Tuna casserole became a staple of American households in the early- to mid-20th century. Thanks to canned tuna and condensed soups, it was economical and simple to prepare, and could easily fill the bellies of an entire family. Today, it may be considered somewhat old fashioned and kitschy, but like other traditional American casseroles, it's a solid base comfort food recipe that invites all kinds of flavor and texture experimentation to elevate it.
The most includes pasta, typically egg noodles, canned tuna, and a cream sauce that binds it all together. The sauce can be made using canned soups or crafted from scratch, such as a bechamel or mornay sauce. Peas are traditionally added to give it a vegetable component.
Any one of these essential elements — pasta, tuna, sauce, vegetable — can be swapped out, upgraded, or experimented with to take your tuna casserole to the next level. Here are 14 creative ways to upgrade this classic dish. 1.
Splurge on high-quality, gourmet canned tuna The sheer variety of canned tuna on grocery store shelves can make your head spin. Countless brands, some packed in water, some in oil, light or white, solid or chunk. What does all of that mean, anyway? You can take a , but here are the basics.
White tuna is albacore, while light tuna can be several other species, typically yellowfin or skipjack. Albacore tends to have a milder flavor, while the others will taste more overtly fishy. Whether it's packed in oil or water affects its flavor, and .
