Instant Pot Tuna Casserole is a 30-minute, hands-free version of classic tuna casserole. This easy dinner recipe is made with egg noodles, tuna, peas, carrots, and mushrooms in a simple, delectable cheesy sauce. Check out my Stovetop Tuna Casserole too!
Instant Pot tuna casserole has become my favorite omg-I-didn't-plan-dinner recipe (Chicken Alfredo is a close second). This creamy, dreamy tuna noodle casserole is the easiest way to get a veggie-loaded dinner on the table with very little effort. It's another one of my budget-friendly dinner recipes where pantry staples really go the distance.
Instant Pot tuna casserole ingredient list
- egg noodles
- canned tuna
- peas (fresh, frozen, or canned)
- carrots (fresh or frozen)
- mushrooms
- chicken broth
- dried onion (or diced raw onion)
- salt and pepper
- milk
- cheddar cheese
- parmesan cheese
- lemon (optional)
How to make Instant Pot tuna casserole
- Chop carrots and mushrooms (or use pre-cut veggies).
- Place ingredients in the Instant Pot and press them down to submerge the pasta in the liquid.
- Close the lid, seal the pressure valve, and start the cooker.
- Let it cook and go make a quick and easy salad.
- Turn the valve, open the lid, stir in milk and cheese, and devour!
Ok, that's the super duper simplified version, but those are the actual steps to get this dinner in the pressure cooker and on the table. So yeah, an Instant Pot beginner will literally rock this recipe!
How is Instant Pot tuna casserole different from old fashioned tuna casserole?
- it's pressure-cooked = no need to heat up the whole kitchen
- one-pot meal = less dirty dishes
- the pasta cooks with other ingredients = creamier
- dinner's on the table in 30 minutes
- perfect for don't know how to cook or don't like cooking
- hands-free cooking = get stuff done while dinner is being made
- no canned soup = real food with less salt and more flavor
- perfect for people who literally forget to plan dinner ?
You'll be glad to know that the flavor, texture, and tuna casserole dreaminess is all there with Instant Pot Tuna Casserole. It's almost hard to believe that a one-pot pressure cooker meal can be this good!
Can I freeze tuna casserole?
Absolutely! That is, if there's any left over Like any casserole, this tuna noodle casserole can be frozen up to 90 days portioned into freezer-safe containers or freezer-safe plastic zip top bags.
To thaw frozen tuna casserole, place casserole portion(s) in the refrigerator overnight or use the defrost function on a microwave following manufacturers instructions.
Best noodles for tuna casserole
Egg noodles are the most common pasta for old fashioned tuna casserole. Compared to conventional pasta noodles, egg noodles actually cook a little quicker. But fee free to use regular pasta in place of egg noodles by adding an extra +1 minute of pressure cook time to the recipe (for a total of +2 minutes on high pressure).
If using a gluten free pasta, keep the original pressure cooking time of +1 minute, especially if your pasta is made from beans or legumes, which tend to be more delicate and cook more quickly.
How to add crispy toppings to Instant Pot tuna casserole
Want that crispy topping like an old fashioned tuna casserole? Use breadcrumbs (lightly coated in olive oil or melted butter), or French fried onions, or potato chips, and either of these 2 methods:
Method 1: Turn the oven broiler to HIGH; transfer the tuna casserole into a baking dish or individual serving dish sprinkled with your choice of topping. Place casserole 6-10" under the broiler until golden brown (about 2 minutes).
Method 2: If you have the Instant Pot air fryer lid, you can sprinkle your toppings over the casserole in the cooker and follow the manufacturers instructions to toast them to your liking.
Ingredient substitutions for tuna casserole
- Heavy cream or half and half in place of milk for a creamier texture and richer flavor (but beware the fat calories)
- Frozen mixed vegetables in place of fresh vegetables (thawed and mixed in after the pressure cook cycle)
- Canned chicken or salmon in place of canned tuna
- Your favorite cheese in place of the cheddar and parmesan
- Regular pasta in place of egg noodles and add 1 minute to the pressure cook time (for a total of 2 minutes)
- Vegetable broth in place of chicken broth
- Fresh onion in place of dried onion flakes
- Gluten-free pasta in place of egg noodles
Recommended Tools
- chef’s knife
- cutting board
- Instant Pot
- stirring utensil
- can opener
- air-tight storage containers (to store leftovers)
More Instant Pot Dinner Recipes
- Instant Pot Taco Pasta
- Instant Pot Spaghetti
- Skillet Tuna Casserole
- Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo
- Italian Sausage Soup With Orzo
- Lasagna Soup For Instant Pot Or Stove
- Ham Alfredo Pasta For Instant Pot Or Stove
- Instant Pot Shrimp Pasta In Lemon Cream Sauce
Instant Pot Tuna Casserole
Ingredients
- 6 oz Uncooked Egg Noodles, same as 3 cups
- 1 5oz can Tuna, drained
- 1 cup Frozen Peas, or canned or fresh
- 1 large Carrot, diced (about 1 cup)
- 5 whole Mushrooms, 4 oz chopped
- 2 cups Chicken Broth
- 2 Tbsp Dried Onion Flakes, or 1/4 cup diced raw onion
- 1/4 tsp Kosher Salt
- 1/8 tsp Black Pepper
- 2 Tbsp Milk
- 1 cup Cheddar Cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese
- optional Lemon
RECIPE VIDEO
Equipment
Instructions
- Add EGG NOODLES to the Instant Pot. Then cover the noodles with TUNA, PEAS, CARROTS, MUSHROOMS, ONION, SALT, and PEPPER. Pour in CHICKEN BROTH.
