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Tuna Casserole is NOT a favorite of mine normally.. I can think of so many other things I like to prepare. But, I was on the search for a tuna casserole recipe without the canned soup.. you know those old school recipes for tuna casserole always called for a canned cream of something, mushroom maybe? Anyways,   casseroles are so easy to prepare, you can do them the night before or during the early afternoon while the baby is napping and the kids are at school. Stick them in the refrigerator and pop them in the oven and you are done! Tuna is such healthy protein, and you get everything in one dish.. the noodles, veggies, and the protein. SCORE!



Tuna Noodle Casserole

 Adapted from Cooking Light

Ingredients

• 8  ounces  wide egg noodles
• 2  tablespoons  olive oil
• 1/2  cup  chopped yellow onion
• 1/3  cup  chopped carrot
• 2  tablespoons  all-purpose flour
• 2 3/4  cups  fat-free milk
• 1/2  cup  (4 ounces) 1/3-less-fat cream cheese, softened
• 2  tablespoons  Dijon mustard
• 1/2  teaspoon  salt
• 1/2  teaspoon  freshly ground black pepper
• 1  cup  frozen peas, thawed
• 1/2  cup  (2 ounces) grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, divided
• 2  (5-ounce) cans albacore tuna in water, drained and flaked
• Cooking spray

Preparation

1. Preheat broiler.

2. Cook noodles according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add onion and carrot; cook 6 minutes or until carrot is almost tender, stirring occasionally. Sprinkle with flour; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Gradually stir in milk; cook 5 minutes, stirring constantly with a whisk until slightly thick. Stir in cream cheese, mustard, salt, and pepper; cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly.

3. Remove pan from heat. Stir in noodles, peas, 1/4 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, and tuna. Spoon mixture into a shallow broiler-safe 2-quart baking dish coated with cooking spray; top with remaining 1/4 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano 

cheese. Broil 3 minutes or until golden and bubbly. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.