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!
Becky
I'm scared to try inst-pot cooking, but this recipe makes it looks effortless. Thanks for sharing!
MZ
This is a keeper, instapot recipes like this save me and hallelujah for meals my kids love ;D
RaChelle
Tuna never looked so good!
Chris
Quite the tasty use of tuna!
Martha
This recipe for tuna noodle casserole in my instant pot was delicious!!!
mindeescookingobsession
I’m so glad! Thank you!
Dianna
Tonight, I made the best tuna noodle casserole I have ever made, your recipe is to die for My husband loves tuna noodle casserole and also thinks this is the best!! I did add cooked peas, as we love them in our tuna casserole.
mindeescookingobsession
Your kind comments were the perfect way to start my day! Thank you so much! I am glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Pam
My coworker made this and I love this recipe! Do you know how to make it in a slow cooker? I don't have an instant pot.
mindeescookingobsession
Sorry it has taken me so long to reply to you. I've been thinking over your question. This recipe could probably be made in a crockpot but I am unsure of how long or high to recommend slow cooking this. My concern is that the noodles would turn to mush and you would end up with a soggy possibly soupy mess. First I would try just making this in a pot on the stove. Lessen the chicken broth to 2 cups. Boil the pasta in the broth and ranch seasoning until done and don't drain it. Add the remaining ingredients and cook until melted and heated through. I haven't tried is this way myself, but it is where I would start. Let me know how it works and if I can offer any other help. Thanks!
Michael
Add frozen peas and carrots for a little color and flavor.
Jennifer
When do you add these?
mindeescookingobsession
If I were going to add frozen peas and carrots, I would add them when I added the cheese since they really only need to be heated up. They should be able to heat through while the cheese melts.
Laura
I made this but used salmon instead of tuna. Thanks! It's a kid approved tasty meal!
mindeescookingobsession
Ooo!!! My husband loves salmon! I’ll have to try it! Thanks!
Karen
Very tastey and easy. I cut the entire recipe in half for my 3 qt and it made two meals for the two of us. I also used uncooked tuna and put it on top of the noodles in step one.
mindeescookingobsession
Awesome! Thank you!