Equipment Needed For Crock-Pot Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe:
You can use any type of canned tuna in a tuna noodle casserole. I am kind of picky when it comes to tuna and prefer solid white albacore tuna. But it is more expensive than other varieties of tuna. For a more frugal alternative look into using chunk light tuna. You will want your tuna to be packed in water not oil. However if all you have in the pantry is canned tuna packed in oil, you can drain off the oil, dump the tuna into a colander or strainer and rinse the oil off under warm running water in the sink.
If you don’t have diced pimentos on hand or cannot find them at your local grocery store you can easily omit them or instead of using frozen peas, pick up a bag of frozen peas and carrots instead.
You can try using different kinds of cheese instead of cheddar, even though I believe that cheddar is kind of a classic in and on top of tuna noodle casserole. Monterey Jack cheese is one option that melts well and has a mild flavor. American Cheese: When making tuna noodle casserole, my dad would always top it with sliced American cheese. Yep…Kraft cheese slices. You could also use Velveeta for a really cheesy experience. – Swiss Cheese – Would give an interesting tangy flavor. Pepper-Jack Cheese: It would be interesting to add some spiciness to your tuna noodle casserole by using pepper-jack cheese!
Best Sides To Serve With Slow Cooker Tuna Casserole
A crunchy and slightly textured side dish would go well with a creamy pasta dish. Imagine a dish of citrusy fruit or crisp garden salad with a zesty dressing made with fresh veggies.
For taste and variety, Slow Cooker Buttery Dill Corn on the Cob or Oven-roasted Broccoli would be excellent choices.
Add some traditional vanilla ice cream and a spicy treat like Slow Cooker Lemon Cookie Bars to your meal to make it more elegant.
- Which kind of canned tuna is best for tuna noodle casserole? I like to use albacore tuna because it has a softer flavor. Because it will be easier to drain and won’t add oil to your casserole, tuna packed in water is the best type to use for one.
- Why is my tuna casserole so dry? Casseroles can become dry during cooking if they are overcooked or if there is not enough liquid added at the beginning. When you stir the noodles and see that the casserole is getting dry, add a few tablespoons at a time of chicken broth or half-and-half. After cooking, make sure to switch the setting to “warm” to prevent drying out.
- Is it possible to make this recipe gluten-free? If so, here’s a variation for you: use dried egg noodles instead of wheat, and cut the broth and half-and-half down to ½ cup each. Moreover, make sure you replace the flour used to make the slurry with either cornstarch or gluten-free flour.
Recipe Substitutions and Additions
It’s okay to top a basic recipe with shredded cheddar cheese or another favorite cheese, with or without potato chips, if you need a few different options sometimes! (Maybe even a Manchego or Asiago if you’re feeling fancy!).
Taste-test various chip varieties or even French-fried onions (similar to your beloved green bean casserole).
If your family doesn’t think tuna is delicious, you can try making this same recipe with canned chicken that has been cooked. Try any frozen mixed vegetable variety as an additional choice; frozen corn and green beans would be delicious!