Best 6 Zesty Italian Tuna Casserole Recipes

facebook share image   twitter share image   pinterest share image   E-Mail share image

Are you looking for a delicious and easy weeknight meal that the whole family will love? If so, you are in luck! Zesty Italian tuna casserole is a quick and simple dish that is packed with flavor. With just a few simple ingredients, you can have a delicious and satisfying meal on the table in no time. This casserole is perfect for busy weeknights, and it is also a great way to use up leftover tuna. So, gather the ingredients and begin cooking this dish that will please everyone!

Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!

ZESTY ITALIAN TUNA CASSEROLE RECIPE - (4.7/5)



Zesty Italian Tuna Casserole Recipe - (4.7/5) image

Provided by á-39535

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 can or 2 packages chunk tuna
2/3 cup small or thin pasta
2 teaspoons olive oil
1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
2 1/2 teaspoons garlic, minced
1/2 cup mushrooms, sliced
1 can stewed tomatoes
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons mozzarella cheese, divided
Red pepper flakes, to taste

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Cook pasta to package directions and drain. Heat olive oil in small skillet. Sauté onions and garlic for about 5 minutes. Add mushrooms and sauté an additional 3 to 4 minutes until softened. Mix in tuna, tomatoes, red peppers, pasta and 1/4 cup of cheese. Spoon into small baking dish and bake for 10 minutes. Sprinkle with additional cheese and return to oven for another 5 minutes to melt cheese.

SPICY TOMATO-TUNA NOODLE SKILLET CASSEROLE WITH AIOLI



Spicy Tomato-Tuna Noodle Skillet Casserole With Aioli image

Inspired by a dish at Brooklyn's Saint Julivert Fisherie, this updated tuna noodle casserole is homey, bright, and pantry-forward. Chef and owner Alex Raij modeled the menu item after fideuà, a paella-style pasta dish from northern Spain. We followed her lead by toasting dry pasta like ditali or rigatoni in oil until golden brown before cooking it into the tomato sauce, giving the pasta nutty flavor and plenty of al dente texture.

Provided by Kendra Vaculin

Categories     Egg     Garlic     Olive Oil     Onion     Pasta     Tuna     Anchovy     Pepper     Parsley

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 20

Aioli
1 large egg yolk
1 garlic clove, finely grated
¼ tsp. kosher salt, plus more
½ cup (or more) extra-virgin olive oil
Casserole and Assembly
1 medium onion, cut into large pieces
2 garlic cloves
½ cup coarsely chopped roasted red peppers from a jar
3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
12 oz. rigatoni, mezzi rigatoni, ditali, or other short or medium-length straight tube pasta
2 (5-6-oz.) cans or jars oil-packed tuna
1 oil-packed anchovy fillet, coarsely chopped
1 tsp. kosher salt, divided
Freshly ground black pepper
2 Tbsp. double-concentrated or regular tomato paste
1 (14.5-oz.) can crushed tomatoes or whole peeled tomatoes with their juices, crushed
1 tsp. ground turmeric
¼ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
Coarsely chopped parsley (for serving; optional)

Steps:

  • Aioli
  • Whisk egg yolk, garlic, ¼ tsp. salt, and 2 tsp. water in a small bowl to combine. Place bowl on a kitchen towel so it won't slide around as you whisk and gradually stream in oil, whisking constantly until thick and emulsified. Aioli should be thick but pourable; gradually whisk in more oil if needed. Taste and season with more salt if desired.
  • Casserole
  • Place rack in upper third of oven; preheat to 375°F. Pulse onion, garlic, and roasted red peppers in a food processor until finely chopped; set aside.
  • Heat 3 Tbsp. olive oil in a 10" ovenproof skillet, preferably cast iron, over medium-low. Add pasta and cook, stirring often, until evenly coated in oil and lightly browned, about 5 minutes (depending on the size and shape of your pasta, you may need to work in batches). Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a large bowl. Reserve pan.
  • Drain tuna, reserving 2 Tbsp. tuna oil. place oil in reserved pan and increase heat to medium. Add anchovy, ½ tsp. salt, and reserved chopped vegetable mixture and season with pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables soften, 5-7 minutes. Add tomato paste and cook, stirring, until slightly darkened in color, about 3 minutes. Mix in toasted pasta, tomatoes, turmeric, red pepper flakes, remaining ½ tsp. salt, and 2½ cups water and bring to a boil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until pasta is slightly softened, 8-10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in drained tuna and ¼ cup water.
  • Transfer skillet to oven and bake casserole until pasta is tender and juices at the edges are bubbling, about 15 minutes. Remove from oven.
  • Heat broiler. Drizzle casserole with a little olive oil and broil until browned and crisped in spots, about 4 minutes.
  • Spoon some aioli over casserole and top with parsley if desired. Serve remaining aioli alongside.

