Pressure Cooker Tuna Noodle Casserole

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. It’s a cheap Instant Pot recipe you can make in as a Ninja Foodi recipe too.

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!

Pressure Cooker Tuna Noodle Casserole

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!!

• 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.

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. 😉

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 “boil” 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.

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!

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 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?

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

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

Once you’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.

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.

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: