dish
- All the seasonings are adjustable and swappable based on taste preferences (I also like onion powder, paprika, and Italian seasoning). While fresh herbs do have more flavor, dried are more convenient and likely to be on hand
- If you don’t like cheddar, swiss, fontina, or a mexican blend are other options that work well
- Alternative crumb topping options in place of panko bread crumbs: crushed cornflakes, crushed Ritz crackers, crushed potato chips, fried onions
- You can use olive oil or similar in place of the butter if you like
special equipment note:
You’ll need an oven-safe casserole dish that fits in your air fryer, or a similar dish like a cake pan, silicone baking pan, etc.
I’m using two mini loaf pans because I have a Ninja Dual Zone air fryer with two baskets. You can use one pan instead with most single basket models.
Step By Step Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°F (or the closest setting your air fryer has)
- Add the dry noodles into a greased casserole dish that fits in your air fryer
- In a bowl, combine the broth or milk with the soup, peas, tuna, shallot, seasonings, and ¼ cup of the shredded cheddar cheese, stirring to combine. You can do this right in your cooking pan along with the noodles if you have room
- Pour the mixture over top of the noodles, making sure to submerge the noodles completely
- Place into the preheated air fryer basket
- Cook on the air fry setting for 20 minutes at 375°F, stopping halfway to stir
- While that’s cooking, melt the butter in a small bowl. Add the panko breadcrumbs to the butter and toss until thoroughly coated
- After the 20 minutes have elapsed, check to make sure the mixture is bubbling and the noodles are cooked (adding additional time as needed)
- Top the casserole with the remaining ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese and the panko mixture
- Cook for an additional 3-5 minutes until cheese is melted and panko browns on top
- Top with chopped fresh herbs if desired, and serve warm!
What to Serve With Tuna Casserole
- Biscuits
- Garlic bread
- Stuffed mushrooms
- Roasted carrots
- Steamed green beans
- Corn on the cob
- Roasted potatoes
- Stuffed artichokes
- Green salad
- Pickled beets
- Lemon wedges
- Apple crumble
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Pinot Grigio
- Pinot Noir
There are many great sides, pairings, and desserts to serve with your tuna casserole! Just steer clear of additional pasta, such as mac and cheese or pasta salad, as you’ll feel like you’re on pasta overload.
Try your air fryer tuna casserole with my quick Frozen Garlic Knots in the Air Fryer, easy Air Fryer Greek Potatoes, roasted Air Fryer Beets and Carrots, tasty Air Fryer Stuffed Artichokes, and finish it off with a homemade Air Fryer Apple Crumble for a complete meal!
Recipe FAQs
Why is My Tuna Casserole So Dry?
Your tuna casserole may be dry if there wasn’t enough liquid added, as the noodles will soak it up during cooking.
Add more liquid such as milk in ¼ cup increments as needed to add more moisture into your mix.
Do You Put Tuna in Water or Oil in a Casserole?
Typically, you use drained tuna in water in a casserole. Oil will add a greasy texture to your casserole, and a stronger fishy flavor.
That said, you can use tuna in oil if that is your preference, the casserole will still turn out completely fine.
What Ingredients Are in Tuna Casserole?
Tuna casserole core ingredients are noodles, tuna, peas, and condensed soup.
There are many other additions and variations to add flavor and texture to this classic preparation, though.
How Long Do You Cook Tuna Noodle Casserole in an Air Fryer?
You cook tuna noodle casserole in an air fryer for 5-10 minutes if your noodles are precooked, or 20-30 minutes if using raw noodles.
Times may vary slightly based on your individual air fryer, as well as the quantity being cooked and the size and shape of the pan.
Tips For the Best Tuna Casserole
- My noodles were very al dente after 20 minutes, so I ended up doing 25 minutes total. However, times will vary based on your specific air fryer and your doneness preferences
- Stirring halfway through is important as the top of your casserole will brown as it cooks. This prevents burning while you wait for the noodles to cook. It will look soupy, don’t worry and just trust the process!
