Tuna Noodle Casserole — My Kids Ask for This Every Week

Is It Fancy? No. Do My Kids Ask for It Every Week? Absolutely.

Tuna noodle casserole doesn’t get the respect it deserves, and I am here to change that. This is the ultimate from-the-pantry, feed-your-family-on-a-budget dinner that my kids genuinely love and ask for by name. Growing up, my dad didn’t like tuna, so this was our special treat meal whenever he was out of town — me and my brother curled up in the wood-paneled living room watching Star Wars on HBO. Pure nostalgia. Now I make it for my seven people and it disappears every single time.

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you purchase through my links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting StephanieCooksForACrowd.com!

See the complete shopping list ↓

Tuna Noodle Casserole

A classic comfort food casserole the whole crowd will love — creamy, filling, and topped with buttery crushed Ritz crackers. Simple ingredients, minimal prep, and it's on the table in under an hour.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Servings: 8

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Ingredients Method Video Notes

Ingredients

  

• 1 16 oz box elbow noodles, cooked and drained
• 3 5 oz cans chunk light tuna, drained
• 2 10.5 oz cans condensed cream of chicken soup
• ½ cup mayonnaise
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 sleeve Ritz crackers crushed

Method

 

1. Cook elbow noodles according to package directions. Drain and pour into a 9×13 pan.
2. Add drained tuna, cream of chicken soup, mayonnaise, salt, and pepper.
3. Mix everything together well and spread evenly in the pan.
4. Top with crushed Ritz crackers.
5. Bake uncovered at 350°F for 15–20 minutes. Enjoy!

Video

Notes

No need to add extra liquid — the cream of chicken soup and mayo create the perfect creamy sauce on their own.

Crush the Ritz crackers while they’re still in the sleeve for easy cleanup. For extra golden topping, broil for the last 2 minutes.

I have been making this tuna noodle casserole since my kids were little and it has never once come home with leftovers. The combination of elbow noodles, tuna, cream of chicken soup, and mayonnaise sounds humble — and it is — but that is exactly the point. This is a weeknight dinner that comes together entirely from your pantry, costs very little to make, and gets the whole family to the table without complaint.

The cracker topping is non-negotiable in my house. Crushed Ritz crackers on top go golden and buttery in the oven and give you that beautiful contrast of crunchy topping over warm, creamy noodles underneath. It looks simple on a plate but every single person who tries it goes back for seconds.

Can I add vegetables? Absolutely — some people love adding frozen peas, diced carrots, or celery right into the mix before baking. My kids prefer them on the side, so I serve peas and carrots separately and let everyone do their own thing. You do what works for your family.

Can I substitute the cream of chicken soup? You can! Some families use cream of mushroom or make a homemade white sauce instead. I have tried both and always come back to cream of chicken — it is what my mom used and what my kids grew up on. But there is no wrong answer here. And if you want a little food history rabbit hole, Tasting Table has a great piece on why tuna noodle casserole became the quintessential American comfort food — it is a fun read.

What do you serve with it? We almost always do a simple vegetable on the side — peas and carrots, green beans, or whatever you have. A piece of buttered bread or a roll is never wrong either. It is a complete, filling dinner that stretches easily if you need to feed a few extra people.

Find the Pyrex 9×13 baking dish and all the tools I use in my kitchen on my Shop My Kitchen page!

Tuna Noodle Casserole — More Easy Casserole Recipes

If you love a simple, crowd-pleasing casserole that comes together fast, here are a few more favorites from my kitchen:

• Poppy Seed Chicken — The Casserole I’m Not Allowed to Skip at a Potluck — Creamy, buttery, and absolutely addictive. This one has a cracker topping too and it is always the first dish to disappear.
• One Pan Taco Casserole — Everything you love about taco night in one easy baked dish. My family goes crazy for this one.
• Quick and Easy Tater Tot Casserole — Breakfast for dinner at its best. Cheesy, crispy, and ready in under an hour.

Want crowd-friendly recipes like this one in your inbox every Saturday? Join Stephanie’s weekly newsletter — it’s free, it’s fun, and there’s always room at the table!

Tuna Noodle Casserole — About Stephanie’s Recipes

Stephanie’s recipes are a little bit of everything — treasured old family recipes passed down through generations, dishes she has developed and made her own over the years, great finds from church ladies (because if you want a good recipe, ask a church lady!), and inspiration from food bloggers and corners of the internet. Sometimes she flexes her culinary muscles and creates something spectacular. But most of the time? Quick, easy, and absolutely delicious. Because at the end of the day, Stephanie cooks for her family and her people — and the best recipe is the one that brings everyone to the table, keeps them there a little longer, and leaves them happy and full.