You can easily make a cheesy keto tuna casserole for a delicious dinner with ingredients you probably have on hand. Even kids love this easy low carb tuna bake with spinach. It's kid-approved dish with a tasty serving of veggies!
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I am all about easy dinners I can throw together with ingredients I already have in my kitchen.
In fact, this tuna spinach casserole came about because I was trying to use up food before it went bad. I had canned tuna close to its expiration date and some fresh grated parmesan that I didn’t want to get moldy.
These seemed like a great starting point for an easy casserole.
I checked my freezer, found a bag of frozen spinach, and thought that would be a good way to add some veggies. So I threw together a few more ingredients and stuck it in the oven.
Based on the ingredients, I assumed this low carb tuna casserole would be tasty. But I was pleasantly surprised at just how delicious it turned out! Even my youngest daughter devoured it.
When a dish includes veggies and fish, and the kids STILL scarf it down, I know I have a great recipe on my hands.
How to make keto tuna casserole
This casserole starts on the stove-top, then finishes in the oven. It’s very easy to prep and only requires one saucepan and one casserole dish!
Preparing the main ingredients
- In a medium saucepan on low heat, saute garlic in butter until golden.
- Add cream and almond milk and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Whisk in the parmesan cheese.
- Add the dried parsley, canned tuna, and drained frozen spinach.
- Cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until mixture is bubbly.
Prepping and baking the casserole
- Add the hot mixture to a lightly-greased casserole dish.
- Top with slices of cheese.
- Bake at 375°F for 20-30 minutes, until cheese is nice and bubbly.
The casserole will still be a bit runny after baking. This is totally normal.
As long as the cheese is melted and the flavors have come together, it’s ready to enjoy. The result is a delicious, cheesy, messy casserole the whole family will devour!
Recipe variations
For this dish, I wanted to keep it simple while still adding some great flavor. I chose to include sautéed garlic, a bit of dried parsley, and plenty of bubbly cheese.
The flavor turned out even better than I expected!
However, there’s plenty of wiggle room to make this recipe your own. After all, it was created to use up ingredients before they went to waste.
A few ways you can switch up this dish to make it your own:
- Substitute canned tuna: If you don’t have canned tuna but have canned salmon or even canned chicken, those will work just as well!
- Substitute cheeses: Any cheese will be delicious in low carb tuna casserole. Feel free to use what you have.
- Thicker sauce: Thanks to the almond milk, the sauce of this casserole turns out nice and light. It will be a bit runny on your plate. If you prefer a thicker sauce, use a blend of heavy cream and cream cheese instead.
Have you tried any variations of this dish? Let us know in the comments below!
Is tuna good for low carb diet
With zero carbs per serving, tuna is a perfect ingredient for keto and low carb diets.
It is also an excellent source of protein, nutrients, and omega-3 fatty acids.
Tuna is naturally very low in fat, so many low carb tuna recipes use high-fat ingredients to balance the macros. There is so much you can do with tuna to create a delicious meal or snack.
Personally, I love canned tuna because it’s budget-friendly and lasts a long time. It’s perfect for situations exactly like the one that led to this recipe!
When you just need to throw together a quick dinner, having canned tuna on hand gives you so many low carb and keto friendly options.
Are shirataki noodles keto?
Shirataki noodles have become a popular ingredient in keto and low carb recipes lately.
They are 97% water and 3% glucomannan, a non-digestible fiber. They also digest very slowly, which helps you feel full for longer.
The result is a carb free, extremely low-calorie food that keeps you satisfied! This is why they’re a popular ingredient to add bulk to dishes like casseroles.
However, some people do not like the taste or the texture.
There are a few different ways to cook shirataki noodles to make them more like traditional pasta noodles. Even still, they just aren’t for everyone.
This easy keto tuna casserole does not use shirataki noodles. So if you are not a fan, don’t worry! I find that the spinach adds plenty of bulk and texture, so I don’t miss noodles.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for a more traditional tuna noodle casserole, check out this recipe that uses shirataki noodles!
Are peas keto?
Traditional tuna casseroles usually include peas as one of the ingredients.
However, peas are not keto friendly. 1 cup of peas contains 14 net carbs and 8 grams of sugar, so they are not considered a low carb ingredient.
I still wanted to include a vegetable, which is why I included spinach. It’s a much better option to keep carbs low, and it’s delicious in this recipe! I didn’t miss the peas at all.
Other low carb fish-based recipes
Looking for a few other delicious recipes that use healthy fish like tuna and salmon? Check out a few of these favorites:
- Keto Salmon Patties use canned fish and pork rinds. Fry them up in a pan for an easy, super tasty dinner option!
- Incredible Low Carb Tuna Pie is made with cheese, green beans, and low carb flour for a creamy and filling dish.
- Salmon Loaf with Dill Sauce is a delicious twist on traditional meatloaf with an absolutely amazing sauce on top!
- Tuna Egg Salad with sour cream is perfect for low carb sandwiches or wraps and comes together in 5 minutes or less.
- Smoked Salmon Pate with cream cheese is a satisfying snack or appetizer to serve with cucumber slices or low carb crackers.
- Low Carb Fish Curry from Ditch The Carbs is a flavorful dish with a blend of fish, coconut, and spinach.
Follow us on FACEBOOK, PINTEREST, and INSTAGRAM for even more tasty keto-friendly recipes!
Recipe
Cheesy Low Carb Keto Tuna Spinach Casserole
Video
Ingredients
- ¼ cup butter
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1 ½ cups Parmesan cheese
- 1 Tablespoon dried parsley
- 10 ounces canned tuna
- 9 ounces frozen spinach drained
- 4 slices provolone or mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Melt butter in medium saucepan over medium low heat with garlic.
- When garlic is golden, add cream and almond milk.