ITALIAN TUNA CASSEROLE



Italian Tuna Casserole image

Make and share this Italian Tuna Casserole recipe from Food.com.

Provided by ratherbeswimmin

Categories     Tuna

Time 44m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 18

1 (10 ounce) box frozen chopped spinach
salt
1 lb shell pasta (medium or large, with ridges)
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces
1 medium onion, finely chopped
5 garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 cup chicken broth
2 cups milk
1/4 teaspoon grated fresh nutmeg
1 teaspoon hot sauce
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
black pepper
2 (6 ounce) cans white tuna in vegetable oil, drained
1 cup grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese
2 -3 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Steps:

  • Place spinach on a plate and microwave it for 6 minutes on HIGH to defrost it; place it in a clean kitchen towel and wring it dry; set aside.
  • While the spinach is defrosting, get a big pot of water on the stove; bring to a boil; then salt the water liberally and cook the shells to al dente.
  • While the pasta cooks, heat a deep large skillet over medium heat.
  • Add in the olive oil, then melt the butter into the oil.
  • When the butter melts, add in the onions and garlic; cook 4-5 minutes until tender.
  • Sprinkle the flour around the pan and cook for a minute, then whisk in the wine-it will cook off and the mixture will thicken almost immediately.
  • Whisk in the stock, then whisk in the milk and bring it to a bubble.
  • Reduce heat slightly; season the sauce with nutmeg, hot sauce, and mustard; season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Simmer 2-3 minutes to thicken; then add in the spinach, separating it as you add it to the sauce.
  • Preheat the broiler.
  • Back to the sauce, add in the tuna, flaking it as you go; then stir to combine.
  • Heat the spinach and tuna for a minute or so.
  • Drain the pasta and toss with the sauce.
  • Transfer mixture to a casserole dish; cover it with the cheese.
  • Place the casserole under the broiler for 2 minutes to brown the edges and the cheese.
  • Top with parsley and serve.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 929.1, Fat 28.9, SaturatedFat 12.3, Cholesterol 62, Sodium 1039.2, Carbohydrate 104.2, Fiber 6.6, Sugar 4.4, Protein 56.5

ZESTY ITALIAN CRESCENT CASSEROLE



Zesty Italian Crescent Casserole image

My kids loved this growing up ... and they still do. Easy, quick, and yummy.

Provided by Debbie Quimby

Categories     Casseroles

Time 20m

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 lb ground chuck
1/4 c onion, chopped
1 pkg spaghetti sauce mix
8 oz mozzarella cheese, grated
1/2 c sour cream
1/3 c parmesan cheese, grated
2 Tbsp squeeze butter
1 can(s) crescent rolls
1 can(s) (8 oz) tomato sauce

Steps:

  • 1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  • 2. Brown meat and onion together; drain fat, then return to pan.
  • 3. Stir in tomato sauce and spaghetti sauce mix until well blended. Heat over medium heat until hot and bubbly. Spread meat mixture into 13x9 inch baking dish.
  • 4. Combine mozzarella cheese and sour cream. Spread mixture over the top of the meat mixture.
  • 5. Separate crescent rolls into triangles and place over meat and cheese mixture. Squeeze margarine over rolls and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
  • 6. Bake for 18=25 minutes or until golden brown. Cut into squares and serve.

