This crock pot tuna casserole is a classic family favorite with a twist - fresh dill and zucchini! A creamy, cheesy, tangy, and hearty all-in-one crockpot meal that is super easy to whip up any day of the week. Add in dry noodles for virtually no prep, and let the slow cooker do the rest!
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You'll Love Slow Cooker Tuna Noodle Casserole
Family Favorite with a Twist. A classic, luscious, creamy cheesy slow cooker tuna casserole that the whole family will love! My family loves to crush potato chips on top and my favorite is french fried onions - SO good!
Easy Any Day of The Week. This slow-cooker meal is done in just two to three hours! Layers of creamy, cheesy noodles, tuna, and veggies make this an all-in-one meal as well.
Extra Veggies! I like to sneak in vegetables whenever I can - in this recipe I added fresh celery and zucchini and topped the tuna casserole with fresh chopped tomatoes. The freshness really balances the creaminess of the casserole. Baby spinach leaves can be stirred in an cooked as well!
Tuna Noodle Casserole Crockpot Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you will need to make this crock pot tuna casserole:
- Olive Oil
- Medium Egg Noodles: you can also use any width of egg noodles.
- Low Sodium Chicken Broth: low sodium broth prevents your casserole from being too salty. If you use regular broth, adjust the amount of added salt.
- Canned Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup: you can use low sodium, low fat or regular based on preference.
- Sour Cream: regular or light can be used.
- Dijon Mustard: dijon mustard will add the tang to your casserole and add a little heat as well. You can use yellow mustard, brown mustard or any variety you wish.
- Fresh Dill: fresh dill is preferred for the freshest flavor and adds a little acid and sweetness also!
- Canned Tuna: tuna in water is my preferred option to prevent any extra oil in the casserole.
- Shredded Jack Cheese: a combination cheese such as Monterey jack cheese, cheddar cheese, or cheddar jack can be used.
- Vegetables: celery and zucchini add a lot of freshness to this recipe.
- Seasonings: kosher salt and pepper.
- Herbs: fresh dill- you can use dried dill instead if desired.
- Garnish: chopped fresh tomatoes, minced fresh dill, or chives.
For exact ingredient quantities, please see the recipe card below!
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Substitutions and Variations
- Swap out cheddar cheese for any other cheese variety. Try using smoked gouda, pepper jack, or mozzarella.
- Add 1 to 2 cups of chopped baby spinach to the first layer.
- Use a different canned fish variety such as crab or even salmon (remember to remove the bones if using salmon).
- Add other vegetables to your casserole such as diced onion, frozen peas, or shredded carrot.
- Use cream of celery soup or cream of mushroom soup instead of cream of chicken if desired.
- Use any mustard variety.
- Substitute a different noodle for egg noodles. Stir in your dry noodles and cook until tender. Cooking time may vary depending on how dense your noodles are.
- Adjust any seasonings to taste.
- Use a spicy mustard or add crushed red pepper flakes to your casserole if you want to make it spicier.
How To Make Crockpot Tuna Casserole
This is intended as an overview only. For detailed instructions, please see the recipe card below. Enjoy!
1. Combine egg noodles, onion, celery, and olive oil in a dish. Microwave until half the pasta is blistered.
2. Combine the blistered egg noodle mixture, broth, tuna, mushroom soup, sour cream, mustard, dill, salt, and pepper in a large bowl.
3. In a greased crockpot, layer half of the pasta mixture and top with half of the zucchini and cheese. Repeat the layer and end with cheese.
4. Cover and cook on high until the pasta is tender in the very center. Adjust seasonings to taste and garnish.
How to Serve It
- Garnish with suggested toppings like fresh chopped tomatoes, minced dill or chives, and any additional shredded cheese.
- Add a crunchy topping! Use crumbled French fried onions, crushed potato chips, or crumbled Ritz crackers. ( kids LOVE crushing their chips on top)!
