Easy One-Pot, No-Knife, Lighter Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe

Name: Easy One-Pot, No-Knife, Lighter Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 6 ounces dried wide egg noodles; Kosher salt; 6 ounces crème fraîche; 1 large egg; 2 teaspoons cornstarch; Freshly ground black pepper; 2 tablespoons juice from 1 to 2 lemons, divided; 1 (12-ounce) can tuna, drained and broken up into bite-sized chunks; 1 cup frozen peas; 1/4 cup picked fresh parsley leaves; Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling (optional); Crushed potato chips, for topping (optional)

Pasta with a light and creamy sauce, tender chunks of tuna, and peas is ready in about 15 minutes start to finish. This is the kind of recipe that I wish I'd known in college. All it takes is a single large skillet or pot, one burner or hot plate, a bowl, and a fork. That's it. And on top of that, it turns out a dish that's not just good-given-the-constraints, but legitimately good-enough-that-I-would've-made-it-for-that-girl-I-was-trying-to-impress-in-college or even good-enough-for-a-mildly-romantic-weeknight-dinner-with-the-wife.

Why this recipe works:

Cooking the pasta in a skillet provides you with extra-starchy liquid to help bind and emulsify your sauce.
Crème fraîche combined with egg and cornstarch produces a creamy sauce which coats the pasta while maintaining a light and creamy texture.
With only a few ingredients and a start-to-finish cook time of 15 minutes, it's the ultimate weeknight meal.

Note: To make a more traditional casserole, transfer hot tuna noodle mixture to a baking dish. Top with crushed potato chips or bread crumbs and broil about 8 inches from the broiler element until crisp and browned on top.

How to Make Lighter Tuna Noodle Casserole With Just One Pan (and No Knives!) | The Food Lab Turbo

Active: 15 mins

Total: 15 mins

Serves: 4 servings

Rate & Comment

6 ounces dried wide egg noodles
Kosher salt
6 ounces creme fraiche
1 large egg
2 teaspoons cornstarch
Freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons juice from 1 to 2 lemons, divided
1 (12-ounce) can tuna, drained and broken up into bite-sized chunks
1 cup frozen peas
1/4 cup picked fresh parsley
Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling (optional)
Crushed potato chips, for topping (optional)

Place noodles in a large saucepan or skillet and cover with room temperature tap water by 1 inch. Season lightly with salt. Bring to a boil over high heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until almost done (follow package directions for cook times). Drain all but 1 cup of water. Return to high heat and simmer until water is almost completely reduced.
Meanwhile, combine crème fraîche, egg, cornstarch, and 1 tablespoon lemon juice in a medium bowl and whisk with a fork or whisk until homogenous.
When noodles are cooked, add crème fraîche mixture to skillet and cook, stirring and tossing constantly, until sauce thickens and coats noodles. Season generously with black pepper and salt. Off heat, gently fold in tuna, peas, parsley, and remaining lemon juice until warmed through. Serve immediately drizzled with extra-virgin olive oil and sprinkled with crushed potato chips, if desired.

Special equipment

1 large deep skillet or saucepan

This Recipe Appears In

The Food Lab Turbo: How to Make Lighter Tuna Noodle Casserole With Just One Pan (and No Knives!)

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
460	Calories
21g	Fat
32g	Carbs
34g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories	460
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 21g	27%
Saturated Fat 12g	61%
Cholesterol 151mg	50%
Sodium 560mg	24%
Total Carbohydrate 32g	12%
Dietary Fiber 3g	12%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 34g
Vitamin C 12mg	61%
Calcium 64mg	5%
Iron 3mg	17%
Potassium 616mg	13%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.