This instant pot tuna casserole recipe is full of tender noodles, gooey cheese, a creamy sauce, and flaky tuna! With a few pantry staples, this simple recipe makes a perfect quick weeknight meal for the whole family!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- No canned cream of mushroom soup!
- A classic tuna casserole made easy with the use of an instant pot!
- Makes great leftovers! The flavor is even better the next day!
Ingredient Notes
- Tuna - I always use tuna packed in water. This recipe calls for 2 cans; however, you may add an extra can of tuna if you like.
- Peas - You can use frozen peas, canned peas, or steamed fresh peas.
- Egg Noodles - I use the medium-sized egg noodles. If you can't find the medium ones, I would opt for the small size over the large ones.
- Mozzarella Cheese - You can use just shredded mozzarella, or you can get different blends of shredded white cheese, like an Italian cheese blend. I recently used a mozzarella provolone cheese blend that was really good.
- Ranch Seasoning - You do not want to leave the ranch dressing mix out. If you do this tuna casserole recipe will turn out very bland.
Couple Things You'll Need
Step by Step Instructions
- Dump 8 ounces of medium-sized egg noodles into the inner pot of a 6-quart instant pot.
- Sprinkle one packet or 3 Tbs of Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix over the noodles.
- Pour the chicken broth, aka chicken stock, over the dressing mix and dry pasta.
- Secure the instant pot lid and cook at high pressure for 4 minutes.
- When the 4 minutes is up, do a quick release of the steam, but allow the pot to stay on the keep warm setting.
- While that is cooking, cube the cream cheese. While it's ideal for it to be room temperature, if it's cold from the fridge, the smaller the pieces of cream cheese, the better, as the hot pasta will be able to melt it better.
- Open and drain 2 cans of tuna fish.
- Warm a cup of milk.
- Shred the cheese.
- Carefully open the Insta pot lid after the quick release of the steam.
- Add the cubed cream cheese, canned tuna, warm milk, shredded cheese, and peas.
- If using frozen peas, there is no need to thaw them first.
- Use a wooden spoon to stir the contents of the pot together.
- Re-secure the lid on the instant pot and allow it to sit while on the keep-warm setting for 10-15 minutes.
- Release any steam that may have built up, and carefully open the lid.
- Give the creamy tuna casserole a stir, and serve!
- If you want a crispy topping feel free to add crushed potato chips to the top of the noodles.
- Fresh parsley makes an excellent garnish!
- Store leftover tuna casserole in an airtight container in the fridge.
Recipe FAQs
How long is tuna noodle casserole good for?
If stored in an airtight container, it should be good for 2-3 days.
Can you freeze tuna noodle casserole?
This isn't a recipe that I particularly recommend freezing because the quality of the casserole wouldn't be the same once thawed. The taste should be fine, but the noodles may not fare well. If you choose to freeze this tuna noodle casserole, just make sure it's completely cool before spreading it into a freezer-safe dish and sealing it well. Thaw before reheating. This should be good in the freezer for up to 3 months.
What can I serve with this Instant Pot Tuna Pasta?
A fresh green salad, dinner rolls, or perhaps some garlic bread go great with this classic casserole!
More Easy Instant Pot Recipes
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Instant Pot Tuna Noodle Casserole
This instant pot tuna casserole recipe is full of tender noodles, gooey cheese, a creamy sauce, and flaky tuna! With a few pantry staples, this simple recipe makes a perfect quick weeknight meal for the whole family!
Ingredients
- 8 oz Medium Egg Noodles
- 3 Cups Chicken Broth
- 1 packet Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix or 3 Tbs. from the bulk container
- 1 Cup Milk warmed
- 4 oz. Cream Cheese cubed into small pieces
- 2 cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
- 2 cans Tuna drained
- ¾ cup Frozen Peas
Instructions
- Dump 8 ounces of medium-sized egg noodles into the inner pot of a 6-quart instant pot.
- Sprinkle one packet or 3 Tbs of Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix over the noodles.
- Pour the chicken broth, aka chicken stock, over the dressing mix and dry pasta.
- Secure the instant pot lid and cook at high pressure for 4 minutes.
- When the 4 minutes is up, do a quick release of the steam but allow the pot to stay on the keep warm setting.
- While that is cooking, cube the cream cheese. While it's ideal for it to be room temperature, if it's cold from the fridge the smaller the pieces of cream cheese the better as the hot pasta will be able to melt it better.
- Open and drain 2 cans of tuna fish.
- Warm a cup of milk.
- Shred the cheese.
- Carefully open the Insta pot lid after the quick release of the steam.
- Add the cubed cream cheese, canned tuna, warm milk, shredded cheese, and peas.
- If using frozen peas, there is no need to thaw them first.
- Use a wooden spoon to stir the contents of the pot together.
- Re-secure the lid on the instant pot and allow it to sit while on the keep-warm setting for 10-15 minutes.
- Release any steam that may have built up, and carefully open the lid.
- Give the creamy tuna casserole a stir, and serve!
- If you want a crispy topping, feel free to add crushed potato chips to the top of the noodles.
- Fresh parsley makes an excellent garnish!
- Store leftover tuna casserole in an airtight container in the fridge.
Notes
The ranch dressing mix is a MUST for this recipe! If you choose to leave it out, the end result is going to be really bland.
Nutrition
Calories: 405kcalCarbohydrates: 34gProtein: 29gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.03gCholesterol: 103mgSodium: 889mgPotassium: 375mgFiber: 2gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 698IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 396mgIron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Thanks for stopping by! Before you go, be sure to check out a few of my most popular recipes!
Erin
Thank you!
Erin
Will I need to add more broth if doubling up this recipe?
mindeescookingobsession
Yes 🙂
Vivian
I made this last night because I wanted something quick and easy. I followed the recipe exactly as written, no change in ingredients and only the addition of peas and carrots. It was so easy! And delicious! I will make this again because I always have those ingredients in my pantry. Thanks for posting a recipe for a quick and tasty meal that satisfies. I wonder how it would taste using canned chicken instead of tuna? Love my Instant Pot.
mindeescookingobsession
You’re welcome! I think it was just taste good with canned chicken.
Dusty B
Not sure what happened. I follow the directions to the letter (I did not have curly egg noodles so I used straight ones). When I opened my insta pot I had tuna noodle soup! I tried to cook it down a bit - that only resulted in a horrible stuck on mess on the bottom of my pot. Finally spooned it out into a cake pan and baked off the excess moisture. The flavor was fabulous and I WILL definitely try it again.
mindeescookingobsession
I am so sorry that happened. I have heard that flat noodles have a tendency to clump and burn. Than would also explain the extra liquid. Definitely, use the curly noodles next time.
Mimi
I made this the other day and it was my first time trying pasta in the instant pot. I was skeptical at first because the dry pasta was not fully submerged but it all worked out. I followed your recipe exactly except I put 1 can of tuna. When I used to make Tuna/hamburger Helper I would also halve the amount of meat that it called for.
As for future meals I will omit the mozzarella or only put a little in. I found that it left a bitter aftertaste. And I liked the creaminess that it already had from the milk and the creamed cheese.
Thank you for taking the time to post this! I love my InstantPot!!
mindeescookingobsession
That's great! I am so glad you are enjoying your instant pot!
Mindy
Looks delicious and great for a quick meal on busy nights!
Shayla
So easy for a busy weeknight
Teri
This recipe looks like all my kids would eat it! And it’s quick and easy! Bonus!
Riley Ashcroft
My family doesn’t do Tuna, do you think it would work with canned chicken?
mindeescookingobsession
Yes, I think it would!
Julie
Looks easy and so good.