Meal idea! Serve this slow cooker tuna casserole alone, or pair it with a simple side salad! Add a side of fresh sliced French bread, garlic bread, or breadsticks.
Tips
- Blistering the pasta and cooking the onions and celery is a key step. The pasta won't cook long enough to cook the onions and celery properly. Blistering the pasta prevents it from going soggy.
- Slice the zucchini very thin.
- The casserole is done when the pasta is tender and soft in the very center.
FAQ's
Once cool, transfer your casserole to an air-tight container and store it in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Transfer the portion you want to reheat to a microwave-safe dish. Cover and heat in 45-second increments to prevent overcooking.
Most of the time a dry tuna noodle casserole results from not using enough liquid for the pasta to soak up. Pasta will continue to absorb liquid even after cooking so sometimes it is necessary to add extra broth to add moisture.
Canned tuna has already been cooked in the canning process. So it has been cooked under a high heat with pressure to prevent bacteria growth and preserves it until opened.
There are SO many different variations of tuna noodle casserole so its hard to say what exactly it is made of. My variation includes tuna, pasta, onion, celery, condensed cream of chicken soup, chicken broth, sour cream, dijon, dill, cheese, salt and pepper. You can adjust seasoning and herbs and add vegetables to make it your own.
If you tried this recipe, let me know! I'd love for you to come back and give the recipe a 5 star rating and leave a review in the comments! 🙂 Let's stay connected, so please follow me on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest! Subscribe to my newsletter to get easy delicious crockpot recipe ideas every week!
📖 The recipe.
Slow Cooker Tuna Casserole Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup thinly sliced celery
- ½ cup onion finely chopped
- 12 ounces dry medium egg noodles
- 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 (10-ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
- ½ cup sour cream
- 3 teaspoons dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill (½ tablespoon of dried dill can be used)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 1 small zucchini (very thinly sliced)
- 2 6.5-ounce cans drained tuna (drained and flaked apart; salmon or crab may also be used)
- 2 cups shredded jack cheese (colby jack, cheddar, mozzarella, swiss, or gouda can be used)
- optional garnishes: extra cheese, chopped fresh tomatoes, or minced fresh dill or chives.
Instructions
- In a microwave-safe dish, stir pasta, onion, celery, and 1 tablespoon olive oil together. Microwave for 2 to 5 minutes on HIGH, stirring frequently. Cook until half the pasta is blistered.
- In a large bowl, stir in the blistered pasta mixture, broth, condensed soup, sour cream, tuna, dijon, dill, salt, and pepper.
- Spray crockpot with nonstick spray. Layer in ½ of the pasta mixture, then top with ½ the zucchini slices, and half of the shredded cheese. Repeat layers ending in shredded cheese. (TIMESAVER TIP: You can also dump all the ingredients in, stir it all together, then cook.)
- Cover and cook on high 2 to 3 hours, or until the pasta in the very center is tender. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Garnish if desired.
Video
Notes
- Don't miss all of our helpful hints, substitution ideas, cooking tips, and other delicious recipes that can be found in our post. Check it out!
- VARIATIONS: Swap out cheddar cheese for another favorite cheese to vary taste. Try smoked gouda, pepper jack, or mozzarella. Add 1 to 2 cups of chopped baby spinach in the first layer. Substitute canned crab or salmon (remove any salmon bones).
- TIPS:
- Blistering the pasta and cooking the onions and celery is a key step. The pasta won't cook long enough to cook the onions and celery properly. Blistering the pasta prevents it from going soggy.
- Slice the zucchini very thin.
- The casserole is done when the pasta is tender and soft in the very center.
- SERVING SUGGESTIONS: Garnish with fresh chopped tomatoes, minced dill or chives, and additional cheese if desired. If you like a crunchy topping - crumble french fried onions, crushed potato chips, or crumbled ritz crackers over the top.
Nutrition
© 2025 Slow Cooked Eats
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