Casseroles are one of my favorite things to make this time of year! There’s just nothing like a creamy, cozy, baked dish! This Spicy Tuna Noodle Casserole totally hit the spot! This was easy to make and definitely wooed my family! It was a little bit different than the traditional style, with those crunchy diced jalapeños inside! The creamy pasta, cheesy center, and that potato chip topping – it all came together so beautifully! This is such a classic dish, with some surprising twists!

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When did Tuna Noodle Casserole become a thing?

Tuna noodle casserole first appeared in 1930 in the Pacific Northwest! By 1950, this dish became extremely popular due to the convenience and affordability of the ingredients in it! Because this recipe features pantry staples, it was considered practical and budget friendly for many families post WWII. And by 1952, Campbell’s Soup Company had published their own version of this retro classic for their promotional cookbook!

Did you know?

Though tuna noodle casserole was created in the Northwest, it became a Midwest staple pretty quickly! Midwesterners often chose to make this hearty casserole for potlucks, school cafeteria meals, and church suppers! We just can’t get enough of our casseroles in the Midwest! It’s like an oven baked hug in a climate that seems to ALWAYS be cold!

What ingredients do I need to make this?

Canned Tuna
Egg Noodles
Cream of Mushroom Soup
Jalapeno
Garlic
Frozen Peas
Onion
Milk
Shredded Sharp Cheddar
Heavy Cream
Sour Cream
Potato Chips
Salt
Cayenne
Italian Seasoning
Onion Powder
Garlic Powder
Black Pepper

For serving:

Parsley

What equipment do I need?

How do I make it?

To start, dice the onion and jalapeno, mince the garlic. Preheat oven to 425F.

Onion, garlic, and jalapeno cut up on a wooden cutting board

Get out a stockpot and bring some salted water to a boil. Cook pasta to al dente, drain, and set aside.

Egg noodles cooking in a stockpot on the stove

Drain cans of tuna and add all of the ingredients to a large mixing bowl besides the cooked pasta, potato chips, and some of the cheese. Stir to combine. Carefully fold in the cooked pasta and gently stir until adequately mixed. Get out a baking pan, lightly grease it, and dump the mixture inside. Use a spoon to smooth it all out into an even layer.

Casserole ingredients in a large mixing bowl before being stirred

Casserole filling in a large mixing bowl

Spicy Tuna Noodle Casserole ingredients in a large mixing bowl

Top with remaining cheese and potato chips, then bake for a little while.

Spicy Tuna Noodle Casserole in a baking pan before going into the oven

Cover casserole and continue baking a little bit longer. Spicy Tuna Noodle Casserole is done when cheese is melty, and the top becomes slightly browned and crispy! Garnish with parsley if desired and serve hot! Enjoy!

Spicy Tuna Noodle Casserole fresh out of the oven

Spicy Tuna Noodle Casserole on a white plate with another plate of it behind

Tips for this Spicy Tuna Noodle Casserole:

This recipe will keep for 3-5 days if stored in an airtight container in the fridge. It can also be frozen for up to 3 months! Just freeze it before baking and without the pasta and potato chips. When you’re ready to bake it, thaw it under refrigeration for 24 hours, stir in the cooked pasta and potato chips, then bake it as normal.
The reason that we need to cover the casserole at the very end of the bake time is so that the cheese doesn’t burn! This allows the other ingredients to warm through without browning our topping too much.
Cooking the pasta to al dente helps keep our pasta’s integrity while baking! If you cook the pasta completely before baking, it could end up mushy!
This recipe isn’t too spicy! By removing the seeds from the jalapenos, it still gives us that spicy essence and crunch – but keeps it family friendly!
Add whatever other veggies or spices you want to this! Some fresh mushroom, some canned diced tomato – there’s a lot of opportunity to be creative here!
If you don’t have sour cream and heavy cream on hand, you could always add another can of cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup to the mix instead.
If you don’t have plain potato chips, consider making a breadcrumb or Ritz Cracker topping by whisking it with some melted butter!

Looking for more ways to use up canned tuna? Check these out!

Love cozy casserole recipes? Here’s some more like this one!