Ingredient Fish & Seafood Fish & Seafood Fish & Seafood Casserole Pesto Tuna Noodle Casserole 4.0 (9) 6 Reviews A creamy pesto sauce with sweet shallots and wilted spinach gives a light and bright spin to classic tuna noodle casserole. Albacore tuna is an ideal choice, as it holds its texture well once mixed in, although any water-packed tuna will do the job. For the best results, we recommend using refrigerated pesto for its fresh flavor which enhances the overall dish. By Melissa Gray-Streett Melissa Gray-Streett A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Melissa Gray-Streett trained in traditional French-style cooking, restaurant and front-of-house management. Since transitioning to recipe development and food styling in 2015, Melissa has developed over 1,500 original recipes and styled over 300 photo shoots. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Published on December 6, 2023 Reviewed by Dietitian Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD Reviewed by Dietitian Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD Emily Lachtrupp is a registered dietitian experienced in nutritional counseling, recipe analysis and meal plans. She's worked with clients who struggle with diabetes, weight loss, digestive issues and more. In her spare time, you can find her enjoying all that Vermont has to offer with her family and her dog, Winston. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Save Rate PRINT Share Close Credit: Photographer: Grant Webster, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Lexi Juhl Active Time: 25 mins Total Time: 35 mins Servings: 6 servings Nutrition Profile: Sesame-Free Nut-Free Healthy Pregnancy Soy-Free High-Fiber High-Protein Egg-Free Jump to Nutrition Facts Photographer: Grant Webster, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Lexi Juhl Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) Ingredients 12 ounces whole-wheat rotini 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 1 large shallot, thinly sliced 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1 cup nonfat milk 1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese, divided 1 (6.5-ounce) container refrigerated basil pesto (about 3/4 cup) 3/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper 2 (5-ounce) cans no-salt-added albacore tuna in water, drained and flaked 1 pint multicolor cherry tomatoes, halved 1 (5-ounce) package baby spinach 1/3 cup whole-wheat panko breadcrumbs Directions Position oven rack 8 inches from heat source; preheat broiler. Lightly coat a 9-by-13-inch broiler-safe baking dish with cooking spray. Bring a large pot of water to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook pasta, stirring occasionally, until al dente, about 9 minutes. Reserve 1 cup cooking water; drain the pasta well and transfer to a large bowl. Photographer: Grant Webster, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Lexi Juhl Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add shallot; cook, stirring often, until softened, about 2 minutes. Stir in flour; cook, stirring constantly, 1 minute. Gradually whisk in milk; cook, whisking often, until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Whisk in 1/4 cup Parmesan until melted. Remove from heat; stir in pesto, salt, pepper and 3/4 cup reserved cooking water. Photographer: Grant Webster, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Lexi Juhl Pour the sauce over the pasta; stir, adding some or all of the remaining 1/4 cup of reserved cooking water until desired consistency is reached. Gently fold in tuna, tomatoes and spinach until evenly distributed. Spoon into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with panko and the remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan. Broil until the casserole is heated through and the top is golden brown, about 10 minutes. Photographer: Grant Webster, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Lexi Juhl EatingWell.com, December 2023 Save Rate Print Nutrition Facts (per serving) 560 Calories 19g Fat 64g Carbs 37g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 6 Serving Size about 2 cups Calories 560 % Daily Value * Total Carbohydrate 64g 23% Dietary Fiber 12g 44% Total Sugars 8g Protein 37g 75% Total Fat 19g 25% Saturated Fat 4g 22% Cholesterol 30mg 10% Vitamin A 1212µg Vitamin C 74mg 83% Vitamin D 1µg Vitamin E 8mg 56% Folate 542µg Vitamin K 1198µg Sodium 971mg 42% Calcium 483mg 37% Iron 10mg 53% Magnesium 294mg 70% Potassium 2147mg 46% Zinc 4mg 35% Vitamin B12 1µg Omega 3 0g Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate. * Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.) (-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.