- Do not stir the ingredients. Instead, press down to submerge the noodles in the broth. (I like to use a potato masher for this).
- Secure the Instant Pot lid, close the valve seal, and cook on manual HIGH pressure for 1 minute (yes, that’s only one minute), followed by a 10-minute natural pressure release (NPR). DO NOT SKIP the NPR...the noodles are still cooking.
- Carefully turn the pressure valve to release any remaining steam and open the lid.
- NOTE: You will see a little excess liquid at first, but it helps incorporate the cheese in the next step AND the noodles will soak it up the longer it sits.
- Stir in MILK, CHEDDAR CHEESE, and PARMESAN CHEESE. I used a minimal amount of cheese, so feel free to add more.
- Serve warm with (optional) grated LEMON ZEST and a squeeze of LEMON JUICE.
Traci's Notes
Tuna Casserole Ingredient Substitutions
Use heavy cream or half and half in place of milk for a creamier texture and richer flavor (but beware the fat calories) Frozen mixed vegetables in place of fresh vegetables (thawed and mixed in after the pressure cook cycle) Canned chicken or salmon in place of canned tuna Your favorite cheese in place of the cheddar and parmesan Regular pasta in place of egg noodles and add 1 minute to the pressure cook time (for a total of +2 minutes) Vegetable broth in place of chicken broth Fresh onion in place of dried onion flakes Gluten-free pasta in place of egg noodlesNutrition
Nutrition data provided as courtesy estimates using unbranded ingredients from a nutrition database. Please consult preferred resource for precise data.
Katherine says
Comfort food at its best! I have made this recipe twice now. I’m not a big milk fan so I used yogurt once and sour cream this last time. Delicious and easy to make with the Instapot.
Claire says
I was wondering if I could use chickpea pasta (small shells or penne) instead of the egg noodles, and if I should adjust the time?
Hiya, others have reported using chickpea pasta without adjusting the time. Keep in mind that different brands use different flours, so you may need to do some testing. Please do let me know how it goes. Thanks and enjoy!
Hilary says
Really good I have to admit I unsure as I made it but it was delicious comfort food Than you
Well that's perfect! So glad to inspire ... thanks so much!
Loretta Russell says
I am going to try tuna casserole. Sounds delicious!
Yay Loretta! Let me know if you have any questions. We just made it a few days ago ... absolutely love this recipe for convenience and comfort 🙂 Enjoy!
Lisa says
I've made this using tuna several times. Fast, easy, and yummy. My parents and I really enjoy it. My husband will eat it, but doesn't love tuna. My kid hates tuna and refuses to touch it.
So tonight I used a can of chicken. I always increase the carrots. Added one stalk of chopped celery, and a sprinkle of thyme & garlic powder.
He says this is much better than tuna. Kid agrees (even though she's never tried the tuna!). I still prefer tuna for when I visit my folks, but this is a better choice for my husband and daughter.
Thanks again for a great recipe!
Aww you're so welcome and yep, canned chicken is perfect in this too. I love it both ways 🙂 So glad you're enjoying it!
Mary says
This was absolutely delicious. I made it for my parents and my sister and they devoured it. I added an extra can of tuna, thawed peas and carrots (added at the end), and part low-fat cheese mixed with extra sharp cheddar and parmesan. (I didn't use more cheese than the recipe called for and that was a perfect amount! The end result was very creamy.) I added fresh crushed garlic, fresh onion, and a little sprinkle of Bay Seasoning and red pepper flakes and a squeeze of lemon - which took it to a whole other level. Also, I used whole wheat rotini pasta and kept high pressure for 2 minutes - perfect! This will be made again many times.
Awesome Mary! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. Sounds like you you really did take Instant Pot tuna casserole to a new level. Love the Old Bay add-in...great idea! I really appreciate your feedback and review. Thanks so much!
Jill Wyatt says
Very good!! I didn't read the notes until I already started my pot, so my frozen peas and carrots were already in the pot. Not sure it mattered cause it turned out great! Will definitely make again.
Yay! I'm so glad you enjoyed it and thanks so much for taking the time to leave feedback 🙂
Marcy says
Made this tonight and it was delicious! I didn’t think tuna casserole in the Instant Pot could be as good as in the oven, but I was wrong. I also liked that it didn’t use creamed soup and still turned out creamy.
Awesome, Marcy ... I'm so glad you tried it and were so pleasantly surprised 🙂 And yep, I tested this recipe many times before getting the consistency just right. I'm happy you enjoyed. Thanks!
Alexa says
If I wanted to triple the amount of tuna but leave the same amount of pasta, how should I modify this recipe - would the broth amount stay the same? I assume I could just add some extra veggies and cheese to account for the extra volume.
Hiya! I think you'll be fine to add the tuna without adding liquid, but be prepared to add a few splashes if it feels like it needs it. As for adding veggies and cheese...that can never hurt 😉 Let me know how it turns out for ya!
Diana says
My daughter, who has Down Syndrome and I made this. Such comfort food, and so easy to prepare! Thank you so much
Awww yay Diana! What a great activity for you and your daughter ...so happy to hear it 🙂 Thanks for the feedback!
Amy says
Can you double this recipe? If so, should I double the chicken stock or keep it the same. I have read when doubling some pasta dishes you don’t always double the liquid. I have an 8qt IP. Thank you!
Hi Amy, I'm not sure which pasta dishes would not require doubling, but this one definitely does require it. Let me know if you have any other questions. Enjoy!