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    Popular » Recipes » Instant Pot

    Instant Pot Tuna Noodle Casserole

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see disclosure for more information. Published: Feb 13, 2023 by Dee

    Instant Pot Tuna Noodle Casserole with pasta, peas and carrots in a cheesy creamy sauce is a quick and easy dinner the whole family will love! This homemade tuna casserole recipe is made from scratch without soup or boxed mixes, and it's absolutely delicious! via @meamelInstant Pot Tuna Noodle Casserole with pasta, peas and carrots in a cheesy creamy sauce is a quick and easy dinner the whole family will love! This homemade tuna casserole recipe is made from scratch without soup or boxed mixes, and it's absolutely delicious! via @meamel

    Instant Pot Tuna Noodle Casserole without soup has pasta, peas and carrots in a cheesy creamy sauce. An easy dinner the whole family will love! This homemade tuna casserole recipe is made from scratch without soup or boxed mixes, and it's absolutely delicious!

    Jump to Recipe -
    instant pot tuna noodle casserole with frozen peas and carrots in white bowl with cheese and parsley
    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • How to Make Instant Pot Tuna Casserole
    • Cooking Time
    • Variations
    • How to Store
    • Cooking Tips
    • More Instant Pot Casserole Recipes
    • Recipe
    • Reviews

    If you've ever had old fashioned tuna noodle casserole, you know it's definitely comfort food. Back in the day, my mom made the best tuna noodle casserole recipe and a lot of other recipes with canned tuna, including Tuna Helper and tuna fish patties -- especially during Lent when we ate meatless meals often.

    I make my Instant Pot Tuna Casserole recipe from scratch without cream of mushroom soup. It's super easy, budget friendly and a quick weeknight meal. If you're looking for easy Instant Pot recipes, you'll love this pressure cooker tuna noodle casserole!

    By the way, this easy recipe is done in 30 minutes, with almost no prep work. The perfect quick weeknight meal! Best of all, even my pickiest eater liked it!

    Ingredients

    You can make this Instant Pot tuna pasta using pantry staples and ingredients from your fridge and freezer:

    • Canned tuna - I use albacore tuna packed in water
    • Egg noodles -- You can use yolk free pasta if you have it
    • Chicken broth -- for flavor, or vegetable broth
    • Spices -- Salt, pepper, garlic powder, dried onions or onion powder and herbes de Provence
    • Cheddar cheese -- or cheddar blend, shredded
    • Heavy cream -- or heavy whipping cream
    • Frozen veggies -- I use a blend of frozen peas and carrots or mixed veggies

    How to Make Instant Pot Tuna Casserole

    Since the tuna is already cooked, you basically just dump the dry pasta and everything into the electric pressure cooker and press start. But, I'll walk you through this simple recipe, and you can find step-by-step full directions in the printable recipe card.

    First step -- Add the uncooked egg noodles first, then some low sodium chicken broth, chicken stock or vegetable broth.

    You could also use water if you want. I just like the extra flavor you get from using broth.

    egg noodles and tuna in instant pot

    Next, add your drained tuna and the seasonings. I love adding herbes de Provence seasoning blend when I make cook with chicken or turkey, so I used some here. If you can't find it, that's fine.

    It just adds a little extra flavor. You can also use Italian seasoning or dried parsley or just the basic salt, pepper, garlic and dried onions.

    You'll add the cheese and heavy cream after pressure cooking. This helps to avoid getting the burn notice and prevents the dairy products from curdling.

    egg noodles and tuna fish in pressure cooker with spices mix

    Cooking Time

    Egg noodles cook faster than other pasta. So, pressure cook the tuna casserole for 2 minutes on high pressure followed by a quick release.

    If you need to use penne, shells, macaroni or other thicker dried pasta, you'll want to increase the cook time to 4 minutes.

