Mom’s Tuna Rice Casserole
This is the tuna rice casserole recipe that mom always made. It's flavorful, creamy, cozy, easy to make, and the buttered bread crumbs are the best things on earth.
If you like easy family recipes, also try out one-pot pasta with peas and bacon and our makeover pumpkin mac and cheese casserole.
Tuna rice casserole
This tuna rice casserole has been a family staple for decades.
The flavorful sauce mixes with the rice to make it super cozy and delicious. Then the buttered croutons add the perfect crispiness to contrast the creamy rice situation. It's pretty hard to resist.
We make our tuna casserole sauce by thickening milk with cornstarch. It's a little easier than using butter, flour, and milk – which is the way mom used to make it.
Bonus that by using cornstarch, you can easily make this recipe gluten-free by using gluten-free croutons. (Even though those big, delicious croutons you see in the pictures were made from sourdough bread.)
How to make tuna casserole
This is an easy tuna casserole recipe. There are 3 basic step to make it:
- Cook the rice – rice + stock in a pot. Easy!
- Make the sauce – thicken milk with cornstarch then add cheese and canned tuna. Also easy!
- Butter the croutons – Pour melted butter over croutons and mix. Doesn't get any simpler than that.
Once you've done those three steps, simply layer the tuna rice casserole ingredients into a baking dish and pop it into the oven. This really is an easy tuna casserole recipe!
Full recipe instructions in the recipe card below.
How long does tuna casserole last?
Tuna rice casserole will keep for 2-3 days in your fridge in a covered container. It reheats beautifully so you'll be happy if there are leftovers!
Can you freeze tuna casserole?
Yes! This is a great meal-prep recipe. Simply assemble the casserole then wait for it to cool completely. (It will be warm from cooking the sauce.)
Once it's cool, wrap it with plastic wrap then again with aluminum foil. It will keep well for 3 months in your freezer.
To reheat the tuna casserole, let it thaw overnight in your fridge before popping it into your oven.
Tuna rice casserole variations
While we love this tried and true recipe, switching it up can be fun. Here are a few ideas:
- Instead of canned tuna – use canned salmon.
- Instead of peas – use broccoli or mixed frozen veggies.
- Instead of cheddar cheese – try spicy jack cheese.
What to serve with tuna rice casserole?
While tuna casserole holds it's own at the table without needing any sides, we like a few more veggies with our dinner. Here are our favorite sides that go great with this casserole:
Popular casserole recipes
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Mom's Tuna Rice Casserole
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Ingredients
- 2 cups basmati rice
- 3 cups chicken or vegetable stock
- 3 Ā½ cups milk, divided
- ā cup cornstarch
- 2 cups grated aged cheddar cheese
- 3 cans of tuna, use the juice!
- 1 teaspoon EACH: salt and pepper
- 4 cups large croutons, gluten-free, if needed
- 3 tablespoons butter, melted
- 2 cups frozen peas, thawed
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.Ā
- Add the rice and stock to a medium-sized pot over high heat. Bring to a boil then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 12 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and let it sit, covered, for 10 minutes while you prepare the rest of the casserole.Ā2 cups basmati rice, 3 cups chicken or vegetable stock
- Heat 3 cups of the milk in a medium-sized pot over medium-high heat. Once it is hot, but not boiling, mix the remaining Ā½ cup of milk with the cornstarch and add it to the pot. Whisk it continuously while it thickens then remove the pot from the heat.Ā3 Ā½ cups milk, ā cup cornstarch
- Add the cheese and whisk until it melts. Stir in the tuna and the juice from the cans. Season with salt and pepper.Ā2 cups grated aged cheddar cheese, 3 cans of tuna, 1 teaspoon EACH: salt and pepper
- In a large bowl, mix the croutons with the melted butter.Ā4 cups large croutons, 3 tablespoons butter
- Spread a thin layer of the sauce in the bottom of a 9×11″ casserole dish. Top with half the rice, half of the sauce, and half of the peas. Repeat once more then top with the buttered croutons.Ā2 cups frozen peas
- Bake the tuna casserole for 20-25 minutes, or until the croutons are crispy and browned and the casserole is bubbling at the edges.Ā
Notes
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Hey…I halved this recipe and couldn’t get the milk / cornstarch to thicken. How long should that take?
It should thicken almost immediately. If it is cooked too long, cornstarch will actually become thin again.
Am I the only one seeing the title of tuna and rice casserole but in the ingredients it lists three cups of chicken? lol
Chicken or vegetable stock!
I love this. My mom always made tuna rice, but with a can of cream if soemthing soup. I cant gave dairy now so I made this with unsweetened oat milk, I also used soya sauce instead of salt, and skipped the cheese. It tastes just the way my mother made it. I made my own bread crumbs and added summer savory yo them for a more savory touch. Thanks so much
My mom made her’s with rice too. I made this but used flour instead of cornstarch and it worked well. Thank you for reminding me of mom!
That makes me so happy to hear! Thank you!
I wanted to make Mom’s tuna rice casserole, but I had no idea what temperature to bake it at?
Sorry about that! 375 degrees. š