Ingredients

• 12 ounce egg noodles
• 4 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 0.25 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 cup whole milk
• 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded, shredded
• 2 ounce albacore tuna in water, drained
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 0.5 cup celery, diced
• 0.25 cup onion, diced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
• 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
• 0.5 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 2 tablespoon melted butter for topping
• 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped

Steps

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat.
3. Add egg noodles to boiling water and cook according to package directions, usually 7-9 minutes, until tender but still slightly firm.
4. Drain noodles in a colander and set aside.
5. Dice the celery and onion into small, uniform pieces.
6. In a large saucepan, melt 4 tablespoons butter over medium heat.
7. Add diced onion and celery to the melted butter and sauté for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened.
8. Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and stir continuously for 1 minute to create a light roux, coating all the vegetables.
9. Gradually pour in the milk while whisking continuously to prevent lumps from forming.
10. Continue cooking and stirring over medium heat for 5 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
11. Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until completely melted and incorporated.
12. Add the drained tuna, frozen peas, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder to the cheese sauce and stir gently to combine.
13. Add the cooked noodles to the tuna mixture and fold together gently until all noodles are evenly coated with sauce.
14. Pour the entire mixture into a greased 9x13 baking pan and spread evenly.
15. In a small bowl, combine panko breadcrumbs with 2 tablespoons melted butter and chopped parsley, mixing until the breadcrumbs are evenly moistened.
16. Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture evenly over the top of the casserole.
17. Bake in the preheated 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes until the top is golden brown and the filling is heated through.
18. Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.