    After pressure cooking, stir in mixed vegetables, heavy cream and shredded cheese. I used a cheddar blend  here, but I like using extra sharp cheddar, colby jack or Monterey jack, too.

    mix shredded cheese and peas and carrots in instant pot casserole

    The tuna mixture might look like it has too much liquid, but don't worry. It will definitely thicken up as it cools down. You can turn off the keep warm setting, and let it sit in the pot or transfer to a serving bowl or dish if you want.

    Tender noodles, flaky tuna and vegetables in a perfectly seasoned creamy sauce. This is definitely the best instant pot tuna casserole out there!

    And that's all, folks! Time to dig in and enjoy this super cheesy one pot meal. You don't even need a side dish, although we love to serve dinner rolls with this delicious family meal.

    pressure cooker tuna casserole on wooden spoon

    Variations

    If you have the Duo Crisp, Ninja Foodi or mealthy crisplid or any pressure cooker that crisps with an air fryer lid, you can top this easy Instant Pot tuna casserole with a crispy topping, such as bread crumbs, cracker crumbs or crushed potato chips. Then, spritz a little cooking spray or add melted butter, and crisp it up before serving.

    Or, transfer the cooked tuna casserole to a baking dish (grease with olive oil or butter), add toppings, and bake until the top is golden brown and the casserole is bubbly. You can do this in your air fryer toaster oven, as well.

    If you want to add cream of celery soup, cream of mushroom soup or any cream soups to tuna noodle casserole in Instant Pot, you can add it before pressure cooking. Don't stir everything together until after pressure cooking.

    instant pot tuna casserole in white serving bowl

    How to Store

    When refrigerated in an airtight container, this easy tuna casserole should last for 3 to 4 days -- if it isn't gone by then. Ours is usually gone by the next day! You can always freeze leftover tuna casserole for longer storage.

    Reheat this classic casserole in the microwave.

    Cooking Tips

    Be sure to add the cream and cheese after pressure cooking to prevent getting the burn notice.

    Egg noodles cook faster than other pasta -- 2 minutes. If using a different type of pasta, cook for 4 minutes. Always use a quick release or controlled quick release with pasta.

    If you want to make tuna casserole with mushroom soup, add the soup before pressure cooking, but don't stir everything together. You can it after cooking, as well.

    The casserole will thicken as it cools down and absorb the extra liquid. No need to thicken the tuna casserole unless you want to add more cheese.

    More Instant Pot Casserole Recipes

    • Easy Instant Pot Turkey Noodle Casserole
    • Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Casserole
    • Instant Pot Pierogi Casserole

    Recipe

    instant pot tuna noodle casserole in white bowl with crackers and cheese

    Instant Pot Tuna Noodle Casserole

    Published by Dee
    Instant Pot Tuna Noodle Casserole with pasta, peas and carrots in a cheesy creamy sauce is a quick and easy dinner the whole family will love! This homemade tuna casserole recipe is made from scratch without soup or boxed mixes, and it's absolutely delicious!
    5 from 27 votes
    Print Recipe Share by Text Share by Email
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    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 2 mins
    pressure time 10 mins
    Total Time 17 mins
    Course Main
    Cuisine American
    Servings 10
    Calories 321 kcal

    Equipment

    • Instant Pot Pressure Cooker

    Ingredients
      

    • 12 ounces egg noodles uncooked
    • 32 ounces low sodium chicken broth
    • 10 ounces canned tuna drained, 2 5-oz cans or large 12 ounce can
    • 2 teaspoons dried minced onion flakes or 1 teaspoon onion powder
    • 1 teaspoon sea salt
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper
    • 1 teaspoon herbes de Provence optional
    • 1 cup mixed vegetables thawed
    • ½ cup heavy cream
    • 3 cups shredded cheese

    Instructions
     

    • Add the egg noodles to the Instant Pot, then pour chicken broth over and around noodles
    • Put drained tuna over noodles, and top with salt, pepper, dried onions, garlic powder and herbes de Provence
    • Place lid on pressure cooker, turn vent to Sealing position, and hit PRESSURE COOK for 2 minutes
    • Pot will take a few minutes to reach pressure, then count down and cook. When pot beeps, do a quick release
    • When pin drops, carefully open lid, and stir in mixed vegetables
    • Stir in heavy cream, and gradually stir in cheese, 1 cup at a time. Liquid will thicken as casserole cools

    Notes

    Recipe was made in 6 quart Instant Pot electric pressure cooker but can be  made in 8 quart without any adjustments.
    Any shredded cheese can be used here.

