Name: Tuna Noodle Casserole with Bechamel Sauce
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: Penne pasta - ½ (16 ounce) package; Salted butter, divided - 5 tablespoons; All-purpose flour - 3 tablespoons; Cold milk - 2 ½ cups; Dried minced onion - 2 tablespoons; Bay leaves - 2; Cayenne pepper - ⅛ teaspoon; Salt, divided - ½ teaspoon; Tuna in water, drained - 2 (6 ounce) cans; Frozen peas - 1 ½ cups; Grated Colby-Jack cheese - 1 ½ cups; Freshly ground black pepper - ½ teaspoon; Bread, cut into 1/2-inch pieces - 4 slices; Grated Parmesan cheese - ¼ cup

Ingredients for - Tuna Noodle Casserole with Bechamel Sauce

1. Penne pasta ½ (16 ounce) package

2. Salted butter, divided 5 tablespoons

3. All-purpose flour 3 tablespoons

4. Cold milk 2 ½ cups

5. Dried minced onion 2 tablespoons

6. Bay leaves 2

7. Cayenne pepper ⅛ teaspoon

8. Salt, divided ½ teaspoon

9. Tuna in water, drained 2 (6 ounce) cans

10. Frozen peas 1 ½ cups

11. Grated Colby-Jack cheese 1 ½ cups

12. Freshly ground black pepper ½ teaspoon

13. Bread, cut into 1/2-inch pieces 4 slices

14. Grated Parmesan cheese ¼ cup

How to cook deliciously - Tuna Noodle Casserole with Bechamel Sauce

1 . Stage

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add penne and cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes less than directed on the package, about 9 minutes. Drain penne, reserving 1 cup pasta water, rinse, and set aside.

2 . Stage

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish.

3 . Stage

Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a large, shallow saute pan. Stir in flour and continue stirring until golden, about 3 minutes. Gradually whisk in milk. Add minced onion, bay leaves, and cayenne pepper. Continue cooking until bechamel sauce thickens, 10 to 15 minutes. Season with 1/4 teaspoon salt.

4 . Stage

Place the cooked pasta into a large bowl. Add bechamel sauce and mix well. Crumble the drained tuna over the pasta. Add peas and Colby-Jack cheese; mix. Thin the mixture with 2 to 4 tablespoons of the reserved pasta water. Season with pepper and remaining salt. Transfer to the prepared casserole dish.

5 . Stage

Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Add bread cubes; mix well until bread is completely coated. Stir in Parmesan cheese. Top casserole with this bread mixture and cover tightly with aluminum foil.

6 . Stage

Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking until top is browned and golden, about 10 minutes more.