Easy-Cheesy Tuna and Noodle Casserole

This is my all-time favorite go-to recipe for busy weeknights or when I’m in the mood for a hearty, delicious meal.  It is super easy and takes just 25 minutes to make. I probably make this dish 3-4 times per month, because it is one of those meals you just can't get sick of!

This recipe serves about 6-8 people, but my boyfriend and I make it for just the two of us and have leftovers for a few days! Sometimes I think the leftovers might be even better than when it is fresh out of the oven, so don't be afraid to have a little extra.

One tip for this recipe is to not skimp on the black pepper! It may seem like you are adding a lot, but I promise you it is worth it.  It is one of the main components of this recipe since it is the only seasoning used!

Note: I don’t have a picture right now, but the next time I make tuna and noodles I will be sure to snap a few pictures and add them to this recipe!

RECIPE
Easy-Cheesy Tuna and Noodle Casserole

Ready in 25 minutes

Serves 6-8 people

Ingredients

• 1 box bowtie pasta
• 2 cans of tuna
• 1 family size cream of chicken soup
• 1 (6 oz) bag of shredded colby jack cheese
• 4 slices of colby jack cheese (optional)
• 1 tsp garlic salt
• Black pepper
• 6 cups water

Instructions

1.     Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2.     In a medium saucepan, bring 6 cups of water to a boil. 

3.     Add pasta and garlic salt to boiling water.  Boil 11-13 minutes or until noodles are soft. Drain but do not rinse. Note: bowties take longer to boil than regular pasta, so ensure the noodles are completely soft.

4.     Return pasta to saucepan and add about half the can of cream of chicken soup.  Mix well, grinding pepper in as you stir.

5.     Drain both cans of tuna and add to the pasta mixture, stirring until mixed well. 

6.     Slowly add more cream of chicken until mixture reaches desired consistency.  (I usually end up using about ¾ of the can)

7.     Grease an 8”x 8” glass baking dish with cooking spray,  add about ½ of the pasta mixture to the dish

8.     Add 6-8 grinds of black pepper to cover the top of the pasta mixture

9.     Lay 4 slices of colby jack cheese to cover the pasta mixture entirely.  If you want to skip the slices, adding a layer of shredded colby jack instead will work.  Note: I like using cheese slices here because it creates a more consistent layer

10.  Add the remaining pasta mixture on top of the cheese layer

11.  Sprinkle with about 6 more grinds of black pepper on top of the pasta

12.  Cover the entire top of the casserole with shredded colby jack cheese.  Note: you don’t have to use the entire bag, just add as much as you’d like to achieve the desired cheesiness level.

13.  Bake uncovered for about 12-15 minutes. The bake time varies depending on your oven, so bake until the outer edges of the top layer just start to look golden-brown.

14.  Enjoy!!