This recipe used to be Tuna Casserole but now it is not. I have modified it over the years and I like the taste of the new version better. Previously I used tuna and Campbell’s Cream of Chicken soup because I do not like mushrooms, and did not use Cream of Mushroom soup anyway. I changed the can of tuna to a can of Chicken from Costco. Their can is rather large and provides more protein anyway! The secret ingredient is something you will soon find out. Lots of people use breadcrumbs for the topping, but I’ve always used Lay’s BBQ chips! I have used other brands, but really like the smokey flavor and prefer Lay’s the best.
I use a shallow oval baking dish so I can get more chips on top, resulting in more chips in every bite. There were door-to-business-door salesmen going around when I worked in an insurance office many years ago, and I purchased a set of amber baking dishes from one such individual a long time ago. They say Made in Mexico on the bottom and were different than any other baking dishes I had ever seen. This set included the dish I use for this casserole!
The Not Tuna Casserole recipe
- 2 cups rotini noodles
- 1 can Campbell’s Cream of Chicken soup (condensed)
- 1 can Costco chicken
- large bag of Lay’s BBQ potato chips
- 1/2 to 1 cup frozen peas
Directions:
Pre heat oven to 350 degrees
Cook noodles according to package directions, undercook by a minute or two
flake chicken and open soup can
put frozen peas in a colander they will not fall out of (tiny holes or segments)
when straining noodles, put in colander and the peas will defrost very quickly!
Mix everything except the chips together and put in glass or metal baking dish
Crush BBQ chips and layer over the top
Put in the oven and cook for 30-40 minutes
The chips should barely start to brown and the casserole should be bubbly, but you will only see this if you use a glass dish. If the chips are brown, jerk that baby out of the oven! You’ve overcooked it!
Scoop out onto a plate and ENJOY your casserole!
*A note about dietary restrictions*
If you cannot consume wheat products, a swap of gluten-free noodles may be used. Lay’s chips are gluten-free, and my friend with Celiac disease mentioned a gluten-free cream of chicken soup is available at Walmart. I noticed another variety at Grocery Outlet recently! Also, a simple homemade chicken stock with cream or milk or other thickener can work. It is great that there are more commercially available products without gluten. So many people can obtain food without only cooking everything from scratch.
To view the video where I demonstrated cooking (or rather eating) this dish, follow this link.
This meal may become memorable and more of an event! To pair this or any meal with a fine wine, like a Tanya 2020 Pinot Grigio, just go to this page.