    Nutrition information is estimated. Please do your own calculation to fit special diets.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 321kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 18gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 77mgSodium: 544mgPotassium: 287mgFiber: 2gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 1345IUVitamin C: 2.6mgCalcium: 204mgIron: 1.4mg
    Tried this recipe? Please comment and rate it! Show me your dish on Instagram!Mention @meatloafandmelodrama or tag #meatloafandmelodrama!

    I hope you enjoy this creamy tuna noodle casserole recipe as much as we do.

    If you do make this creamy tuna casserole, please leave a star rating and/or comment.

    For more delicious recipes, easy Instant Pot recipes and casserole recipes, sign up for the weekly newsletter and follow on social media.

    ip tuna  pasta with egg noodles and cheese in a white bowl

    Recipe originally published in 2019 and updated in 2023.

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Annette says

      October 07, 2020 at 4:18 pm

      Made this tonight for a quick dinner and it was a hit! In over 30 years of marriage I've never made Tuna Noodle Casserole until tonight but I'll make this one again.

      Notes: I didn't have peas so I put fresh broccoli and mushrooms in with the pressure cooked ingredients - excellent. I used extra sharp cheddar but a little less than the recipe mentioned. I'm glad I did.

      Thanks for a fast, easy, and inexpensive treat!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        October 09, 2020 at 10:32 pm

        Thanks, Annette! I'm so glad you liked it!

    2. Jennifer says

      May 01, 2020 at 12:21 pm

      My first pressure cooker (8qu Ninja Foodi) is arriving today and I've been looking for a tuna casserole recipe to try. Yours sounds great, but I'm wondering what kind of adjustments I would need to make if I used pasta instead of egg noodles? Thanks in advance!

      Reply
      • Dee says

        May 01, 2020 at 12:30 pm

        The general rule of thumb is to cook pasta for half the time recommended on the box or bag. I usually cook pasta for 4 to 5 minutes, and it's perfect!

      • Jennifer says

        May 01, 2020 at 11:45 pm

        Thank you! The timing isn't much different than the egg noodles. The quantities of the pasta and the broth and such don't require any adjustments? And, after stirring in the cream and cheese, can I top it with crushed crispy onions and cook it with the crisping lid without ruining it? So sorry to be such a bother!

      • Dee says

        May 02, 2020 at 1:02 pm

        No bother! You shouldn't need to make any adjustments, although I'm not familiar with the Ninja. I would definitely try the crisping lid -- sounds delish!

    3. allison says

      March 20, 2020 at 4:35 pm

      Do you think I could substitute coconut milk for the cream?

      Reply
      • Dee says

        March 21, 2020 at 3:28 pm

        It might not be as thick, but I don't see why not!

    4. Karen says

      January 29, 2020 at 5:08 am

      So impressed with this recipe! Incredibly easy, and delicious, with the bonus of it being a one pot meal. It has made it into our regular rotation! Thank you!!!!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        January 29, 2020 at 7:23 am

        Thank you so much, Karen! I'm glad you like it!

    5. Bek says

      December 15, 2019 at 6:28 pm

      Easy Sunday night dinner! Certainly not my mother’s tuna casserole. 🙂 So fresh, easy, and delicious. Crowd pleaser on a snowy night...even the pickiest eater cleaned her plate. (Note: doubled the veggies so we compensated by adding a bit more chicken broth and cream to adjust for that. Worked out perfectly!)5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        December 15, 2019 at 8:26 pm

        I'm so glad everyone liked the casserole --even the picky one (I have one of those too.) Thanks, Bek!

