I love simple meals and I have several favorites that I regularly make for my family. But sometimes those favorites get a bit…well old, and they need some tweaking. Sometimes all it takes is one ingredient to make a big difference.
That’s what Velveeta Cheese did for my Tuna Noodle Casserole. A simple favorite, my recipe needed a makeover in a big way. It was too boring. So when I was asked to create a recipe using Velveeta Cheese, I knew exactly what I was going to do.
Velveeta Cheese and I go way back. My favorite childhood meal was the boxed Velveeta Shells and Cheese mixed with hotdogs. I requested that for every birthday I can remember. LOVED it. And today, my own children love it too.
But it’s funny, because as much as I loved the mac ‘n cheese, I never really cooked with Velveeta Cheese bricks. So this was a great chance for me to expand my horizons and try something new.
Enter my recipe for Cheesy Tuna Noodle Casserole. I tweaked a couple ingredients and added Velveeta Cheese. Like the original recipe, I kept this meal simple and with less than 20 minutes of prep time, it’s perfect for a quick dinner on a busy night.
What You’ll Need:
8 oz uncooked wide egg noodles
1 tsp onion powder or 1/2 onion chopped (you’ll need to saute it in butter)
1 can (10 3/4 oz) condensed cream of celery soup
1/2 cup milk
8 oz Velveeta Cheese
2 cans chunk-light tuna fish, drained
2 Tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup bread crumbs
How to Make Cheesy Tuna Noodle Casserole
Cook the noodles according to the package directions. It’s usually 7-8 minutes for me.
While the noodles are cooking, cut the 16 oz block of Velveeta Cheese in half. We only need 8 ounces for this recipe.
Melt the cheese in a small saucepan over low-medium heat. (You could also try melting in the microwave.)
In a separate bowl, combine the cream of celery soup, milk, and onion powder.
Add the tuna fish (drained) and melted Velveeta cheese.
Stir well.
At this point, the noodles should be cooked. Drain and return to the pot. Add the tuna mixture to the noodles.
Stir to combine.
Turn into a 2 quart casserole dish.
Mix the crumb topping by combining the melted butter, Parmesan cheese, and bread crumbs.
Sprinkle over the casserole.
Microwave for 5-8 minutes or bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until heated through.
Serve warm.
My six-year-old daughter, Emily, doesn’t often ask for seconds, but she did with this recipe. Emily gives our Cheesy Tuna Noodle Casserole with Velveeta Cheese two thumbs up! (She insisted her stuffed pink pig, “Pansy”, approves too.)
I can understand why Velveeta is called Liquid Gold – it really does add a lot to a meal, especially one like Cheesy Tuna Noodle Casserole!
Click here for the printable recipe:
Cheesy Tuna Noodle Casserole
Velveeta asked me if I knew any Liquid Gold Diggers. I’ll know more soon once they taste these dishes! Why? Because Liquid Gold Diggers love the Liquid Gold of Velveeta.
“Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Velveeta via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Velveeta”
Alicia K says
just wish it was less processed
Amber Edwards says
My mom used to make a cheesy tuna casserole when I was little that i love. It definitely was NOT this easy! That’s why I’ve never made her recipe. I love how easy this one is! I need to give it a try for my kids and see what they think.
Emily says
My bf loves velveeta I will have to see if he’s interested in trying this for dinner sometime next week.
OurFamilyWorld says
I love the ooey, gooey goodness of Velveeta! This looks delicious!
Kecia says
I love using Velveeta in pasta! It’s so much better than other cheeses.
Holly Thomas says
I make this all the time, it is really good!!
Taryn Pasco says
This looks so yummy! My daughter and I love tuna but my husband does not at all! I’m def. going to have to try this soon though! Thanks for sharing.
Nichol says
I love tuna noodle but haven’t made in a long time. This sounds delicious with the Velveeta!
Julie Davis says
This looks really good
Liz says
I see why she’s smiling. It looks super tasty!
Tammy S says
My daughter was just asking me the other day when we were going to have tuna casserole again. With this recipe I can now tell her soon! It sounds so good. You can’t go wrong with Velvetta added to it. Yum. Thanks!
Jo-Ann Brightman says
I love Velveeta cheese . it makesany casserole into something special
kelly Nicholson says
love veveeta..thanks for this
Elizabeth Owens says
Yum! That looks so yummy and easy to make too. I will have to make this for my family
June S. says
This looks & sounds so good, will have to make some next week.
Peggy Greco says
I like to make casseroles from time to time. Sometimes they are even tastier a day or so afterwards. thanks for yummy recipe!
Sandy VanHoey says
Gosh, I love velveeta and I use it in so many things. I usually won’t make a tuna-noodle casserole because my daughter and grandson won’t eat it but I might have to make just for me. This looks incredible.
Debbie Welchert says
This sounds and looks so good. I just have to make it. I love the amount of Velveeta you put in it. I think this is going to be a tomorrow night supper. Yummy.
Robin Wilson says
I love Velveeta cheese, but usually think of mac and cheese. But this is a great recipe for a tuna casseroles. I love casseroles as you can usually make ahead! This looks really creamy!
Lily Kwan says
This recipe looks very tasty. Thanks for sharing!
Cherryl says
There are 2 cans of tuna shown in the picture of ingredients but no tuna show in the list of ingredients, Do you use 1 or 2 cans of tuna?
Erika says
Good catch, Cheryl. That is pretty important as it is TUNA casserole, huh? I usually use 2 cans, but you can get away with 1 can.
Claire says
Your ingredients list calls for 1 can of cream of celery, but your step-by-step pictures call for 1 can of cream of chicken….. Wondering which do you use?
Thanks!
Erika says
Cream of celery. Thanks for catching that and pointing it out, Claire. I fixed it. Have a great day! 🙂
Joann says
When you bake it, is it covered? Same thing for the microwave. Thank-you! Looks so good. Can”t wait to try!!
Amanda says
Any idea what the caloric content per serving is?
Erika says
I’d imagine it’s fairly high given the cheese and noodles.
Linda Fetla says
We loved this recipe…perfect meal for two on a summers day.
I added a handful of frozen peas and a can of drained mushrooms as well..
Instead of two I added three cans of tune.
Thank you, we’ll have this often.
Jen says
We tried this tonight. Fantastic! I had to make a few substitutions with what I had in my pantry. I used elbow macaroni, cream of mushroom soup, and Italian bread crumbs. Thank you! Yummm!
Erika says
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!