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Modern Tuna Casserole

154

  • Prep Time15 min
  • Total Time35 min
  • Makes4 servings
A pan of modern tuna casserole in a cast-iron skillet, sprinkled with parmesan and parsley, on a wood table beside a rough-hewn green napkin with two forks

(Photo: Carmen Cheung)

Chatelaine Triple Tested

A crowd-favourite tuna casserole gets an update with harissa, capers, and a hit of lemon for a zesty, easy take on the classic.

Ingredients

  • 4 cups mafalda Pasta

  • 2 170 g cans chunk light tuna, packed in oil

  • 1 1/2 tbsp all-purpose flour

  • 1 1/2 cups 2% milk

  • 2 anchovy fillets, chopped

  • 3 tbsp capers, drained and chopped

  • 2 tbsp lemon juice

  • 1 tbsp harissa spice blend

  • 1 cup finely grated parmesan, divided

  • 2/3 cup chopped parsley, divided

Instructions

  • 1. Position rack in centre of oven, then preheat to 400F. Spray an 8 × 8-in. baking dish with oil.

    2. Cook noodles according to package directions, then drain.

    3. Drain tuna, reserving 3 tbsp oil. Heat a large frying pan over medium. Add reserved oil, then flour. Stir and cook until flour bubbles and forms a paste, 1 min. Gradually whisk in milk and stir until thickened, 3 to 5 min. Stir in anchovies, capers, lemon juice and harissa, then noodles. Stir in tuna, 1/2 cup parmesan and half of parsley. Sprinkle with remaining parmesan.

    4. Bake until top is golden, 12 to 15 min. Sprinkle with remaining parsley just before serving.

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories 506, Protein 36g, Carbohydrates 58g, Fat 13g, Fibre 3g, Sodium 745mg.
Excellent source of B12. Excellent source of thiamin. Excellent source of riboflavin. Excellent source of folate.

Kitchen Tips
If you prefer individual servings, divide noodle mixture among 4 ramekins before sprinkling with remaining parmesan.

Mafalda pasta is also known as “mini lasagna” because of its resemblance. Substitute with farfalle or fusilli if you can’t find it.

If you don’t have harissa paste, 1/2 tsp hot pepper flakes makes a good substitution.

Get more of our best casserole recipes.

Chatelaine celebrates, inspires, informs and empowers. We know that Canadian women contain multitudes, and we cover all of the issues—big and small—that matter to them, from climate change to caregiving, Canadian fashion and what to cook now.

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The cover of Chatelaine magazine's spring 2025 issue, reading "weekend prep made easy"; "five delicious weeknight meals", "plus, why you'll never regret buying an air fryer"; "save money, stay stylish how to build a capsule wardrobe" and "home organization special" along with photos of burritos, chicken and rice and white bean soup, quick paella in a dutch oven, almost-instant Thai chicken curry and chicken broccoli casserole in an enamelled cast-iron skillet

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