Grandma Daly's Tuna and Tater Casserole Recipe
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Grandma Daly's Tuna and Tater Casserole

By: janet7th Supporting Member (Click to learn more about Supporting Membership)
"This tuna casserole is an updated version of a recipe handed down from my grandmother, Elizabeth Kelleher Daly so of course it uses potatoes as its starch. She actually called it California Chicken. I guess to a native Yankee, the joke was that in California, tuna is chicken."

This Kitchen Approved Recipe has an average star rating of 4.4 Rate/Review | Read Reviews (6)

Prep Time:
15 Min
Cook Time:
45 Min
Ready In:
1 Hr

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Original Recipe Yield 4 servings
 

Ingredients

  • 2 potatoes, peeled and cubed
  • 4 carrots, peeled and cubed
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1/2 small onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 3 cups milk
  • 2 (5 ounce) cans tuna, drained
  • 1/2 cup frozen peas
  • 1/4 cup butter, melted
  • 1 sleeve buttery round crackers, crushed

Directions

  1. Place the potatoes and carrots into a large pot and cover with salted water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain vegetables, then cover to keep warm.
  2. Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a baking dish with cooking spray.
  3. Melt 1/4 cup butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in onion and garlic; cook and stir until the onion is softened, about 3 minutes.
  4. Sprinkle in the flour and and reduce heat to medium-low. Continue to cook and stir for about 1 minute, whisking out any lumps.
  5. Whisk in the milk until the mixture thickens, 5 to 7 minutes.
  6. Flake the tuna, then stir it into the white sauce along with the potatoes, carrots, and peas. Season with salt and black pepper.
  7. Transfer the tuna mixture to the prepared baking dish.
  8. Mix 1/4 cup of melted butter with the crackers together in a bowl.
  9. Sprinkle the cracker mixture over the tuna and potatoes.
  10. Bake in the preheated oven until the sauce is bubbly, about 30 minutes.

Footnotes

  • Cook's Note
  • Use your choice of white or light tuna, packed in water or oil. If you like your peas well cooked, you can add them to the potatoes and carrots, but I find that an hour in the warm sauce in the oven cooks them enough. The original recipe called for canned peas but I don't care for them.

Nutritional Information open nutritional information

Amount Per Serving  Calories: 661 | Total Fat: 35.4g | Cholesterol: 95mg Powered by ESHA Nutrient Database

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The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.4 star rating.
Reviewed on Feb. 12, 2012 by SugarBrown Supporting Member (Click to learn more about Supporting Membership)  view full review
I nearly passed this by because for some reason potatoes and tuna didn't sound that great. I...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.4 star rating.
Reviewed on Feb. 9, 2012 by LadyKane   view full review
Very delicous my children loved it (2&3) I added more veggies red and green peppers,daikon,...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.4 star rating.
Reviewed on Feb. 24, 2012 by Cathy G.   view full review
This was so simple to make and very enjoyable. The cracker topping was a nice touch.
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.4 star rating.
Reviewed on Mar. 19, 2012 by RueAnn   view full review
Much better than traditional tuna casserole and so delicious! Thank you for the new recipe!
The reviewer gave this recipe 4 stars. This recipe averages a 4.4 star rating.
Reviewed on Apr. 10, 2012 by Gizmo&Spike's Mom   view full review
Very good! Followed as is and was tasty. Needed more seasoning, added extra garlic, etc. ...
The reviewer gave this recipe 3 stars. This recipe averages a 4.4 star rating.
Reviewed on Mar. 14, 2012 by Jessica   view full review
For me it was just ok. I needed to add a lot of salt and then added some hot sauce for more...

 

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