Tuna Rice Casserole is an easy cheesy lightened up casserole perfect for those who love tuna noodle casserole or tuna melts. A delicious, comforting meal that is easy to make ahead! Bonus points: this dinner recipe is gluten-free, Low-FODMAP, and easy on the digestive system.
The tuna obsession has been real this summer.
For me, the convenience of whipping up a tuna sandwich is unparalleled and oh so satisfying for lunch or even dinner.
Don’t even get me started on tuna melts…they are one of the most addicting substances for me.
I recently took my love for the tuna melt and turned it into a casserole. When I was a teenager, Tuna Noodle Casserole was my JAM!
I don’t eat noodles regularly (even gluten-free noodles), but I knew rice would make a great casserole that is comforting yet light and filling.
While some recipes for easy tuna casserole involve canned cream of mushroom soup, I don’t typically use canned soups in my homemade recipes, so we’re skipping it here and going with our own flow.
And so here it is! My most cherished casserole recipe to date.
This delicious casserole is simple, it’s creamy without being heavy, it’s easy to adapt in so many different ways to please your palate, and it’s pretty awesome from a macro standpoint if you ask me!
Recipe Features:
- Quick and easy to prepare
- Gluten-free
- Can easily be made dairy-free
- Awesome make-ahead meal prep meal
- Saves very well!
The end result of this tuna rice recipe is a satisfying meal the whole family will love.
All we need is a handful of basic ingredients, a casserole dish and a little cooking time an we end up with the most satiating complete meal.
My favorite part about casserole recipes is they make amazing comfort food, require little effort, minimal cleanup, and they save so well for weeknight meals or lunches.
Let’s discuss the simple ingredients for this easy tuna rice casserole recipe.
Ingredients for Tuna Rice Casserole:
Canned Tuna: The main ingredient here! We use three cans of tuna, which brings the classic tuna casserole flavor and adds lean protein to the meal.
I like using canned tuna in water, but canned tuna in olive oil works too. You can also use canned salmon if you prefer.
When all is said and done, this high-protein meal is macro-friendly for those who keep track of their daily values of protein, carbs, and fat.
White Rice: Adding carbohydrates, texture, and volume to this easy casserole recipe, we need plain uncooked white rice. I enjoy using sushi rice for my casseroles.
It becomes so nice and puffy and starchy, which is perfect for a good creamy texture in a casserole.
You can also use any type of rice you like. Basmati rice, or any kind of long-grain white rice work but they both have a grainier, less mushy texture.
Unsweetened Almond Milk (or milk of choice): Pick your favorite kind of milk, whether it’s cow’s milk, coconut milk, almond milk, goat milk, cashew milk, oat milk, or soy milk. Canned coconut milk works too and will produce a rich flavor, although you may be able to taste a slight hint of coconut.
Eggs: A couple of eggs helps bind the casserole ingredients together so that it scoops easily when it’s out of the oven.
Avocado Oil Mayonnaise: A few tablespoons of mayonnaise goes a long way in adding some richness and creamy texture to the meal. I like using avocado oil mayo, but you can use your favorite kind of mayonnaise.
Stone Ground Mustard: I like adding mustard in Low-FODMAP recipes like this one, because it adds an earthy tang, similar to onion and garlic. Obviously, it isn’t the same, but it gives your palate something to get excited about.
If you don’t follow a low-FODMAP diet and tolerate onion and garlic well, feel free to skip the mustard and go with onion and garlic.
Mozzarella Cheese: Grated mozzarella cheese brings everything that’s good in this world to the recipe. I use raw goat milk mozzarella, as my body seems to process it very well.
Add parmesan cheese as well, and/or swap it out for your favorite type of melting cheese. For a dairy-free version, use dairy-free cheese.
Looking to make some changes to the recipe? Here are some ideas.
Recipe Adaptations:
- Use sour cream, avocado oil, or Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise if you are fine with the extra dairy.
- For some crunchy topping, sprinkle 1/3 cup of bread crumbs on top of the casserole.
- If you don’t need the recipe to be low-FODMAP, add 1 teaspoon of onion powder and 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, or 3 cloves of fresh minced garlic and 1/2 cup finely chopped yellow onion.
- Add fresh vegetables such as chopped broccoli, bell peppers, zucchini, baby spinach, carrots, green beans, or celery.
- If you’re a fan of black pepper, feel free to add some in. Some red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper is lovely for a little spice too.
- Mix in one 4-oz can of green chilies if you like a little Mexican flair.
- Use colby jack, cheddar cheese, gruyere cheese, or gouda cheese in place of mozzarella. Just note if you use an aged cheese (like parmesan or asiago), it won’t melt quite like mozzarella.
- Just add bacon. You know the drill.
- Add fresh herbs if you have them.
- Make it dairy-free by using vegan cheese. I would recommend using cashew-based ricotta!
Now that we’re familiar with the main ingredients and some potential customizations, let’s casserole!
How to Make Tuna Rice Casserole:
Cook the rice in a large saucepan or Dutch oven, following the instructions on the package. Set rice aside to cool while you’re prepping the rest of the recipe.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and lightly spray a casserole dish with cooking oil. I use an 9” x 9” square baking dish, but a 13″ x 9″ casserole dish works too.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the almond milk, mayonnaise, butter, sea salt, eggs, stone ground mustard, and 2 cups of the mozzarella cheese to a mixing bowl (you’ll use the remaining 1 cup of cheese for the topping). Whisk this mixture together until it is well-combined.
Add the drained tuna and rice and mix well to combine.
Transfer the tuna rice mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread it into an even layer.
Top the casserole with the remaining cheese (add more if desired!) and place on the center rack of the preheated oven.
Bake for 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and begins turning golden brown.
Allow casserole to cool 10 minutes before serving.
To store leftovers, cover the baking dish in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can also transfer leftovers to an airtight container or meal prep containers for storage.
And that’s it! The best comfort food for any busy weeknight.
Clean and healthy recipes like this are a family favorite in my household, and are kept on constant rotation.
More Healthy Casserole Recipes:
- Wild Rice Chicken Casserole
- Mushroom Bolognese Spaghetti Squash Casserole
- Sweet Potato Sausage and Kale Breakfast Casserole
- Broccoli Cheddar Chicken Casserole
Get your super cozy carb fest here!
Tuna Rice Casserole
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups uncooked white rice
- 1 2/3 cups unsweetened almond milk *
- 2 large eggs
- 3 Tbsp avocado oil mayonnaise **
- 2 Tbsp stone ground mustard
- 3 (6-oz) cans tuna drained
- 3 cups mozzarella cheese divided***
Instructions
- Cook rice according to package instructions. Set rice aside to cool while you’re prepping the rest of the recipe.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the almond milk, eggs, mayonnaise (or butter), sea salt, stone ground mustard, and 2 cups of the mozzarella cheese to a mixing bowl (you’ll use the remaining 1 cup of cheese for the topping). Whisk this mixture together until it is well-combined. Add the drained tuna and rice and mix well to combine.
- Transfer to a mixing bowl to a casserole dish (I use an 9” x 9” square casserole dish).
- Top the casserole with the remaining cheese (add more if desired!) and place on the center rack of the preheated oven. Bake for 20-30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and begins turning golden-brown and the center of the casserole reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit. To check the internal temperature of the casserole, insert a meat thermometer into the center and wait until the numbers stop moving. Allow casserole to cool 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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Can you freeze the tuna rice casserole?
Hi Gail! Absolutely! It can keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.
I added paprika, cumin, chili powder, MSG, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, W sauce, and fresh green onions and it turned out pretty good. Oh, and I swapped the mozzarella to aged cheddar and used real milk instead of almond milk.
Your changes sound pretty stellar, Tyler! Thanks for sharing!