Quinoa Tuna Casserole is our new favourite. It includes all the basics of your mom’s tuna noodle recipe, with a twist.
By replacing the noodles with quinoa you up the protein in this baked tuna casserole. A great alternative to traditional tuna pasta recipes.
Quinoa also makes a great substitute for rice and works amazingly in this sushi salad bowl. Love burrito bowls? Here is the best vegetarian burrito. How about a vegetarian tortilla lasagna?
We all have memories of those classic casseroles when we were kids. Even in my younger years, I had cans of cream of mushroom and chicken soup just waiting in the pantry. The perfect addition to all kinds of casserole recipes.
These days, I prefer to make my own homemade cream sauce. It is not difficult (in case you were wondering). In fact, I have everything you need to know in the recipe card.
I love adding grains to recipes. Chicken Mushroom Barley Bake is a great example.
RECIPE and INSTRUCTIONS for this tuna quinoa bake can be found at the bottom of this post.
Canned tuna is such a great thing to have on hand. Tuna fish sandwiches will never go out of style. Added to casseroles, and used in this healthy tuna salad, it is one of my favourite go-to ingredients.
Speaking of canned fish, do you like sardines? Sardine Pasta is made in under 30 minutes. If you have never eaten tinned sardines, give this delicious recipe a try. Budget-friendly eating at home.
Classic Casserole Ingredients
This easy-to-make recipe includes all the classic ingredients. Yes, it is a tuna casserole with peas, minus the noodles and canned soup.
- cooked quinoa
- bell pepper
- peas
- onions
- homemade cream sauce
- grated cheese
- tuna
See, most of the same ingredients that mom used. The cream sauce is super easy and not filled with preservatives. Quinoa is super nutritious and gluten-free too.
How To Make Tuna Casserole
With a little prep, this casserole will be baking in the oven in no time. Perfect for easy weeknight dinners.
- Precook the quinoa.
- Make the cream sauce.
- Grate the cheese.
- Sauté the onions and peppers.
- Combine all the ingredients.
- Top with cheese and bake.
- Dinner will be ready in about 25 minutes.
How To Cook Quinoa
If you have never cooked this wonderful ingredient, don’t fret. It’s easier than cooking rice.
Quinoa is super nutritious and has lots of health benefits too.
- 1 part quinoa
- 2 parts liquid
This is the basic ratio, just like rice. You can easily increase the amount you need for recipes. The liquid can be water or broth.
- Always wash the quinoa before cooking. Just place it in a metal sieve under running cold water.
- Combine the quinoa and liquid in a pot with a bit of salt.
- Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce the heat to medium-high.
- Cook until done (about 15 minutes depending on the amount you are cooking).
- Fluff with a fork.
- Ready to use in your recipes.
- It will last for several days in the fridge in a sealed container.
Cooked quinoa is perfect in all kinds of easy and tasty dishes.
- For an easy and family-friendly dinner, try this Mexican quinoa recipe. Individual mini casseroles that can be made in the oven or microwave.
- Quinoa breakfast bowls contain delicious roasted blueberries as the topping to this baked breakfast casserole.
- Protein-packed quinoa stuffed peppers have crab meat, goat cheese and spinach for a flavourful total meal deal.
Recipe Tips and Suggestions
Pre-cook the quinoa and have it ready to add to the casserole. It can be made several days in advance. Perfect for when you are in a time crunch.
Double the sauce if you like a creamier texture. We like it on the drier side because we love to use the leftovers in wraps! Makes a great protein-packed lunch.
Change the cheese. Use cheddar, gouda, swiss or any cheese you like. For this recipe I used smoked cheddar, our favourite.
Leftovers can be frozen in a sealed container. This will keep for several days in the fridge. Great for a fast and easy meal on another day.
Freezing after cooking is a great option. Let the casserole cool, wrap the dish well and place in the freezer. To cook, defrost in the fridge and place in the oven until heated through.
Freezing before cooking is perfect for a ready-to-make meal. Assemble the ingredients like you would if you were baking it right now. Wrap well and place in the freezer. Defrost in the fridge (overnight works best) and pop it in the oven until it is fully heated.
Canned tuna can be light, solid or flaked for this recipe.
If you are looking for a new twist on an old classic, I highly recommend giving this quinoa tuna recipe a try. It is grandkid approved!
Speaking of cooking with grains, have you tried Cold Buckwheat Salad? Packed with lots of protein, a citrus dressing and grilled scallops.
Shrimp and Grits Salad is a fun take on the iconic southern dish. Perfect as an appetizer or main dish.
