Barefoot Contessa's Tuna Casserole

Barefoot Contessa's tuna casserole contains canned tuna, peas, pasta, and a creamy sauce with a panko topping. It makes a wonderful family meal during the week because it includes several ingredients that you may have on hand already and is very easy to prepare.

The following instructions will help you achieve a perfect tuna casserole. Please feel free to leave a comment if you still have questions about Barefoot Contessa's tuna casserole recipe.

Barefoot Contessa's Tuna Casserole Ingredients

• ¾ pounds tubetti or elbow macaroni
• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
• ½ ounce Parmesan, grated (2 tablespoons)
• 4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 1 yellow onion, diced small
• Coarse salt and ground pepper, to taste
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 ½ cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 ½ cups whole milk
• 2 cans (6 ounces each) solid light tuna packed in water, drained and flaked
• 1 cup frozen peas, thawed

How to Make Barefoot Contessa's Tuna Casserole

1. Preheat the oven to 425 F. 
2. Prepare the pasta according to its package instructions, but cook it 2 minutes less than the recommended time so that it is slightly under-cooked. 
3. Drain the cooked pasta and set it aside. 
4. Put the panko, Parmesan, and 2 teaspoon of oil into a small bowl and mix together.
5. Heat the remaining 2 teaspoon of oil in a pot over medium-high heat.
6. Add the onion, season with salt and pepper to taste, and cook for about 8 minutes, until softened.
7. Add the flour to the onion and stir until combined.
8. While slowly whisking, add the milk and broth.
9. Continually stir the sauce as it comes to a boil.
10. Stir frequently while simmering, until the sauce has thickened, about 8 to 10 minutes.
11. Add the pasta, tuna, and peas, and season with salt and pepper to taste. 
12. You can also add your favorite seasonings here such as dry herbs like dried rosemary or dried thyme.
13. Place the tuna mixture into a greased 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
14. Top with the panko mixture, ensuring the entire casserole is covered.
15. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until sauce is bubbling and the crust is golden and lightly browned. 
16. Let cool for a few minutes before serving.
17. Serve and enjoy.

How to Store Barefoot Contessa's Tuna Casserole

Before storing your tuna casserole, make sure it is completely cooled and reaches room temperature. Once it is cooled, wrap it with plastic wrap followed by aluminum foil. Then, you can choose to store it in either the fridge or the freezer.

If you prefer, you could divide the tuna casserole into portions before storing it. This will make it easier for you to reheat it.

How Long Can Tuna Casserole Sit Out?

You can safely leave your tuna casserole at room temperature for up to 2 hours, so make sure to store it in the fridge or freezer before this time. The tuna casserole can be prepared a couple of hours before serving but needs to be refrigerated and covered until dinner time.

How Long Does Tuna Casserole Last in the Fridge?

Properly stored, baked tuna casserole will last in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days. It can be wrapped in plastic and aluminum foil or divided into portions and kept in glass containers. Just make sure to let it cool before you store it.

How Long Does Tuna Casserole Last in the Freezer?

A properly stored baked tuna casserole will keep in the freezer for at least 3 months, but it may last even longer. For storing tuna casserole correctly, follow the fridge method above, and then place the wrapped casserole in a freezer bag. It is ideal to store tuna casserole in portions for easy reheating.

How to Reheat Barefoot Contessa's Tuna Casserole

Reheating leftover tuna casserole (cold, not frozen) usually takes about 40 minutes in the oven at 350 F, and 20 minutes in the air fryer at the same temperature, and only 3 to 5 minutes in the microwave. According to the USDA, leftover food should be reheated until it reaches 165 F before serving.

In the Oven:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. 
2. Make sure the tuna casserole is tightly covered with aluminum foil until the last 5 to 10 minutes of heating. That way, you won't lose any moisture.
3. Reheat the tuna casserole for 35 to 45 minutes or until it reaches 165 F to 175 F.
4. Serve and enjoy.

In the Microwave:

1. Divide the tuna casserole into servings and place each serving in a microwave-safe bowl.
2. Put a lid on the bowl or cover it with plastic wrap that is microwave-safe. 
3. Microwave on medium-high for 3 minutes.
4. Check if it's warm enough, or give it more time if necessary.

In the Air Fryer:

1. Preheat the air fryer to 350 F.
2. Put the tuna casserole into a bowl that can be placed in an air fryer basket.
3. Cover the bowl with aluminum foil.
4. Reheat for about 15 to 20 minutes.
5. Make sure the temperature reaches 165 F before serving it.

What to Serve With Barefoot Contessa's Tuna Casserole

Barefoot Contessa's tuna casserole can be paired with a lot of different dishes such as soups, salads, stews, and some snacks such as cheese bites, chicken wings, and roasted vegetables.

Here is a list of different dishes that can be served with barefoot contessa tuna casserole:

• Crispy Chicken Fritta Recipe
• Pioneer Woman's Vegetable Beef Soup
• Ina Garten's Corn Salad
• Roasted Brussels Sprouts
• Mushroom Barley Soup
• Butternut Squash Salad
• Hardee’s Biscuits and Gravy Recipe
• Quinoa Salad
• Spinach in Puff Pastry

Barefoot Contessa's Tuna Casserole Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Cup (236g)

• Calories from Fat 139
• Calories 344
• Total Fat 15g
• Saturated Fat 5.7g 
• Trans Fat 0.3g
• Cholesterol 60mg
• Sodium 778mg
• Potassium 294mg
• Total Carbohydrates 32g
• Dietary Fiber 2.8g 
• Sugars 1.8g 
• Protein 20g

Frequently Asked Questions

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Barefoot Contessa’s Tuna Casserole

Yield: 4 servings

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Additional Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Barefoot Contessa’s tuna casserole contains canned tuna, peas, pasta, and a creamy sauce with a panko topping. It makes a wonderful family meal during the week because it includes several ingredients that you may have on hand already and is very easy to prepare.

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Ingredients

• ¾ pounds tubetti or elbow macaroni
• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
• ½ ounce Parmesan, grated (2 tablespoons)
• 4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 1 yellow onion, diced small
• Coarse salt and ground pepper, to taste
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 ½ cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 ½ cups whole milk
• 2 cans (6 ounces each) solid light tuna packed in water, drained and flaked
• 1 cup frozen peas, thawed

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 425 F. 
2. Prepare the pasta according to its package instructions, but cook it 2 minutes less than the recommended time so that it is slightly under-cooked. 
3. Drain the cooked pasta and set it aside.
4. Put the panko, Parmesan, and 2 teaspoon of oil into a small bowl and mix together.
5. Heat the remaining 2 teaspoon of oil in a pot over medium-high heat.
6. Add the onion, season with salt and pepper to taste, and cook for about 8 minutes, until softened.
7. Add the flour to the onion and stir until combined.
8. While slowly whisking, add the milk and broth.
9. Continually stir the sauce as it comes to a boil.
10. Stir frequently while simmering, until the sauce has thickened, about 8 to 10 minutes.
11. Add the pasta, tuna, and peas, and season with salt and pepper to taste. 
12. You can also add your favorite seasonings here such as dry herbs like dried rosemary or dried thyme.
13. Place the tuna mixture into a greased 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
14. Top with the panko mixture, ensuring the entire casserole is covered.
15. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until sauce is bubbling and the crust is golden and lightly browned. 
16. Let cool for a few minutes before serving.
17. Serve and enjoy.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 507Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 42mgSodium: 728mgCarbohydrates: 64gFiber: 5gSugar: 9gProtein: 34g