One-Pan Tuna-White Bean Casserole Recipe (2024)

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Lindsay

I use 1 and a half cups Panko crumbs,1cup of grated Parmesan and 4 tablespoons Olive oil.Mix them up till the olive oil has darkened the crumbs and cheese and then top with that. then bake for the 25 minutes. delicious

lee

How about Panko or regular breadcrumbs sauteed in some olive oil to brown them a bit?

Monika

I don't happen to keep potato chips on hand and don't want to buy some just for the topping. Suggestions on a substitution? Would saltines or some other crisp cracker work or perhaps skip the topping entirely?

Nik Cecere

If you are in the grocery store anyway and don't usually have potato chips around, you could buy one of those individual serving packs of chips and have all you need for the recipe as written.

Maria

I feel like i might put mushrooms in this. But then, I feel like i might put mushrooms in everything.

Marilyn

I added a little Dijon mustard at the beginning, when I was cooking the beans and the wine, and it brightened the flavor nicely.

Helene

You don’t have to sauté the panko.... if you mix/rub it with olive oil first the crumbs will brown in the oven; no need to dirty another pan.

Karen Artiaco

Depending on what’s in the vegetable bin, adding vegetables would add nutrition and also give you an easy one pot meal. A handful or two of leafy greens like spinach, chard, kale, etc. could be thrown in before baking. Coarsely chopped broccoli or cauliflower could be lightly microwaved before adding, or left raw to give a little crunch. Frozen vegetables could also be used. Good versatile recipe!

JP55

The original recipe cited (which was a wonderful comfort food dish during the start of the pandemic) uses Panko bread crumbs as a topping.

Roald

I apologize in advance since I am sure to offend many. For the record, I love the NYTs cooking section, and I have "saved recipes" since the site went online. It is always my "go to" when looking for inspiration. Plus I am a big fan of Melissa Clark. Finally, the potato chips sold me. But this concoction of wallpaper paste was essentially inedible. I should have been suspicious: mashing beans for a casserole is never a good idea, as this unfortunate recipe conclusively demonstrates. Flee

Deb

I had a good chuckle when I came to the crushed potato chip ingredient. We used that in my 8th grade cooking class in the mid 60's on top of a tuna noodle casserole.

Jen

I don't know if I'd give this 5 stars as written, but after seeing the very mixed reviews in the comments, I made a few changes and it was spectacular: added capers, doubled the herbs & liquid (I used veg broth), and mashed about 1/3 cup of beans beforehand rather than letting the liquid reduce too much. Cooked 12 min at 425 and broiled 1 min to brown the cheese. It came out the perfect consistency & flavour.If you're eating with toast you can skip the chip topping, but don't skip the anchovy!

S Schwarzy

I hesitate to top this with potato chips. Any suggestions for potato chop topping substitute?

Gregg

Surprisingly really delicious! I followed the recipe exactly, adding the optional anchovies and sprig of rosemary. For the herb mixture I used half fresh basil and fresh tarragon. Of course, I topped it with a cup of crushed potato chips. We all agreed it was a keeper! Wonderful, fresh flavors when finished with a squirt of lemon juice.

Millie

I'm guesstimating about 1/2 to 2/3 cup of dry beans, but really you might as well cook up a cup of beans, use the 1 3/4 cups of cooked beans that equals a 15-oz can for this recipe, and find another use for the rest of it -- some cooked white beans would enhance many dishes. Cooked beans freeze well, too.

Emily

I love this recipe! I will take beans over pasta and tons of heavy cream any day. I'm using some store-bought fried onions for the topping for my second time making this, but my teen boy loved the potato chips.

Celeste

There's potential for a favorite here. As always, make it as recommended once and then adjust to your preferences another time, although I did delete the anchovies and reduce the salt overall for dietary reasons. Next time I will add garden peas and baby carrot medallions for some color and flavor variety. Will also only crush about a quarter of the beans to make the sauce, leaving the rest whole to show the veggie ingredients.

gus

Delicious flavors but I can see where some could find it too mushy. To this end, I barely mashed the beans and tuna. Also used slightly less wine and milk. A crisp romaine salad on the side helped immensely!

