Pressure cooker tuna noodle casserole will bring you back to your childhood! The comfort food you love can now be made in your Instant Pot for dinner in no time at all. It is loaded with all the ingredients you once made in your oven. If you’re looking for a new Ninja Foodi recipe, to try this is it!
Chunk tuna, noodles, veggies, sauce and cheese is another food group right. 😉 Making it in your oven is a given, but now you can make it quickly using this pressure cooker tuna noodle casserole recipe! Definitely one of our favorite Instant Pot recipes here on The Typical Mom. (originally published 5/18, affiliate links present)
Instant Pot Tuna Casserole
You can make this oldie but goodie in your Crockpot Express, Mealthy or as an easy Ninja Foodi recipe as well. All the brands work basically the same and all have the high pressure function you need.
I used egg noodles and frozen vegetables but you could leave out the peas if you wanted. Prefer canned chicken to canned tuna instead? Swap that out instead if you’d like. It is very versatile. It is kinda’ like an Instant Pot tuna helper type of meal done quick!
FIRST – You should sign up for my free newsletter so you get new posts emailed to you twice a week and never miss out on anything! Now let’s start with a few basic tips:
- Make sure to Bookmark our InstaPot recipes page. We add new ones each week!
- Then PRINT this —–> Instant Pot cooking times cheat sheet that will help you understand how long meat, vegetables and beans take to cook in your pressure cooker.
- This is a great InstaPot cookbook and a set of wooden utensils are great to grab too.
- I HIGHLY recommend you buy this non stick pot.
- You should still deglaze pressure cooker after sautéing but it won’t have as many issues with this better liner.
For reference, this is the pressure cooker I have (a 6 quart) and use for all recipe creations.
Pressure Cooker Tuna Noodle Casserole
- I grew up in the 70’s and 80’s and tuna noodle casserole was just a staple dinner that almost all of us had probably every month.
- It’s a feel good meal that’s creamy and packed with everything for a complete meal right??
As I got older I appreciated a great tuna steak but still it isn’t the same as the creaminess of this dish.
If you haven’t tried any Instant Pot casseroles yet they are our favorite because everything cooks together and is done in no time. In fact you’ll love it more because it takes no time at all to make!!
Ninja Foodi Tuna Noodle Casserole
Who doesn’t love tuna noodle casserole? It was a staple meal in my era. She also made what we call pressure cooker chicken and rice now. She had to use the stovetop back then though. Incorporating a vegetable was always important. So, peas are added to our tuna casserole but of course they’re optional if you aren’t a fan.
Mushrooms bring a great flavor to this cheap Instant Pot recipe too. Those are optional too if you want it just plain with no additional add ins.
- I want to say first off that the sauce does thicken as it stands.
Tuna Helper Instant Pot
Most pressure cooker recipes using a creamy sauce takes a few minutes to really thicken up. If you want that outcome then I suggest taking the lid off once it’s done and let it sit for 10 minutes or so.
- It will need a bit of time to cool before serving anyway so this will allow it to thicken up a bit.
You can always take some sauce out and into a small bowl and whisk some cornstarch into it too, then add back into the pot and stir to thicken it quicker.
I promise you though if you just give it a good 15 minutes to sit it will be as thick as you want it. The next day with some added cheese on top warmed up is a great lunchtime treat too. 😉
What goes well with tuna casserole?
- Green veggies like snow peas because the pod adds variety in color and taste.
- Fresh green beans on the side would also work as they compliment as seafood meal
- We added mushrooms inside this meal, but could be cooked in butter and served on the side.
What is in tuna helper?
- Well if you love this popular boxed meal, you will love this even more! Homemade is always better you know.
- That meal requires; 3 cups hot water, 1 cup milk. 3 tablespoons margarine or butter and 1 can (6 ounces) tuna, drained.
- It is similar to this homemade tuna casserole but the ingredients are fresher of course.
Can you cook egg noodles in an Instant Pot?
- I cool ALL THE THINGS in my pressure cooker y’all!
- Not only can you cook these light pasta pieces, but you can also cook fettuccine, spaghetti, linguine or small elbow macaroni.
- Egg noodles take the least amount of time to get tender though. They’re my fave.
- If you love this style, try our Instant Pot crack chicken casserole too!
If you add other things into your Instant Pot tuna noodle casserole by all means throw them in! Let me know what they are so we can try it too. I love trying other people’s methods to see how they differ.
- Top it with cheese for added flavor, after all everything is better with cheese right??!!
What else could you top this killer meal with?
- Crushed potato chips is always fun!
- You’ll love crushed fried onions on top too.
Some people may use canned cream of mushroom soup but if you use the ingredients below instead, it comes out better. Often times condensed soups will trigger the burn message.
Instant Pot Tuna Noodle Casserole
- Pressure cooker
- if you have an Instant Pot I HIGHLY suggest this non stick pot
- Tuna – I prefer solid white if I can find it
- Egg noodles
- Cheese
- Frozen peas – optional of course
- Mushrooms and onion – great add ins
- Chicken broth – much more flavorful than water
- Half and half – or heavy cream
- Salt and pepper
Once you’ve made this you should try these other Instant Pot dinner recipes
- Pressure cooker lasagna recipe is an easy way to make a lazy lasagna style dish.
- Instant Pot taco casserole you can see below. It is creamy and hearty with ground beef or sausage.
- Tasty Pressure cooker Dorito casserole is something your kids will love
Ninja Foodi Tuna Casserole
Yes the cook times seems short, but egg noodles don’t need long to pressure cook. I assure you if you follow these super easy instructions it will be a hit.
- Place all ingredients in your pot except for half and half and cheese and gently stir together.
- Put lid on and close steam valve to sealed.
- Set to pressure high for 3 minutes.
- Do a quick release and open the the pot lid away from your cace.
- Slowly stir in half and half and cheese. You can use less or more cheese depending on your taste. Put lid back on ajar and allow to sit for about 3 minutes so it can thicken up and cheese can melt.
- Then take lid off. The longer it sits the thicker it will become. You can add some hot liquid in a bowl with some cornstarch then add back into the pot to thicken quicker too. Serve!
You can skip the last part but I’m telling you, this quick and easy recipe goes from good to our of this world with these babies on top.
Some questions you may have in mind before getting started:
Stored in an airtight container, cooked tuna will last for 2 to 3 days in the refrigerator. You could freeze it too in covered containers or freezer bags. If you don’t have those cover with aluminum foil.
Of course. If you have leftovers just let them cool to room temperature and store in freezer bags. Lay flat and store for 2-3 months. To reheat leftover tuna noodle casserole allow to thaw out first.
Then put into a microwave safe dish and heat in 30 second intervals stirring in between. Add cheese on last round so it melts and makes it creamy again.
We have a version of Crockpot tuna casserole you can try too.
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Instant Pot tuna casserole without soup
That is right! Many others you might find online use condensed chicken or cream of mushroom soup, not here. I do use that in other creations but sometimes it can make your pot a bit finicky because it’s thick. This works best.
Nutritional information with calories, saturated fat, etc are listed below…but ignore that. 😉
Pressure Cooker Tuna Noodle Casserole
Ingredients
- 12 oz egg noodles
- 1 can tuna 8-12 oz. albacore chunk preferred, drained
- 1 c frozen peas
- 1 c mushrooms sliced
- 3 c chicken broth
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp pepper optional
- 1 c half and half
- 1.5 c cheese
Instructions
- Place all ingredients except for half and half and cheese into your Instant Pot and gently stir together.
- Put lid on and close steam valve.
- Set to pressure high for 3 minutes.
- Do a quick release and open the pot.
- Slowly stir in half and half and cheese (can use less or more cheese depending on your taste). Put lid back on ajar and allow to sit for about 3 minutes so it can thicken up and cheese can melt.
- Then take lid off. The longer it sits the thicker it will become. (you can add some hot liquid in a bowl with some cornstarch then add back into the pot to thicken quicker too) Serve!
Whitney
Friday 4th of November 2022
Question: if I am using rice noodles in replace of wheat. Should I increase the time by 2 minutes or should it be fine?
The Typical Mom
Friday 4th of November 2022
I have never used wheat so unsure
Kathy Biallas
Saturday 26th of March 2022
This is such a versatile recipe and works with whatever veggies we have on hand. I used evaporated milk and mirepoix mix since we were out of cream and peas. Didn’t matter, because it’s still darn tasty! This is my go-to tuna casserole recipe for the Instant Pot; other recipes are annoyingly fiddly or complex. This is simple goodness, and it’s excellent!
The Typical Mom
Wednesday 30th of March 2022
Yay!
The Typical Mom
Monday 28th of March 2022
Glad it was a hit
Cheryl
Tuesday 8th of September 2020
By adding leftover cooked beef and beef broth also substitute sour cream for milk and increase the mushrooms you could have beef stroganoff!!! But I did love your recipe too!
Marnee
Monday 7th of September 2020
i committed the ultimate cooking sin - not checking to see if i had all the ingredients BEFORE i started putting them into the IP. after everything else went in the pot, found out that i was all out of tuna! but i DID have a big can (12.5 oz) of costco chicken breast, so shredded that up. used heavy whipping cream & cheddar cheese at the end & served it up. hubs took three helpings! said it was delicious & i know he would not have been so enthusiastic about tuna casserole. even better as leftovers, but i wished i had had 1/2&1/2 instead of the heavy cream, as it made it a little too rich. but def a keeper & it will be in my meal rotation! thanks!
Aubrey
Sunday 31st of May 2020
Thank you. I love the fact there is no can soup as there is usually msg in soup. Easy to follow. Everyone enjoyed!
The Typical Mom
Monday 1st of June 2020
Oh good, glad it was a hit