Pressure cooker tuna noodle casserole will bring you back to your childhood! This comfort food you love can now be made in your Instant Pot for dinner in no time. Loaded with all the ingredients you once made in your oven. Itโ€™s a cheap Instant Pot recipe you can make in as a Ninja Foodi recipe too.

instant pot tuna casserole
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Chunk tuna, noodles, veggies, sauce and cheese is another food group right. ๐Ÿ˜‰ 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. (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 youโ€™d like. It is very versatile. It is kindaโ€™ like an Instant Pot tuna helper type of meal done quick!

If you are new to pressure cooking we have a lot of easy one pot meal recipes for you here. To begin with letโ€™s start with a few basic tips:

For reference, this is the model I have (a 6 quart) and use for all recipe creations.

A white Instant Pot with a Star Wars theme sits on the kitchen counter, ready to tackle your favorite beef arm roast recipe. The digital display glows "On." Next to it lie a patterned cloth and some green onions, all against the backdrop of blue kitchen cabinets and a stovetop.

Pressure Cooker Tuna Noodle Casserole

If you havenโ€™t tried any Instant Pot casseroles yet they are our favorite because everything cooks together and is done in no time. In fact youโ€™ll love it more because it takes no time at all to make!!

  • I grew up in the 70โ€™s and 80โ€™s and tuna noodle casserole was just a staple dinner that almost all of us had probably every month.
  • Itโ€™s a feel good meal thatโ€™s creamy and packed with everything for a complete meal right??

As I got older I appreciated a great tuna steak but still it isnโ€™t the same as the creaminess of this dish.

Pressure Cooker Tuna Noodle Casserole 3

Ninja Foodi Tuna Noodle Casserole

Who doesnโ€™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 theyโ€™re optional if you arenโ€™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.

instant pot tuna casserole

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 itโ€™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. ๐Ÿ˜‰

shredded cheese

Do you cook noodles before putting them in a pressure cooker?

Nope, you can skip that step. Added right out of the bag you just need to make sure your egg noodles are submerged into the liquid or sauce in the pot so they can โ€œboilโ€ to al dente or as tender as you would like. Gently press down so they are coated before sealing the lid.

What goes well with tuna casserole?

  1. Green veggies like snow peas because the pod adds variety in color and taste.
  2. Fresh green beans on the side would also work as they compliment as seafood meal
  3. We added mushrooms inside this meal, but could be cooked in butter and served on the side.
pressure cooker tuna casserole
Pressure Cooker Tuna Noodle Casserole

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 yโ€™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. Theyโ€™re my fave.
  • If you love this style, try our Instant Pot crack chicken casserole too!
Pressure Cooker Tuna Noodle Casserole 2

Instant Pot Tuna Noodle Casserole

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 peopleโ€™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?

  1. Crushed potato chips is always fun like we did on top of our Pressure cooker Dorito casserole your kids will love
  2. Youโ€™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.

Pressure Cooker Tuna Noodle Casserole

What are the ingredients in tuna noodle casserole?

Use your pressure cooker and if you have an Instant Pot I HIGHLY suggest getting a non stick pot which I have linked above.

  1. Canned Tuna โ€“ I prefer solid white if I can find it
  2. Egg noodles
  3. Cheese
  4. Frozen peas โ€“ optional of course
  5. Mushrooms and onion โ€“ great add ins
  6. Chicken broth โ€“ much more flavorful than water
  7. Half and half โ€“ or heavy cream
  8. Salt and pepper

Once youโ€™ve made this you should try these other Instant Pot dinner recipes like this easy deconstructed Pressure cooker lasagna recipe. It is basically 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.

instant pot taco casserole 2

Ninja Foodi Tuna Casserole

Yes the cook times seems short, but egg noodles donโ€™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 Iโ€™m telling you, this quick and easy recipe goes from good to our of this world with these babies on top.

homemade french fried onions

We have a version of Crockpot tuna casserole you can try too. But first here are some questions you may have in mind before getting started:

How long is tuna casserole good for?
Can you freeze tuna casserole?

How do you make 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 itโ€™s thick. This works best. Nutritional information with calories, saturated fat, etc are listed belowโ€ฆbut ignore that. ๐Ÿ˜‰

instant pot tuna casserole
4.91 from 22 votes

Pressure Cooker Tuna Noodle Casserole

By The Typical Mom
Easy pressure cooker tuna noodle casserole will bring you back to your childhood for sure. The comfort food you love can now be made in your Instant Pot for dinner in no time at all and is loaded with all the ingredients you once made in your oven. If you're looking for a new Instant Pot recipe to try this is it!
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 3 minutes
Total: 13 minutes
Servings:
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Equipment

  • 1 pressure cooker

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
Prevent your screen from going dark

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!

Video

3 Minute Instant Pot Tuna Casserole

Nutrition

Serving: 4oz, Calories: 454kcal, Carbohydrates: 57g, Protein: 23g, Fat: 14g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Cholesterol: 108mg, Sodium: 1038mg, Potassium: 457mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 395IU, Vitamin C: 8.9mg, Calcium: 216mg, Iron: 2.3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Entree, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @thetypical_mom or tag #thetypicalmom!

About The Typical Mom

Justine is the creative mind behind The Typical Mom and The Typical Family on YouTube. She began blogging about easy recipes, budget friendly activities for kids, and fun family travel destinations in September 2012.

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4.91 from 22 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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71 Comments

  1. Do you have a recipe for โ€œTuna Noodle Casseroleโ€ for moms who donโ€™t have a pressure cooker and will cook it on the stove? I canโ€™t find one and this one looks just like I remember.

    1. You could make this on the stove, cook noodles separate, then add in when done and turn off to sit and thicken.

    2. Hi, try this one. The hubby loves it so much more than any made with canned soup. I scaled it down from 4 servings.
      Stove Top Tuna Casserole
      Serves 2
      4 ounces fettuccine pasta, uncooked
      1โ„2 cup celery, sliced
      1โ„3 cup onion, chopped
      2 tablespoons butter, melted
      1โ„2 cup frozen English peas
      1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, cubed and softened
      2โ„3 cup milk
      1โ„2 teaspoon salt
      1โ„4 teaspoon black pepper
      1 (6 -1/8 ounce) can solid white tuna, drained* and flaked (* I add the liquid to the pasta cooking water).
      1โ„2 cup parmesan cheese, grated
      1 tablespoon parsley, fresh, chopped
      Cook pasta according to the package directions; drain well, set aside and keep warm.
      Cook celery and onion in butter in a large skillet over medium high heat, stirring constantly until tender. Add English peas, stir until warm.
      Add cream cheese, milk, salt, and pepper; cook over medium heat until smooth, stirring occasionally. Stir in tuna and Parmesan cheese; cook until thoroughly heated, stirring occasionally.
      Add pasta and toss well. Cover at low or warm heat until pasta is warmed up. Sprinkle with fresh parsley.

      Serve immediately.

    1. Probably, in the IP you just need to make sure you have enough overall liquid so the burn notice doesnโ€™t come on.

  2. Great recipe! Simple and comforting!!
    I sautรฉed mushrooms, onion, and garlic in the IP with some olive oil. Added the broth, noodles, frozen peas, and tuna stacked in the pot. 5 min pressure, QR, and finished with crushed goldfish crackers. Delicious!!!

      1. Totally, may want to add 1 more min. Depends on how soft you want them.

  3. I made it with two cans of tuna, perhaps even more mushrooms than the recipe, and it was fantastic !! Plus it opened the door to other possible casseroles. This really is a โ€œfoundationโ€ recipe and a great introduction to what instant pot can do with noodle based dishes .. and in just a few minutes of prep. Many thanks.

  4. I made this exactly as instructed and all I can say is Amazing. Very easy to make and absolutely delicious! Ty for another awesome recipe

  5. Asking again .. what size can of tuna. And really using uncooked mushrooms? Not sauteed? Trying this tonight.

  6. I changed the recipe slightlyโ€ฆ Instead of using one can of tuna I used two, and added an extra minute to the cook time. Minor tweaks, but it tasted great! Thanks for the recipe!

  7. More like this please, easy, not a lot of ingredients, thank you!
    โ€ฆso many are doing Instant Pot recipes with way too many ingredients. You have the right idea, good tasting food without having to go buy out the store ?