Southwest Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe
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If you love classic comfort food but want to kick it up with bold flavor, a Southwest Tuna Noodle Casserole is the perfect twist. It’s easy and inexpensive with canned tuna!
It has everything cozy casseroles are known for, creamy sauce, tender noodles, and melty cheese, but with a flavorful Tex-Mex spin. This dish is easy to make, budget-friendly, family-approved, and great for meal prep or busy weeknights. Tuna casserole is famous for being affordable and filling, and adding Southwest flavors gives it new life without extra effort.
This casserole uses simple ingredients like canned tuna, noodles, cheese, vegetables, and seasonings you probably already have in your pantry. The best part is that it all bakes together into a bubbly, golden, delicious dinner that even picky eaters will enjoy. It’s mild enough for kids, but flavorful enough for adults, and you can adjust the spice level to fit your family’s taste.
The ingredients are flexible, so you can add what you have and leave out what you don’t. You can also swap tuna for canned chicken if seafood isn’t a favorite in your house.
Southwest Tuna Noodle Casserole
The tortilla chip topping is one of the best parts—it adds flavor and texture—and kids love it. If you don’t have chips, crackers or breadcrumbs work too.
Southwest Tuna Noodle Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 pkg egg noodles
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 4 tablespoons flour
- 2 cups milk
- 2 cans tuna drained
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 cups shredded cheese cheddar or pepper jack or a mixture
- 1 can corn
- 1 can black beans drained
- 1 can rotel tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 cloves garlic crushed
- crushed tortilla chips
Instructions
- Start by cooking the noodles until just tender. You don’t want them too soft because they’ll cook more in the oven.
- Drain them and set aside.
- In the pan, melt butter.
- Add flour and stir and cook until just starts to brown
- Dump in milk and whisk until thick and bubbly
- Add sour cream, salt and pepper, garlic, chili powder, and cumin.
- Stir well.
- Add corn (with liquid), beans, Rotel (with liquid), and tuna.
- Add the noodles and stir gently until everything is coated in the creamy sauce.
- Pour the mixture into a casserole dish, sprinkle cheese on top, and add crushed tortilla chips for a crunchy Southwest finish. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until bubbly and golden.
Nutrition
Easy Add-Ins and Helpful Substitutions
This recipe is incredibly flexible. Here are some add-ins that fit the Southwest flavor:
- Green chiles
- Jalapeños
- Fresh cilantro
- Pinto beans
- Pepper jack cheese
- Avocado slices after baking
If you want a healthier casserole, use whole wheat noodles, low-fat soup, or Greek yogurt instead of sour cream. For dairy-free families, use a dairy-free milk and shredded dairy-free cheese.
Why This Meal Works for Busy Families
Casseroles are a lifesaver because they take minimal dishes, use budget ingredients, and stretch to feed a crowd. Tuna is inexpensive, shelf-stable, and packed with protein, making this recipe perfect for tight grocery budgets. Leftovers store well and taste great reheated for lunch the next day. You can even assemble the casserole earlier and bake it later, which is helpful on nights when schedules are busy.
We love making casseroles without canned cream soups, but if you prefer, you can use canned soup instead of the butter, flour, and milk. We find it only takes minutes to make the sauce, and the flavor is really amazing in comparison. But time savers make a difference too!
Kids enjoy the creamy texture and cheesy topping, and adults enjoy the smoky Southwest flavor. It’s comfort food with a little excitement, without being spicy unless you want it to be.
Serve It With These Simple Sides
This casserole can be a complete meal on its own, or you can pair it with:
- A green salad
- Chips and salsa
- Roasted vegetables
- Fresh fruit
- Cornbread or warm tortillas
It also freezes well, so you can make one for dinner and one for the freezer.
A classic tuna casserole warms the soul, and adding a Southwest twist makes it even better. If your family enjoys easy one-pan meals that are creamy, cheesy, and full of flavor, this Southwest Tuna Noodle Casserole will be a winner every time. Let the oven do the work, scoop out a hearty serving, and enjoy a delicious twist on a family favorite.
More Tuna Casserole Recipes
If you want more easy pantry meals, check out these tuna casseroles too:
