Instant Pot Tuna Casserole
Instant Pot Tuna Casserole is comfort food that fills you up and tastes so creamy and delicious! We love this pressure cooker tuna noodle casserole recipe. It's so much easier and faster to make tuna casserole in the Instant Pot!
Ingredients
- 1 tbspolive oil
- 3 tbspunsalted butter
- 1 smallsweet onion
diced
- 3 cchicken broth
low sodium
- ½ tspkosher salt
- ½ tsppepper
- 1 tspgarlic powder
- ½ tsponion powder
- ½ tspdill weed
dried
- 12 ozwide egg noodles
uncooked
- 1 chalf and half
- 2cans chunk light tuna
in water, mostly drained
- 2cans condensed cream of mushroom soup)
(or 1 mushroom / 1 celery
- 2 cfrozen peas
- 1 csharp cheddar cheese
shredded
- 2 tbspfresh parsley
chopped
Directions
- 1
Turn on the Sauté setting. When hot, add the oil, butter and onion. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion starts to turn translucent.
- 2
Add the broth, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and dill. Stir, using a wooden spoon and be sure to scrape up any of the browned bits from the bottom of the pot (deglaze).
- 3
Let the liquid heat up a little, then turn off/Cancel the Sauté setting.
- 4
Add the egg noodles. Do not stir, just gently spread them in an even layer.
- 5
Pour the the half and half over the noodles. Do not stir.
- 6
Add the tuna, spreading it gently over the noodles. Do not stir.
- 7
Add the mushroom soup and spread to cover the noodles. Do not stir.
- 8
Close the lid and set the steam release knob to the Sealing position.
- 9
Press the Pressure Cook/Manual button or dial, then the +/- button or dial to select 3 minutes for soft noodles (2 minutes for firmer noodles). High Pressure. The pot will take several minutes to come to pressure.
- 10
When the cook cycle has finished, turn the steam release knob to the Venting position to Quick Release the steam/pressure. **If any soup starts to come out of the steam vent, close it and release the pressure in bursts until the pressure has gone down enough to release the pressure fully.
- 11
When the pin in the lid drops back down, open the lid.
- 12
Carefully take the pot out of the pressure cooker housing using oven mitts, and set on a heat safe surface (this keeps it from cooking more).
To finish
- 1
Add the peas and give a gentle stir.
- 2
Add the cheese and stir. The casserole will thicken as it cools.
- 3
When the cheese has melted, serve with a sprinkle of parsley as a garnish.
About this Recipe
Instant Pot Tuna Casserole: Your New Favorite Weeknight Comfort Meal
There's nothing quite like a warm, creamy tuna casserole to bring back childhood memories and satisfy your comfort food cravings. But what if you could enjoy that classic, hearty flavor in a fraction of the time? Enter our Instant Pot Tuna Casserole! This recipe transforms the traditional stovetop or oven-baked dish into an incredibly fast and easy pressure cooker tuna noodle casserole that's perfect for busy weeknights.
What makes this creamy tuna casserole so special? It's the magic of the Instant Pot, which cooks your noodles, creates a rich, savory sauce, and combines all the delicious flavors in one pot. You'll love how the tender wide egg noodles absorb the flavorful chicken broth and creamy mushroom soup base, perfectly complemented by the savory tuna, sweet peas, and sharp cheddar cheese.
From start to finish, you'll have a wholesome, delicious meal on the table in under 40 minutes, with only 12 minutes of active cook time in the Instant Pot! Forget multiple pots and long baking times; this recipe is designed for maximum flavor with minimal effort. It's a true game-changer for anyone who loves easy, satisfying dinner recipes.
Tips for the Perfect Pressure Cooker Tuna Casserole
- Flavor Boost: Don't skip the onion, garlic powder, onion powder, and dill weed. These simple seasonings elevate the dish from good to unforgettable.
- Creaminess Factor: The combination of half and half with cream of mushroom soup creates an incredibly smooth and rich sauce that coats every noodle.
- Customization: Feel free to experiment! While sharp cheddar is fantastic, you could also try a blend of Gruyère or Monterey Jack for a different cheesy twist. Add a pinch of cayenne pepper for a subtle kick.
Serve this delightful Instant Pot Tuna Casserole with a simple green salad or some crusty bread for a complete and utterly satisfying family dinner.