    6. LVPHYL says

      December 04, 2019 at 7:03 am

      Wonderful, easy, fast weeknight meal, tasty and filling. I made it exactly as written and would not change a thing. My man was happy as a clam!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        December 04, 2019 at 7:54 am

        Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed the casserole!

    7. Alicia Vizuet says

      November 03, 2019 at 10:52 am

      I made it and OMG best recipe ever. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Dee says

        November 03, 2019 at 9:15 pm

        Thanks for letting me know -- So glad you liked it!

    8. Amber Scott says

      October 23, 2019 at 8:01 pm

      Would cooked chicken work just as well as the tuna?

      Reply
      • Dee says

        October 24, 2019 at 7:44 am

        Yes, it would. I also have a recipe for chicken noodle casserole with slightly different ingredients.

    9. Amy Asqueta says

      October 13, 2019 at 8:20 pm

      This is so easy and delicious!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        October 15, 2019 at 6:34 pm

        Thanks, Amy. I'm glad you liked it!

    10. Mary Jones says

      July 28, 2019 at 7:33 am

      I made it last night. Love the convenience. My man, however, requested I add a can of cream of mushroom soup to the finished product. His mother made this casserole and it was very creamy. So to please him, I put it in. I also cut back on the cheese. Probably just 1-1/2 cups. I didn't have heavy cream so I used half n half which I use for coffee. Used frozen peas n carrots instead of mixed veggies. Added a small can of mushrooms. Overall, this is a winner. Will be making this again, I'm sure. I like the versatility of being able to swap out ingredients for what you have on hand.5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        July 29, 2019 at 2:00 pm

        Thanks, Mary! This is one of those recipes that's sooo easy to customize. 🙂

    11. MR says

      April 19, 2019 at 3:27 pm

      My 4 year old asked for three servings and then requested it for his school lunch next week! Thanks for a quick and easy recipe!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        April 19, 2019 at 10:08 pm

        Yea! So glad your family liked this! Thanks for letting me know. 🙂

    12. Sandra | A Dash of Sanity says

      March 24, 2019 at 2:22 pm

      This will be a sure hit for dinner!5 stars

      Reply
    13. Nicole says

      March 15, 2019 at 3:12 pm

      I have a 10 quart. Do you think it will cook just fine in that as well without adjustments ?

      Reply
      • Dee says

        March 16, 2019 at 10:16 am

        If there's enough liquid to reach pressure and the noodles are mostly covered, it should be fine.

    14. Jenn says

      March 14, 2019 at 10:33 am

      Helloooo comfort food! I can't wait to try this casserole in my IP! Thanks!5 stars

      Reply
    15. James says

      March 14, 2019 at 6:46 am

      The kids picked this one and and made it themselves. Easy and quite the comfort food!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        March 14, 2019 at 9:35 am

        It's so easy! Glad you liked it, James!

    16. Allyson Zea says

      March 12, 2019 at 12:06 pm

      I love tuna noodle casserole! I can't wait to try it in the instant pot!

      Reply
      • Dee says

        March 12, 2019 at 10:09 pm

        It's so easy in the Instant Pot! 🙂

    17. Deseree says

      March 12, 2019 at 11:52 am

      Nothing beats great tasting classics like this traditional dish. This brings back so many memories from when my mom used to make this weekly. Without the instant pot and way more time on her hands 😉5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        March 12, 2019 at 9:54 pm

        My mom used to make this every week too! 🙂

    18. Jacquelyn Hastert says

      March 12, 2019 at 11:51 am

      Time to dust the instant pot off and get to making this classic!5 stars

      Reply
    19. Lora says

      March 12, 2019 at 3:04 am

      What a fun weeknight dinner idea!!! Another great way to use the IP!

      Reply
    20. Chrissie Baker says

      March 11, 2019 at 1:49 pm

      Husband loves tuna noodle casserole and WE love the instant pot! We probably have this once a month, especially during winter months and it is so good. A true comfort food that you can add or subtract veggies you like, spices, etc. Thanks!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        March 12, 2019 at 12:25 am

        I think you've described this tuna casserole perfectly! 🙂

    Newer Comments »

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