Kate in Minnesota

I used sliced almonds in place of the potato chips and because I made one half of the recipe and didn't have tuna, used 2 packes of wild pink salmon in olive oil. I also added dijon as recommended in a review and capers. Once baked I added a drizzle of quality EVOO. It was a delight!

Morgan

I highly suggest using kettle cooked chips for the topping. They stay nice and crisp. No soggy chip parts in sight.

Michael M

Nice recipe, lends itself to customization. I left out the milk and butter to make it much lower dairy for a lactose intolerant person. Subbed panko for potato chips and added mushrooms for bulking it up a bit. Family enjoyed quite a bit. Anchovies are necessary I used 3 filets.A couple possible additions: a little dijon, a lot more herbs, a tablespoon of tomato paste.

philippa

This is a well loved dish at my house. I had not made it for some time and discovered tonight that now having a teenager in the house greatly reduces the serving size. Would definitely recommend increasing by half to more comfortably feed 4 as a main meal.

Tamelon

This was a flop. Followed recipe. Texture was seriously off-putting and despite lots of fresh herbs, flavor was musty. There are much better ways to make a pantry meal.

Mark Cullings

Have now made this twice. First time found it to be rather bland and quite dry. This time, doubled the anchovies, added capers, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, leftover frozen peas, salt and maybe 3T chicken broth before the chips topping. Made a big difference.

Steve

I made this two years ago with what I could find at the store during lockdown overseas, and it was just ok. I tried it again tonight on a whim and added the rosemary sprig and some anchovy paste vice anchovies. Wow. It was really tasty. I couldnt stop noshing.

Paul

Used one (1) chipotle in adobo instead of the pinch of red pepper and used mild BBQ kettle chips (Manishevitz). Went heavy on the herbs. OMG good!

vb cooks

Spurred on by others, I made some changes. Added peas and mushrooms along with the leeks. Added a bit of mustard to the sauce. And used sour cream and chive potato chips. I didn’t have wine so used white vermouth. Totally forgot the milk and the lemon. But it was good as I did it. Would recommend adding them though.

Tylwyth

Made this in a cast iron skillet. My son suggested it was a childhood regression meal [potato chips tuna] and he was not wrong. A great family meal! Everyone loved it!

Martha

I made this but lightened it up a little and used things I had. Multigrain bread crumbs (for chips), oat milk (for milk), and a splash of vermouth in water (for wine). I also added a bag of frozen spinach with the beans, for a little extra green in dinner. So good. I think it would also be great with kale! Love this and will make it again. Will be great tomorrow spread on toast or a wasa cracker.

Susan

Made this with really good oil packed tuna, 3x anchovies, chopped basil for the herb, skipped rosemary because didn’t have any, extra sharp cheddar for cheese, and cape cod potato chips as topping (because those are the only potato chips worth eating). Delicious and will be making this again. So easy to prepare in advance and cook later on a cold winter day. We ate the leftovers on olive bread toast with avocado. Delicious!

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One-Pan Tuna-White Bean Casserole Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is my tuna casserole so dry? ›

Tuna casserole can become dry if it's overcooked or if there isn't enough moisture in the dish. Be sure to follow the recipe instructions and adjust the cooking time as needed to prevent it from drying out.

How do you make a casserole not soggy? ›

To prevent a soupy casserole, be sure to fully thaw any frozen vegetables in a colander over a bowl, and pat dry, squeeze excess moisture out of greens like spinach or chard, and quickly precook watery fresh vegetables like onions, mushrooms or squashes just until they release their moisture.

How to thicken tuna casserole? ›

Make a cornstarch slurry for a fast and easy thickener.

Use one tablespoon of cornstarch per cup of liquid you would like to thicken. Stir out all the lumps. A few minutes before your casserole is done, add it a little at a time until you are happy with the thickness. Then, let the casserole finish baking.

How do you moisten leftover tuna casserole? ›

Alternatively, Foods Guy recommends adding a splash of water or chicken stock to your casserole and covering it with plastic wrap before microwaving, which will add new moisture and lock in the steam, ensuring a perfectly moist reheated tuna casserole.

