Does anyone have a recipe for home made tuna helpler

[alotofgooddeals]

i am working on my grocery list for the 12th...and my family loves tuna helper...i am wondering if there is a cheaper alternative than buying it in the box.

a meal for us would be $1 for the box of tuna helper
$1.25 for the tuna and roughly .50 for the peas that we like to add the mix...there are four of us...and i have started cutting way back on my portions because i need to lose weight so one box should cut it...if not then i would add another box at $1 and still only use one can of tuna even though hubby hates it when i do that....and peas would still be .50 i would not addy any more....

thanks for your help...trying to build up the pantry and wondering what i would need to make my own mox to add to the noodles...

is there a way to make it cheaper with things that are already in the house or is this about as cheap as i am gonna get...

[krbshappy71]

I don't know what flavor tuna helper is.

A tuna dish that I make all the time is Tuna Noodle Casserole.

1 can tuna
1 can condensed mushroom soup
sprinkle of dried onions
1/2 cup water
cooked noodles of any sort, about 3 cups.

Can add more ingredients but that's the basis. Stir the soup, water, dried onions together over a hot stove, add the tuna, mix thoroughly and add noodles. Salt and pepper to taste.

[Spirit Deer]

If you use the creamed soup mix to replace canned creamed soups, start with that for a creamy version, plus noodles. Then your tuna and the usual add-ins your family likes.

If you have any herb and/or spice mixes on hand, give those a try. Anything that compliments fish would work. Lemon pepper would be good. Or try a meat rub mix of some kind. You didn't think that stuff was just for meat, did you?

[pollypurebred39]

Cheaper depends on the deals you get on things like noodles, cheese, peas, margarine, milk, etc. But I'll tell you what I do.

Grease a casserole dish
add a layer of cooked egg noodles
add a layer of peas
add a layer of tuna
add a layer of imitation cheese slices (Aldis)
Add a layer of white sauce

Repeat if making a big casserole.

Cover in buttered bread crumbs. Bake till golden and bubbly.

You need this

White Sauce Mix

'I keep this mix handy in my fridge so when I'm in a hurry, there is less measuring and fewer ingredients to get out,' reports Joan Baskin, Black creek, British Columbia. 'I've never had a lump white sauce using this recipe.'"

INGREDIENTS:
2 cups instant nonfat dry milk powder
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons salt
1 cup cold butter or margarine

ADDITIONAL INGREDIENTS:
1 cup water

DIRECTIONS:
1. Combine dry milk, flour and salt; mix well. Cut in butter until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.

Footnotes

To prepare white sauce: For a thin white sauce, combine 1/3 cup mix and 1 cup water in a saucepan. For a medium white sauce, use 1/2 cup mix. For a thick white sauce, use 3/4 cup of mix. Bring to a boil over medium heat; cook and stir for 2 minutes. Yield: 1 cup sauce per batch.

[Paws]

I've tried this before and it was pretty tasty.

Tuna/chicken Noodle Helper

1/2 cup diced onions
1 stalk diced celery
3 tbsp butter
3 tbsp flour
s and p to taste
1 1/2 cup milk
1 can drained tuna
1 can peas or mixed veggie - drained
1 1/2 cup cooked egg noodles

Sautee onions and celery in butter. Add flour to make a roux. Cook for a minute or so. Whisking constantly over medium heat, add milk and salt and pepper. Cook until thick and bubbly, then add the drained canned veggies, tuna, and noodles. Cook for 5 - 10 more minutes until thick and creamy.

**To add extra flavor, can add 2-3 crush bouillon cubes, (no msg added), to the sauce before the tuna and canned veggies are added.
Serve with/over toast or fresh home made biscuits.

NOTE-any type of meat can be used with this recipe...it's pretty versatile. Hope you enjoy!

