One-Pan Tuna-White Bean Casserole

Published Sept. 23, 2020

One-Pan Tuna-White Bean Casserole
David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
Total Time
50 minutes
Rating
4(1,627)
Comments
Read comments

This is not the classic, cream-of-something soup tuna casserole you may be familiar with. It’s based on a recipe for a Breton tuna and white bean gratin from the food writer Diana Henry’s cookbook, “Simple” (Mitchell Beazley, 2016). Several steps were eliminated, and an essential potato chip topping was added, which may put it squarely into tuna casserole territory. But you can call it whatever you like. (This recipe is part of the From the Pantry series, started in the days after the coronavirus lockdown.)

Featured in: 5 Recipes That Are a Sure Thing in an Uncertain Time

  • or to save this recipe.

  • Subscriber benefit: Give recipes to anyone

    As a subscriber, you have 10 gift recipes to give each month. Anyone can view them - even nonsubscribers. Learn more.

  • Share this recipe

  • Print this recipe

Advertisement


Ingredients

Yield:4 servings
  • 1onion, 2 shallots, 4 scallions or 2 leeks, chopped
  • 2tablespoons olive oil
  • Pinch of red-pepper flakes
  • Pinch of kosher salt
  • 6garlic cloves, sliced
  • 1rosemary sprig (optional)
  • 2anchovy fillets (optional)
  • 2(15-ounce) cans white beans, drained and rinsed
  • ½cup white wine, or use water or broth
  • ¼cup milk
  • 2(5-ounce) cans of tuna
  • 1 to 2tablespoons chopped fresh herbs such as parsley, basil, tarragon, chives or a combination
  • Zest of ½ lemon
  • Kosher salt and black pepper
  • 4 to 6tablespoons grated cheese (any kind, though Gruyère, Cheddar, Parmesan or Jarlsberg would be great)
  • ½cup potato chips, crushed
  • 1tablespoon butter, cut into small pieces
  • Lemon juice, for serving
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

528 calories; 20 grams fat; 7 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 9 grams monounsaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 53 grams carbohydrates; 11 grams dietary fiber; 2 grams sugars; 36 grams protein; 905 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Powered by

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Heat oven to 350 degrees. In an ovenproof skillet, sauté a chopped onion (or shallots, scallions or leeks) in olive oil over medium-high heat until soft, about 5 minutes.

  2. Step 2

    Add red-pepper flakes, salt and garlic cloves. Throw in the rosemary sprig, if using. Add anchovy fillets, if using. Cook for another 2 minutes, until the garlic is slightly golden and very fragrant.

  3. Step 3

    Add the white beans and the wine. Let it simmer until the liquid evaporates and the beans are soft, about 5 minutes, then mash the beans with a potato masher or a fork. Make them as smooth or lumpy as you like. You just want to release some of their starch. Turn off the heat.

  4. Step 4

    Now, add the milk and the tuna. If you have the oil-packed kind, add the oil. If you have the water-packed kind, drain them, and drizzle in more olive oil.

  5. Step 5

    Mash the tuna into the beans, leaving it a little chunky. Mix in the herbs, lemon zest and add lots of black pepper. Finally, mix in 2 to 4 tablespoons of any kind of grated cheese. Taste and add more salt and pepper if needed.

  6. Step 6

    Spread the mixture evenly in the skillet, and top it with potato chips. Scatter on more grated cheese, about another 2 tablespoons, and dot the top with little nuggets of butter.

  7. Step 7

    Bake until the tuna mixture bubbles around the edges, 20 to 25 minutes. If you want the potato chips to get more brown, you could run the whole pan under the broiler. Finish with lemon juice.

Ratings

4 out of 5
1,627 user ratings
Your rating

or to rate this recipe.

Have you cooked this?

or to mark this recipe as cooked.

Private Notes

Leave a Private Comment on this recipe and see it here.

Comments

I use 1 and a half cups Panko crumbs,1cup of grated Parmesan and 4 tablespoons Olive oil.Mix them up till the olive oil has darkened the crumbs and cheese and then top with that. then bake for the 25 minutes. delicious

I feel like i might put mushrooms in this. But then, I feel like i might put mushrooms in everything.

How about Panko or regular breadcrumbs sauteed in some olive oil to brown them a bit?

Delicious! Used about 1C parmesan plus 1.5C panko and 1C potato chips mixed w/ olive oil for a topping.

Has anyone tried freezing the excess? I just made this and loved it -- especially the flexible ingredients! -- but it's a lot for one person to try to polish off in a couple of days. I made it with kippers and panko and a big fat leek. Also basil, rosemary, and cheddar. SO good.

Sorry but this was a dry heavy mashed dish without any defined flavor! Very disappointing.

Private comments are only visible to you.

or to save this recipe.