Tuna casserole recipe from Barefoot Contessa. Throughout this post, I will show you how to make delicious tuna casserole by following the barefoot contessa method. Ina Garten's tuna casserole is similar to Martha Stewart's recipe, which is why I thought I'd make a post about it.

Make sure you follow the recipe exactly to get a perfect tuna casserole. Please feel free to leave a comment if you still have questions about barefoot contessa tuna casserole recipes.
Barefoot Contessa Tuna Casserole Ingredients
- Coarse salt and ground pepper
- ¾ pound tubetti or elbow macaroni
- 1 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
- ½ ounce Parmesan, grated (2 tablespoons)
- 4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, diced small
- 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 Tuna Casserole
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Prepare pasta according to package instructions, but cook it two minutes less than recommended (it will be under-cooked).
- Drain the cooked pasta and set it aside.
- Put panko, Parmesan, and 2 teaspoons of oil into a small bowl and mix together.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a pot over medium-high heat.
- Add onion, season with salt and pepper, and cook for about 8 minutes, until softened.
- Flour the onion and whisk it well to coat it.
- Add milk and broth and slowly whisk.
- Continually stir the sauce as it comes to a boil.
- Stir frequently while simmering, until sauce has thickened, it will take about 8 to 10 minutes.
- Add pasta, tuna, and peas, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- You can also add your favorite seasoning such as dry herbs, rosemary, etc.
- Place tuna mixture into a greased 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
- Top with panko mixture. Make sure to cover all the tuna casserole.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until sauce is bubbling and crust is golden and lightly brown.
- Let cool for a few minutes before serving.
- Serve and enjoy.
How To Store Barefoot Contessa Tuna Casserole
Before Storing Tuna Casserole Make sure it is completely cooled and reaches room temperature. Once it cooled, Wrap the casserole with plastic wrap then with aluminum foil. Here you can store it in the fridge or in the Freezer.
Also, You can divide tuna casserole into portions before storing. This will make it easy for you to reheat.

How long can tuna Casserole sit out?
Tuna casserole can be set out at room temperature for 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 covered until dinner time.
How long does tuna casserole last in the fridge?
Properly stored, baked tuna casserole will last for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. 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.
How long does tuna casserole last in the freezer?
A properly stored baked tuna casserole will keep in the freezer for at least three months, but it may last even longer. For storing tuna casserole correctly, follow the fridge method above, then use a freezer bag. Tuna casserole should be stored in portions for easy reheating.

How To Reheat Barefoot Contessa 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.
It is only important to keep an eye on the temperature before serving. According to the USDA, leftover food should be reheated until it reaches 165°F, this is the ideal temperature.
In The Oven:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Make sure the tuna casserole is tightly covered with tin foil or the lid until the last 5 to 10 minutes of heating. That way, you won't lose any moisture.
- Reheat the tuna casserole for 35 to 45 minutes or until it reaches 165° to 175°F.
- Serve and enjoy.
In The Microwave:
- Divide the tuna casserole into servings and place each in a microwave-safe bowl.
- Put the lid on the bowl or cover the dish with plastic wrap that is microwave-safe.
- Turn the microwave to medium-high and let it heat for up to 3 minutes.
- Check if it's warm enough, or give it more time if necessary.
In The Air Fryer:
- Preheat the air fryer to 350°F.
- Put the tuna casserole into a bowl that can be placed in the air fryer basket.
- Cover the bowl with aluminum foil.
- Reheat for about 15 to 20 minutes.
- Make sure the temperature reaches 165°F, if not, give it more time.

What To Serve With Barefoot Contessa Tuna Casserole
Barefoot Contessa 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.
Following is a list of different dishes that can be served with barefoot contessa tuna casserole:
- Crispy Chicken Fritta Recipe
- Vegetable Beef Soup Pioneer Woman
- inas corn salad Recipe
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts
- Mushroom Barley Soup
- Butternut Squash Salad
- Hardee’s Biscuits and Gravy Recipe
- Quinoa Salad
- Spinach in Puff Pastry
Barefoot Contessa 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
Tuna casseroles tend to come out too dry for a few reasons: There is not enough liquid in the mix and the noodles soak up all the liquid. The baking dish you are using may be too large for the amount of casserole you have. During the first five minutes of baking, you did not cover the baking dish with foil. Or the sauce had too much flour in it.
The best way to prevent tuna casserole from drying out is to add a little moisture. Heat 1 ½ cups of chicken or vegetable broth and pour it over the top. To make sure that it absorbs the liquid, cover with foil and let it stand for a few minutes.
You can freeze tuna casseroles that are unbaked/uncooked, and they will keep for at least 3 months. Divide into portions and freeze in bags. When you want to reheat, put the frozen bags in a warm bath and once they are defrosted, follow the baking instructions.

Barefoot Contessa Tuna Casserole
Description
Tuna casserole recipe from Barefoot Contessa. Throughout this post, I will show you how to make delicious tuna casserole by following the barefoot contessa method.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Prepare pasta according to package instructions, but cook it two minutes less than recommended (it will be under-cooked).
- Drain the cooked pasta and set it aside.
- Put panko, Parmesan, and 2 teaspoons of oil into a small bowl and mix together.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a pot over medium-high heat.
- Add onion, season with salt and pepper, and cook for about 8 minutes, until softened.
- Flour the onion and whisk it well to coat it.
- Add milk and broth and slowly whisk.
- Continually stir the sauce as it comes to a boil.
- Stir frequently while simmering, until sauce has thickened, it will take about 8 to 10 minutes.
- Add pasta, tuna, and peas, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- You can also add your favorite seasoning such as dry herbs, rosemary, etc.
- Place tuna mixture into a greased 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
- Top with panko mixture. Make sure to cover all the tuna casserole.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until sauce is bubbling and crust is golden and lightly brown.
- Let cool for a few minutes before serving.
- Serve and enjoy.
Serving Size 1 Cup (236g)
Servings 1
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 344
- Calories from Fat 139
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 15g24%
- Saturated Fat 5.7g29%
- Trans Fat 0.3g
- Cholesterol 60mg20%
- Sodium 778mg33%
- Potassium 294mg9%
- Total Carbohydrate 32g11%
- Dietary Fiber 2.8g12%
- Sugars 1.8g
- Protein 20g40%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
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