[Wendy99]

There are a tons of 'hamburger helper' recipes from scratch at this website: How to Make Homemade Hamburger Helper | Chickens in the Road . I found it last night looking for a lasagne one (my favorite!). I dont think there is a tuna one there (SORRY), but if you scroll down to comments or hit ctrl F and then type tuna - I think there are some tuna ideas for doing it down in the comments section.

[alotofgooddeals]

thanks so much for including the recipe....it helps me so much....

Cheaper depends on the deals you get on things like noodles, cheese, peas, margarine, milk, etc. But I'll tell you what I do.

Grease a casserole dish
add a layer of cooked egg noodles
add a layer of peas
add a layer of tuna
add a layer of imitation cheese slices (Aldis)
Add a layer of white sauce

Repeat if making a big casserole.

Cover in buttered bread crumbs. Bake till golden and bubbly.

You need this

White Sauce Mix

'I keep this mix handy in my fridge so when I'm in a hurry, there is less measuring and fewer ingredients to get out,' reports Joan Baskin, Black creek, British Columbia. 'I've never had a lump white sauce using this recipe.'"

INGREDIENTS:
2 cups instant nonfat dry milk powder
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons salt
1 cup cold butter or margarine

ADDITIONAL INGREDIENTS:
1 cup water

DIRECTIONS:
1. Combine dry milk, flour and salt; mix well. Cut in butter until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.

Footnotes

To prepare white sauce: For a thin white sauce, combine 1/3 cup mix and 1 cup water in a saucepan. For a medium white sauce, use 1/2 cup mix. For a thick white sauce, use 3/4 cup of mix. Bring to a boil over medium heat; cook and stir for 2 minutes. Yield: 1 cup sauce per batch.

[alotofgooddeals]

gonna give this a try tonight...I can do it....

I've tried this before and it was pretty tasty.

Tuna/chicken Noodle Helper

1/2 cup diced onions
1 stalk diced celery
3 tbsp butter
3 tbsp flour
s and p to taste
1 1/2 cup milk
1 can drained tuna
1 can peas or mixed veggie - drained
1 1/2 cup cooked egg noodles

Sautee onions and celery in butter. Add flour to make a roux. Cook for a minute or so. Whisking constantly over medium heat, add milk and salt and pepper. Cook until thick and bubbly, then add the drained canned veggies, tuna, and noodles. Cook for 5 - 10 more minutes until thick and creamy.

**To add extra flavor, can add 2-3 crush bouillon cubes, (no msg added), to the sauce before the tuna and canned veggies are added.
Serve with/over toast or fresh home made biscuits.

NOTE-any type of meat can be used with this recipe...it's pretty versatile. Hope you enjoy!

[frugalfranny]

Not sure about costs but experiment.......try whatever you have on hand........use up things in your stockpile that are about to
expire.

Most all of the "helpers" have MSG in them so I never use them but will get ideas from what they show......you can change up the sauce........toss whatever else you have on hand.....and dinner is a done deal!

I have used the cream soups.........homemade salsa.......even cheese for various types of sauces. Whatever else goes in there depends on what I have on hand.........veggies, celery,
tomatoes, even lentils.

[Anna43]

I've never liked any of the "helper" boxed stuff. I have used canned cream soup but prefer making a white sauce with real butter. To kick it up a notch I use homemade noodles.

[Natalia]

Dump the tuna helper packet and add another can of tuna. Itll please dh and keep you all more full

2 cans chunk tuna
1 can condensed cream of celery or broc and cheddar soup
1.5 empty soup cans of elbow macaroni
Water
Granulated onion.

In saucepan , place soup and a can of water or milk if desired. Sprinkle onion powder. Stir and heat until smooth and starting to bubble.Add pasta. Add tuna, breaking it up with spoon. Keep the soup can handy to add more water as needed .
Cook around 12 min until mac is al dente.
If you like the topping packet from tuna helper, sprinkle some toasted bread crumbs or smashed cheese nips or ritz n top.

Cheaper, easier, tastier than tuna helper AND its a one pot wonder!

[mauimagic]

great recipe ideas - mahalo everyone!!