SPICY TUNA CASSEROLE



Spicy Tuna Casserole image

Tuna casserole with a spicy twist! Created as a variation on a recipe found at kraftfoods.com My Recipe #252065 is simple and delicious and can be a real money saver!

Provided by anonymous

Categories     Tuna

Time 45m

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 8

2 cups uncooked small shell pasta
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup milk
1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese
1 (6 ounce) can tuna
1 tablespoon curry powder (see Easy Homemade Curry Powder)
1/2 cup frozen peas
1/4 cup sliced almonds

Steps:

  • Cook pasta in salted water and preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Mix mayonnaise and milk together in a 2 quart casserole dish.
  • To this base, add cooked pasta, cheese, tuna, curry powder, and peas and mix well. Sprinkle almonds over the top.
  • Bake for 30-35 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 393.9, Fat 20.6, SaturatedFat 8, Cholesterol 48.4, Sodium 351.3, Carbohydrate 32.1, Fiber 2.3, Sugar 2.8, Protein 20.1

ITALIAN TUNA CASSEROLE



Italian Tuna Casserole image

Categories     Sauce     Tuna     Simmer     Boil

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 18

1 10-ounce box frozen chopped spinach
Salt
1 pound medium or large shell pasta or other short-cut pasta with ridges
1 tablespoon EVOO (extra-virgin olive oil), once around the pan
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 medium onion, finely chopped
5 garlic cloves, finely chopped
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 cup dry white wine, a couple of glugs
1 cup chicken stock (eyeball about 1/4 of a quart-size box-the rest can go right in the fridge)
2 cups milk
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg, or to taste
1 teaspoon hot sauce (eyeball it)
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Black pepper
2 6-ounce cans white tuna in water, drained, or 3 4-ounce cans Italian tuna in oil, drained
1 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano or Pecorino Romano cheese, 3 very generous handfuls
A handful of chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Steps:

  • Place the spinach on a plate and microwave it for 6 minutes on high to defrost it. Place it in a clean kitchen towel and wring it dry, then reserve.
  • While the spinach is defrosting, get a large pot of water on the stove for the pasta. Bring to a boil, then salt the water liberally and cook the shells to al dente.
  • While the pasta works, heat a deep, large skillet over medium heat. Add the EVOO, then melt the butter into the oil. When the butter melts, add the onions and garlic and cook until tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Sprinkle the flour around the pan and cook for a minute, then whisk in the wine-it will cook off and the mixture will thicken almost immediately. Whisk in the stock, then whisk in the milk and bring it to a bubble. Reduce the heat a bit. Season the sauce with the nutmeg, hot sauce, and mustard, then season with salt and pepper to taste. Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes to thicken, then add the spinach, separating it as you add it to the sauce.
  • Preheat the broiler.
  • Back to the sauce: add the tuna, flaking it as you go, then stir to combine. Heat the spinach and tuna through for a minute or so. Drain the pasta and toss with the sauce. Transfer the tuna to a casserole dish and cover it with the Parm or Romano. Place the casserole under the broiler for 2 minutes to brown the edges and the cheese. Top with the parsley and serve.

Tips:

  • Use high-quality tuna. Fresh or frozen tuna steaks or fillets are the best options. Avoid canned tuna, as it will not produce the same flavor or texture.
  • Cook the tuna properly. Tuna should be cooked until it is just opaque in the center. Overcooked tuna will be dry and tough.
  • Use a variety of vegetables. This recipe calls for onion, celery, and carrots, but you can also add other vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, or zucchini.
  • Use a flavorful sauce. The sauce for this casserole is made with a combination of tomato sauce, cream of celery soup, and milk. You can also add other ingredients to the sauce, such as diced tomatoes, green chilies, or Worcestershire sauce.
  • Top the casserole with cheese. A layer of cheese on top of the casserole will help to brown it and give it a delicious flavor.

Conclusion:

Zesty Italian Tuna Casserole is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. It is also a great way to use up leftover tuna. With its combination of tuna, vegetables, and a flavorful sauce, this casserole is sure to be a hit with your family and friends.

Related Topics