What's For Dinner: Tuna and Rice Casserole {Recipe}

I have never really been a fan of tuna casserole. I don't really like tuna all that much. It's fish. I don't like fish. And, everyone always puts peas in their tuna casseroles. I don't like peas. 

I found a tuna and rice casserole that had a bunch of veggies in it not just peas, and then (isn't that how it always goes) could not find it again later! This was before pinterest. I had to figure out a casserole that we, meaning hubby and I, would eat. But since little man likes peas, it had to have peas. Luckily he is not the picky one. So after much trial and error, here is the recipe!

Tuna and Rice Casserole

Ingredients:
7oz tuna drained
1 cup rice uncooked
1 can cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup
2 small potatoes
1 cup chopped broccoli
1 cup chopped cauliflower
1/2 cup chopped carrots
1/4 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup peas
1/4 cup sour cream
1 1/4 cups milk
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese (divided into 1/4 cups)
1/2 tsp oregano
2 tbs black pepper (I like a lot, Season to your taste)

Directions:
1. Clean and chop potatoes into small bite size pieces.

2. cook rice and steam potatoes. I add a small amount of butter and about 1/2 tsp pepper to the water.

I love my rice cooker. Probably the best investment I made when I moved out. It has a steamer to use with the rice cooker! They don't sell my model any more. I bought it at Mervyn's before they were even saying they were going to go out of business. But they have more up to date ones like this Aroma 3-Cup (Uncooked) 6-Cup (Cooked) Rice Cooker and Food Steamer, White (affiliate) version. And it comes in black and red too!

3. Use this time to chop veggies

4. preheat oven to 375

5. Add veggies to a casserole dish. I like my Pyrex Bakeware 2-Quart Casserole Dish with Lid (affiliate). Then the soup, milk (I use the can to measure out the milk) and sour cream. mix in the sour cream. then add tuna and spices. It's easiest to stir and mix in this order. I am a messy cook and I make the smallest mess this way. ;)

6. Stir in rice. and 1/4 cup shredded cheese.

7. Top with the remaining shredded cheese.

8. Bake, covered, for 40 minutes or until bubbly and heated through. Don't worry about the cookie sheet underneath. I cook everything in the oven on a cookie sheet when the bottom rack is not covered in foil.

I let the casserole cool uncovered for about 5 minutes before I dish it out for hubby and I. I dish it out for the kids to cool faster.

Enjoy!