This incredibly easy air fryer tuna casserole cooks up perfectly with no need to pre-boil the noodles. Your air fryer makes it quick enough for a weeknight dinner!
5Ounce can tuna, drained and broken up(Albacore preferred)
1Tspgarlic powder
½Tspdried dill
½Tspdried parsley
1Tspsalt
½Tspblack pepper
¼Cupshredded cheddar cheese
Topping
½Cupshredded cheddar cheese
¼Cuppanko breadcrumbs
1Tbspbutter
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
2 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 room
1 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 coated
1 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 mixture
½ 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 (I used skim milk)
You may substitute cream of mushroom soup in place of the cream of celery if preferred
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. 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
Store leftover air fryer 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 tuna 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
Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand of ingredients, any substitutions made, and quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only
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