- The casserole will thicken slightly as it cools, so feel free to give it 5 minutes or so before serving if you want to make it easier to remove
Storage and Reheating
- Store leftover tuna casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. You can also freeze for up to 3 months, however your noodles will lose texture and become somewhat mushy
- Reheat the casserole in the air fryer at 350°F for 5-6 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F for food safety. Place the desired portion on a piece of foil, parchment paper, or in a small oven-safe dish. Alternatively, you can microwave for 1-1 ½ minutes to reheat
More Great Air Fryer Casserole Recipes
Final Thoughts
This air fryer tuna noodle casserole recipe is the perfect modern twist on a classic dish. By cooking everything in one pot, you save cleanup time while still turning out a delicious dinner. Plus, you don’t need to heat up the house by turning on the big oven!
While it’s perfect for dinner, this casserole also reheats well for a quick lunch option the next day. Feel free to pair with some bread of your choice or a nice salad as well.
I always love classic comfort food, as it’s cheap and filling and the whole family loves it. Feel free to tweak the seasonings to make it your own and enjoy!
Katie’s tip
If you still need more food inspiration, then check out my favorite Canned Tuna Air Fryer Recipes, and try something else delicious!
Easy Air Fryer Tuna Casserole Recipe
Equipment
- Casserole dish (or similar, like cake pan, that fits in your air fryer)
- Spatula (or spoon; for mixing)
Ingredients
- 2 cups dry egg noodles
- 1 ½ cups chicken stock or milk
- 10.5 ounce can condensed cream of celery coup
- 1 Shallot (finely diced)
- ½ cup frozen peas
- 5 ounce can tuna, drained and broken up (Albacore preferred)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp dried dill
- ½ tsp dried parsley
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese
Crumb Topping
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 Tbsp butter
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°F (or the closest setting your air fryer has)
- Add the dry noodles into a greased casserole dish that fits in your air fryer2 cups dry egg noodles
- In a bowl, combine the broth or milk with the soup, peas, tuna, shallot, seasonings, and ¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese, stirring to combine. You can do this right in your cooking pan along with the noodles if you have room1 ½ cups chicken stock or milk, 10.5 ounce can condensed cream of celery coup, 1 Shallot, ½ cup frozen peas, 5 ounce can tuna, drained and broken up, 1 tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp dried dill, ½ tsp dried parsley, 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp black pepper, ¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Pour the mixture over top of the noodles, making sure to submerge the noodles completely
- Place into the preheated air fryer basket
- Cook on the air fry setting for 20 minutes at 375°F, stopping halfway to stir
- While that’s cooking, melt the butter in a small bowl. Add the panko breadcrumbs to the butter and toss until thoroughly coated1 Tbsp butter, ¼ cup panko breadcrumbs
- After the 20 minutes have elapsed, check to make sure the noodles are cooked (adding additional time as needed)
- Top the casserole with the remaining ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese and the panko mixture½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Cook for an additional 3-5 minutes until cheese is melted and panko browns on top (I did mine for 4)
- Top with more herbs if desired, and serve warm!
Notes
- Other types of noodles can be swapped in, but cooking times will vary based on the size and shape you choose, so you’ll need to check them and adjust as you cook
- Milk will give a creamier texture than the broth, but both work fine
- You may substitute cream of mushroom soup in place of the cream of celery
- About ¼ of a yellow or sweet onion can replace the shallot
- Feel free to use different frozen veggies – peas and carrots, mushrooms, or broccoli are other good choices
- You can double the tuna if you want a meatier dish
- All the seasonings are adjustable and swappable based on taste preferences. While fresh herbs do have more flavor, dried are more convenient and likely to be on hand
- If you don’t like cheddar, swiss, fontina, or a Mexican blend are other options that work well
- Alternative topping options in place of panko: crushed cornflakes, crushed potato chips, fried onions
- You can use olive oil or similar in place of the butter if you like
- My noodles were very al dente after 20 minutes, so I ended up doing 25 minutes total. However, times will vary based on your specific air fryer and your doneness preferences
- Stirring halfway through is important as the top of your casserole will brown as it cooks. This prevents burning while you wait for the noodles to cook. It will look soupy, don’t worry and just trust the process!
- The casserole will thicken slightly as it cools, so feel free to give it 5 minutes or so before serving if you want to make it easier to remove
- Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand of ingredients, any substitutions made, and quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only
Nutrition
