Description
This homemade Tuna Helper is a creamy, comforting dish that combines tender egg noodles with flaky tuna, sweet peas, and a rich cheese sauce. It’s a quick and easy weeknight dinner that brings nostalgic flavors with a fresh, homemade touch.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 ounces egg noodles
Sauce
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/2 small onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
Main Ingredients
- 2 cans (5 ounces each) tuna in water, drained and flaked
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Cook the noodles. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the egg noodles, and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Sauté aromatics. In the same pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the finely diced onion and cook for 3–4 minutes until softened. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds to release its aroma.
- Make the roux. Sprinkle the flour over the butter, onions, and garlic. Stir constantly for 1 minute to cook out the raw flour taste and form a roux.
- Add the milk. Gradually whisk in the milk to the roux, stirring often to prevent lumps. Continue cooking until the sauce thickens slightly, about 3–5 minutes.
- Season and enrich. Lower the heat to low and stir in the sour cream, Dijon mustard, salt, black pepper, and paprika until well combined.
- Add tuna and veggies. Fold in the drained, flaked tuna and frozen peas. Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until melted and the sauce is creamy.
- Combine with noodles. Return the cooked egg noodles to the pot and gently stir to coat the noodles evenly with the sauce and ingredients.
- Warm through and serve. Cook for another 1–2 minutes on low heat until everything is heated through. Serve warm.
Notes
- For a crunchy topping, transfer the mixture to a baking dish, sprinkle with buttered breadcrumbs or crushed crackers, and broil for 2–3 minutes until golden and crispy.
- You can substitute Greek yogurt for the sour cream for a tangier flavor and lighter texture.
- Canned chicken can be used instead of tuna to change up the protein.
- Adjust seasoning to taste, especially salt, as canned tuna can be quite salty.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 540 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg
