…. or hot dish, if you are from Minnesota!  Yep, tuna noodle casserole, it has to be done.  But this isn’t your grandma’s casserole.  This has veggies, is dairy and gluten free and has no mystery condensed soup.  And this casserole is delicious, while still maintaining it’s frugal and comfort food heritage.  Gotta love that!

freezer-food-friday

 

Printer friendly recipe card for large batches of Tuna Noodle Vegetable Casserole for the freezer (OAMC)

Printer friendly freezer label for Tuna Noodle & Vegetable Casserole

The Recipe: Gluten Free Dairy Free Tuna Noodle & Vegetable Casserole

Ingredients

  • 12 oz gluten free pasta, I like small shells, penne, elbow shapes, or veggie spirals for this recipe., cooked, drained and rinsed of extra starch
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 3/4 cup chopped onion
  • 1 1/2 red bell peppers, ribs and seeds removed, thinly sliced
  • 1 1/2 cups sliced mushrooms
  • 1/4 cup sweet rice flour
  • 3 cups chicken or vegetable broth, or more if needed
  • 6 tablespoons gluten and dairy free mayonnaise
  • 1 Tablespoon dried parsley
  • 1 teaspoons dry thyme
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 14 oz can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
  • 3/4 cup frozen peas
  • 12 ounces canned tuna, be sure to use one that is gluten/dairy free
  • Optional topping:
  • 3/4 – 1 cups gluten free dairy free bread crumbs, your favorite or Noah Rolls work well in a pinch. You can also use crushed potato chips if your family is into that topping instead., optional
  • paprika

Instructions 

  • Heat half the olive oil in a pan over medium heat, add onion, peppers and mushrooms, cook until tender then remove from pan.
  • Add 2 more tablespoons olive oil to pan and stir in sweet rice flour, whisking until smooth. While continuing to whisk, gradually add broth, cooking until sauce thickens. Stir in mayonnaise, parsley, thyme, salt and pepper, whisking until smooth. Turn off heat.
  • Mix in onion/pepper/mushroom mixture, artichoke hearts, peas and tuna. Spread cooked pasta in 4 8×8 lightly oiled baking dishes and pour tuna mixture over noodle being sure to cover the noodles completely.
  • If using a topping, sprinkle gluten free bread crumbs over the casserole, dust lightly with paprika. Spritz bread crumbs with a bit of olive oil. If using potato chips, simply sprinkle crushed potato chips over all. If not using a topping, lightly dust with paprika. Cover, label and freeze.
  • If serving one right away, bake in the preheated 350 degree oven for 30 minutes until lightly browned on top.
  • Bake from Frozen: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake, covered with foil, until center is warm, about 2 hours. Uncover, and bake until top is browned, about 20 minutes more.
  • Bake from Thawed: Thaw overnight in refrigerator. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and bake, covered with foil, until center is warm, about 30 minutes. Uncover, and bake until top is browned, about 20 minutes more.