Be sure to CLICK THE SUBSCRIBE BUTTON located in the TOP MENU. You will get a FREE PRINTABLE and recipes! FOLLOW ME on social media too.
Baked Tuna Casserole with Quinoa
Ingredients
- 1 cup Quinoa (uncooked)
- 3 ounces onion (diced)
- 7 ounces peas (frozen)
- 5 ounces bell pepper (diced)
- 3 ounces grated cheese (your choice of flavour)
- 9 ounces canned tuna (2 cans, drained, flaked or solid)
- ¼ teaspoons black pepper
- 1 cup milk
- 1 ounce all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons butter (divided)
Instructions
- Prepare a 9×13 inch casserole dish and pre-heat the oven to 350º F.
Pre-Cook The Quinoa:
- Rinse quinoa with cold water in a sieve.
- Combine 2 cups of water and the washed quinoa in a medium sized pot.
- Bring to a boil, reduce and cook until liquid is absorbed (about 15 minutes).
- Remove from heat, fluff with a fork, and set aside until ready to use.
Make The Cream Sauce:
- Add 2 tbsp. butter into a medium-pot.
- Add the flour, and mix to combine.
- Whisk in the milk.
- Cook on medium-high heat, stirring frequently until thickened (about 5 minutes).
Make the Casserole:
- In a small frying pan add 1 tbsp. of butter, the diced onion and the diced bell pepper.
- Cook until the veggies are soft (about 6-7 minutes).
- Remove from heat.
- In a large prepared casserole dish combine the cooked vegetables, cooked quinoa, drained tuna, peas and cream sauce. Stir to combine.
- Add in ½ of the grated cheese and mix.
- Top the casserole with the remaining cheese.
- Bake uncovered at 350º for about 25 minutes.
Leone
Made this tonight. I’m usually tuna casserole adverse, but this was yummy. I call it tuna casserole 2.0 lol. I used top quality tuna which makes it even better. I like how versatile it is and we all loved the quinoa.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
We love this version of tuna casserole. Glad you enjoyed the recipe.
Janel Burch
Hi Gloria,
Your Tuna Casserole with Quina sounds awesome but I have 2 questions:
1) You state prepare the 9×13 casserole dish but I don’t see anything to prepare it with. Are we to suppose to grease or butter?
2) For the sauce: Shouldn’t the butter be melted to mix with flour and milk? Thank you. Janel : )
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
For preparing a casserole dish, I would recommend you read the directions on your specific pan. I like to use cooking spray. As for the butter, yes it is melted in the pot along with the other sauce ingredients. Hope these answers help.
Jamie
I love the addition of quinoa in this casserole! This is going to make a fabulous lunch for my family. We’re always looking for more ways to use tuna.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
This is a great recipe for lunch…ENJOY!
Nicole
I love Tuna Casserole. Never thought about using quinoa in this dish. Can you use brown rice instead? I am not a quinoa fan.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
I would think brown rice would work great in this recipe. Let me know how it turns out.
Lori | The Kitchen Whisperer
I LOVE a great tuna casserole but never thought about swapping quinoa for noodles. This looks and sounds AMAZING Gloria!!! I am making this for dinner this week and cannot wait to make the switch! Genius!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
You are welcome. It really is a nice change from tuna noodle casserole.
Naiby
I never thought of using quinoa as the base of a casserole dish. What a good idea! This dish got me all excited!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
Quinoa is a great ingredient…I hope you give this tuna casserole a try soon.
Aditi
Simple recipe, amazing flavors. Tried this today for breakfast and it was just perfect. Saving this for repeats. Easy and healthy breakfast.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
Wow…I would have never thought to eat this for breakfast….but hey, glad you loved the recipe.
veenaazmanov
Delicious casserole and yummy combination. Quinoa sounds healthy and Tuna sounds yum. I love this dish.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
This is a great twist on the classic tuna noodle casserole. ENJOY!
Brianna
I love quinoa and I’m always looking for new ways to use it. Such a yummy twist on a comfort food favorite.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
We love this casserole. Quinoa is a great ingredient to work with.
Sharon
This is a deliciously healthy upgrade to traditional tuna casserole. The cream sauce is so good.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
Yes the cream sauce is like the best ever. No need for canned soup when you can make this from scratch. And it is super easy.
Nart at Cooking with Nart
This quinoa casserole looks delicious. I love the cheese on top and the fact that you replace noodles with quinoa. Makes it healthier!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
We love leftovers in wraps. Hope you give this quinoa casserole a try soon.
Chef Dennis
Yum! This Quinoa Tuna Casserole will be a great addition to our favorites. It looks really scrumptious.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
We happen to love this recipe….and leftovers are great too.