- Stir over heat for 5 minutes then whisk in parmesan cheese.
- Stir in parsley, tuna and spinach.
- Cook over medium-high heat until bubbly, stirring frequently.
- Spoon into lightly greased or sprayed casserole dish.
- Top with sliced cheese, if desired.
- Bake at 375F for 20 to 30 minutes or until bubbly.
Notes
Low Carb Sweeteners | Keto Sweetener Conversion Chart
Nutrition
Additional Info
Notes on Nutritional Information
Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site. Erythritol carbs are not included in carb counts as it has been shown not to impact blood sugar. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.
Copyright
© LowCarbYum.com - Unauthorized use of this material without written permission is strictly prohibited unless for personal offline purposes. Single photos may be used, provided that full credit is given to LowCarbYum.com along with a link back to the original content.
Originally published: September 18, 2011... Last Updated: January 9, 2020
Katherine
Hi Lisa, The spinach tuna casserole looks yummy and the reviews testify to that! I can't wait to try it. I don't have almond milk and am stuck indoors from the coronavirus quarantine. What is a substitute for the almond milk (FYI - I'm not following a Keto diet) and what are the volumes/measurements for the substitute ingredients? I have on hand: heavy whipping cream, sour cream, cream cheese, cottage cheese, greek yogurt, full-fat milk, and loads of cheddar and cheddar/jack shredded cheese.
Also, I have a pantry full of dried beans to get my family through the coronavirus. Do you many flavorful recipes with pantry ingredients and beans? My family and I would be grateful.
Stay healthy!
Katherine from Houston
Lisa MarcAurele
Katherine, I'd just use a mix of half heavy whipping cream and half water. That makes a good sub for milk.
Del
I made this recipe , but I used kale instead of spinach and added French fried onions on top. It was so good. I also add some cream cheese for a thicker sauce.. Great recipe, so easy to make. l
Jacqueline
Made this recipe tonight and it was yummy and filling. It was runny as mentioned, even though I did add some cream cheese to thicken it. Will definitely make it again!
Mary Lux
Sounds good, want to try. what about using fresh spinach?
Lisa MarcAurele
Fresh spinach is good to use too.
Margaret
This casserole is a great idea! I only changed it by adding some cooked black bean spaghetti. The sauce was very watery however the flavours were good. I plan to make this again but use a proper cheese sauce on it. I like a thick rich cheese sauce made of heavy cream, cream cheese, old cheddar and a few seasonings. That will turn this tasty but watery casserole into a real winner!!The black bean pasta was really nice and didn't have that "beany" taste it does in many recipes. I added enough to double the servings. ?
Lisa MarcAurele
I've done this with a heavy cream and cream cheese sauce. It is much thicker.
Michelle
Is juicy but wow what a great flavor!! Thanks for the recipe!!!
Lisa MarcAurele
A little cream cheese and or using heavy cream in the sauce can make it thicker. I just didn't want it to be too fat dense when I made it.
Kellie Gilbert
Made this last night. It was so yummy! I used pure cream instead of the almond milk, just because I thought it would be creamier, and a mix of cheeses. Such an easy scrummy dish! Was even better as leftovers at lunch today 🙂
Lisa MarcAurele
Sounds like a much more flavorful dish with heavy cream (and more fat)!
Dee
This recipe does not cook in 20-30 min. I used the same size dish as images and even after 2 hours it was runny.
Lisa MarcAurele
It's not supposed to be dry. You overcooked it.
Dee
It was not dry, it was runny
Lisa MarcAurele
It's supposed to be that way if you look at the photo.
Karen
I just add cheddar cheese and goat cheese crumbles in skillet , simmer till cheese melts , one less step and one less dish to wash
Lisa MarcAurele
Great tip!
Sami
Love, love, love this recipe!!! Made this for the second time!
Since it's hot outside, I made it in the instant pot on saute mode. Instead of baking, just let simmer with cheese on top like other reviewer suggested. Used cheddar and cream cheese in it and provolone on top... incredible!!! Thank you for this wonderful edition to my keto recipes I will use on a regular basis. ????
Lisa MarcAurele
Great idea to make it in the Instant Pot, especially in summer!
Emily Kemp
I love tuna casserole but never made it with spinach, sounds delish!
Bren
What size casserole dish?
Thanks
Lisa
I used a small oval dish about 7x11-inches.
Mike Streib
We had you recipe today and it was wonderful. It's kind of tough doing low carb during Lent. It seems like most fish is breaded.
Since you are an engineer, please show me the error of my ways. I re-calculated the ingredients listed and I come out
with 6 grams of net carbs per serving which is 100% more than what you listed of 3 grams.
Thanks.
Lisa
I just plugged the recipe into the recipe analyzer at Calorie Count. Here's what I got per serving assuming 4 servings from the recipe: Serving Size: 281g, Calories: 552, Total Fat: 42g, Saturated Fat: 25.7g, Cholesterol 151mg, Sodium: 842mg, Total Carbs: 5.8g, Fiber: 1.5g, Protein: 40.3g, which results in 4.3g net carbs (a big higher than originally calculated). The values can vary by ingredients used. I use to hand calculate using the values given on each product that I used in the recipe. Unfortunately, I don't have that information anymore.
Mike Streib
Thanks for re-checking.
The recalculation was halfway between what I had and what you originally had. Almost sounds like an old saying that the truth is usually somewhere in between.
The recipe analyzer you spoke of...is that a downloadable app?
Lisa
I'm not sure if they have an app. I use the one available at: http://www.caloriecount.com/cc/recipe_analysis.php
jan calloway
This is healthy?
Lisa
It is for those following a low carb keto diet.
Karyn
Just in time for Lent -- thank you!
Lisa
It's perfect for Lenten Fridays!