How to make a casserole less dry? ›

For best results, bring the it up to room temperature before reheating. Add a ¼ cup of water or milk to the top before you put it in the oven to reheat. The added moisture will do wonders in preventing the it from drying out. The best way to is to cover it and put it into a cold oven.

What can I add to tuna to make it less dry? ›

Add a little moisture to the mix

But if you're averse to the white and creamy condiment or don't have it in your fridge, here are some other great options that add moisture and make tuna palatable: Oil. Olive, truffle, and even toasted sesame (which I use in my recipe below) are just a few drool-worthy examples.

Do I bake my casserole covered or uncovered? ›

Uncovering the foods promotes browning and crisping, and reduces the amount of liquid in the finished dish. If a casserole looks soupy when it's ready to bake, bake it uncovered unless the ingredients include pasta or rice, which absorb liquid.

How long should a casserole be cooked for? ›

The time a casserole takes to cook will vary from 2-2½ hours for chuck, blade and thick flank, up to 4 hours for shin, leg and neck. Pork cuts for braising and casseroling normally take 1½ hours, and lamb much the same.

What is the key to making a good casserole? ›

  1. Choose the right baking dish. If you're all about the crunchy topping, use a shallow dish. ...
  2. Undercook your pasta. ...
  3. Drain your meat. ...
  4. Beware of mushy vegetables. ...
  5. Know your cheeses. ...
  6. Master the art of casserole assembly. ...
  7. Don't skip the topping. ...
  8. Make it now, but bake it later.
Nov 1, 2021

How to tell if casserole is done? ›

Always Double Check With A Thermometer

The safest way to know if any casserole is cooked is to check it with a quick-read thermometer. If you don't have one, you should definitely invest in one, because it will save you a lot of trouble whether you're cooking meat, bread, or even baked potatoes.

How to fix a runny casserole? ›

10 Tips To Fix Or Prevent Watery Casseroles
  1. Prep Vegetables Ahead Of Time. Vegetables boiling on a stove - Solstock/Getty Images. ...
  2. Add A Starch. ...
  3. Experiment With Pasta Or Grains. ...
  4. Take The Lid Off. ...
  5. Drain Fat From Meat. ...
  6. Choose A Dry Or Low-Fat Cheese. ...
  7. Sprinkle Seeds Into Your Bake. ...
  8. Remove Excess Liquid.
Oct 29, 2023

Why is tuna casserole dry? ›

Your tuna casserole can also become dry due to overbaking. Even if it turns out perfect when you first cook it, it may still dry out when you reheat it. Luckily, these mistakes are quite easy to fix. For example, adding fewer noodles or just a little bit more sauce can help restore moisture and enhance the flavor.

Can I eat tuna casserole that was left out overnight? ›

Keep food cold by nesting dishes in bowls of ice or use small serving trays and replace them often. Discard any cold leftovers that have been left out for more than 2 hours at room temperature (1 hour when the temperature is above 90 °F).

How long is leftover tuna casserole good for? ›

Store your leftover tuna noodle casserole in a shallow, airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. Reheat thoroughly in the oven or in the microwave.

How do you cook tuna so it's not dry? ›

Tuna dries out quite quickly and turns crumbly, so it should be cooked very briefly over a high heat in a frying pan, on a griddle or over a barbecue; or cooked under oil (confit), sous vide or simmered in a sauce.

Why is my casserole dry? ›

Overcooking The Casserole Can Result In A Dry Texture

If you keep them in the oven for too long, the casserole may become dry and crumbly. On a similar note, you might end up with a dry casserole if the oven temperature is too high or if your oven generally runs hot.

Why is my tuna mayo dry? ›

To prevent your tuna salad from being dry, you'll need to stir in at least one tablespoon mayo per one (5-ounce) can of tuna. After mixing in the rest of your ingredients, taste the salad. If you want it creamier, stir in another tablespoon or two of mayo. A squeeze of lemon juice also adds moisture.

Why tuna meat is dry? ›

Like all fish, however, the connective tissues in tuna are much easier to break down by cooking than those of beef. That means it is much easier to cook a tuna steak into a dry, crumbly mess than beef.

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