Growing up we ate a lot of hotdishes. Do you not know what a hotdish is? It’s a Minnesota/ midwest thing. It’s really just a casserole. My mom used to throw things together and always make the best hotdishes! In honor of my midwestern heritage I wanted to make Tuna Noodle Casserole, but with zoodles (zucchini noodles) for the noodles. I also swapped out the cream of mushroom soup for fresh mushrooms and coconut milk. This dish is the real thing! My brother, the hotdish expert, gave it two thumbs up!
Ingredients
6 small zucchini (or 3 medium ones), spiralized to the smallest “noodles”
3 Tablespoons coconut oil
1 medium onion, diced
2 cups crimini mushrooms, finely diced
1 cup coconut milk
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1-2 cups frozen peas (as many as you would like, I personally like less)
2 cans of organic chunk light tuna in water
2 teaspoons fresh parsley, chopped (or 1/2 tsp dried parsley)
2 cups of raw parmesan cheese or sheep’s cheese
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and take out a 9×13 inch pan or a casserole dish
- Spiralize the zucchini and set aside
- Heat a large skillet to medium heat and add the coconut oil. Once melted add the onions and mushrooms and cook until the onions until they start to become translucent.
- Add the peas and tuna
- Pour in the coconut milk and season with salt, pepper and parsley
Add the tuna to the skillet and stir
- Mix the zucchini noodles with the onion and mushroom sauce and put in the baking pan. Stir in 1 cup of cheese and top with the remaining cup of cheese
- Bake for 35-40 minutes until the cheese is melted and the casserole is hot throughout
Was Tuna Noodle Casserole one of your old favorites?
Join Dr. Meghan's Insiders
Don't miss out on anything! Join my healthy living newsletter for encouragement right to your inbox to kickstart your health in a simplified way!
Anna says
Is there no tuna in your Tuna Zoodles Casserole? Otherwise it sounds lovely. :)
Meghan Birt says
Well Anna… You caught a whoopsies. There is tuna in the casserole. I had to fix it so it’s now included. Enjoy!
Wendy says
Sounds delish! Can’t wait to try. How much tuna do you suggest adding?
Thanks!
Meghan Birt says
I just fixed it… 2 cans!!
Samantha @ The Faithful Runner says
Just came across this – as a fellow person of Minnesota, I know what hotdish is. :) I look forward to trying this!
Meghan Birt says
Yeah for Minnesota and Yeah for Hotdish :). Enjoy!!
Carly says
This is sooooo yummy! Thank you
Meghan Birt says
So glad you love it Carly. Thanks for visiting my blog!!
Roshaan Patel says
Hi there! Lovely recipe…any ideas on what I can use in place of the cheese? I’m on a gluten and dairy free diet.
Meghan Birt says
Hi Roshaan, you can just omit the cheese from the recipe and it will still taste great!
Sue Bunton says
I like my zoodles on the raw/crunchy side. Do they get pretty soft in this recipe?
Meghan Birt says
They do, you could always add them in at the end for crunchier zoodles!!
Shannon says
This looks amazing! I’m wondering if you know approximately how many cups of zoodles I would need. I have some fresh garden ones that are about as big as my arm, length and width! hahaha, so the 3 or 6 count, doesn’t completely help me in this situation.
Thank you!!
Meghan Birt says
Oh those garden ones can get huge! I would say probably one of those huge garden ones :). I can’t remember how many cups (and the zoodles are so hard to measure too). You can really use as many as you want (more or less zucchini in the dish). I would estimate about 5 cups. Enjoy!
Meg says
How many peas do you add? And are they frozen or canned?
Meghan Birt says
Oh Meg, you totally found an error in my recipe and for that I’m sorry. Yes, there are peas, I added them in the recipe. I use anywhere from 1-2 cups, to your liking. I like less because I’m not the biggest pea fan.
Enjoy!
-Meghan
Monica Topete says
Can you use unsweetened, low/non-fat coconut milk in a half gallon container? Or does this have to be condensed, full fat coconut milk?
Meghan Birt says
The canned coconut milk is the best because it isn’t too watery. The stuff in the can is watered down and may not turn out as well. That’s my thought, although I haven’t tried it myself.