# Mediterranean Tuna-Noodle Casserole

> Choose best-quality tuna packed in olive oil for this dish. Even after draining it, you'll get moister, richer results than if you used water-packed tuna.

**Prep time:** 20 minutes
**Total time:** 55 minutes
**Servings:** 8
**Storage:** Refrigerates 3-4 days

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## Ingredients

- 1/3 cup olive oil, plus more for baking dishes
- Coarse salt and ground pepper
- 1 pound wide egg noodles
- 2 red bell peppers (ribs and seeds removed), thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 5 cups whole milk
- 4 cans (6 ounces each) tuna in olive oil, drained
- 1 can (14 ounces) artichoke hearts, drained and thickly sliced
- 5 scallions, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan

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## Shopping List

### 🍝 Pasta
- [ ] 1 pound wide egg noodles

### 🥫 Canned Goods
- [ ] 4 cans (6 ounces each) tuna in olive oil
- [ ] 1 can (14 ounces) artichoke hearts

### 🥛 Dairy
- [ ] 5 cups whole milk
- [ ] 1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan

### 🥬 Produce
- [ ] 2 red bell peppers
- [ ] 5 scallions

### 🧂 Pantry & Oils
- [ ] 1/3 cup olive oil (plus more for greasing)
- [ ] 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- [ ] Coarse salt and ground pepper

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## Instructions

1. **Preheat and prep.** Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly oil two 8-inch square (or other shallow 2-quart) baking dishes. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook noodles until 2 minutes short of al dente; drain, and return to pot.

2. **Cook vegetables.** Meanwhile, in a 5-quart Dutch oven or heavy pot, heat oil over medium. Add bell peppers; season with salt and pepper. Cook until crisp-tender, 4 to 6 minutes. Add flour and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Gradually add milk, stirring until smooth. Cook, stirring occasionally, until mixture comes to a simmer.

3. **Combine ingredients.** Remove from heat; add mixture to noodles in pot, along with tuna, artichoke hearts, and scallions. Season with salt and pepper, and toss. Divide between prepared baking dishes, and sprinkle with Parmesan. (To freeze, let cool; wrap well, and freeze, up to 3 months. Thaw before baking.) Bake until golden and bubbling, about 20 minutes.

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## Notes

This Mediterranean twist on classic tuna noodle casserole features artichoke hearts, red bell peppers, and scallions. Using tuna packed in olive oil (not water) makes all the difference in moisture and flavor.