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Instant Pot Tuna Casserole

casserole dish of egg noodles, tuna and peas

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5 from 6 reviews

Instant Pot Tuna Casserole is a classic 1950s casserole turned into an easy Instant Pot dinner with egg noodles, tuna & peas in creamy pasta sauce. This one-pot dinner is simple but flavorful comfort food made with fresh ingredients. 

Total Instant Pot Cooking Time: 10 minutes to reach pressure + 2 minute cooking time + instant release

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 shallot or half of an onion, finely chopped
  • 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
  • 4 cups water
  • 12 ounces wide or extra wide egg noodles
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt (add a generous 1/4 teaspoon, and add more to taste later)
  • 4 ounces cream cheese (buy a brick of cream cheese, not whipped)
  • 1/3 cup whole cream
  • 1/2 to 1 cup grated cheddar
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 5-ounce cans solid tuna in water, drained (I used albacore tuna)
  • 1/2 cup frozen green peas
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or dill

Instructions

  1. First, cut the cream cheese into small squares and set it aside so it comes up to room temperature. 
  2. Using the saute function, melt the butter and add shallot/onion. Saute 3 to 5 minutes, just to soften and lightly brown. Don’t let it burn or stick to the pot. 
  3. Add garlic, saute 30 seconds.  
  4. Add water, pasta and salt.  Mix well so that all of the noodles are wet. Try to push the noodles down flat so they’re as close to the water as possible (they won’t be completely covered, which is fine)
  5. Cook on high pressure, for 2 minutes. When the cooking time is done, instantly release the pressure.
  6. Mix well. If there’s some liquid left in the bottom of the pot, that’s okay. 
  7. Stir in the cream cheese, cheddar, whole cream and Dijon mustard
  8. Add tuna, frozen peas and parsley. Mix well. Add salt if needed. 

Notes

This recipe was made in a 6-quart instant pot

The frozen peas don’t need to be defrosted. They will defrost quickly when added to the hot pasta. 

You can use between 1/2 to 1 cup of grated cheddar, depending on how much cheese you like

To add a crunchy topping, serve the tuna and noodles in a casserole dish and crumble potato chips on top, or sprinkle browned breadcrumbs on top.