Food - Drink
Why Tuna Noodle Casserole Is The Quintessential '50s American Dish
By KATHERINE BECK
The 1950s was known as a time when Americans fell in love with packaged foods, including everything from Swanson turkey and mashed potatoes TV dinners to Campbell's soups. It was also Campbell’s cream soups that ended up in many casseroles, with the tuna noodle casserole being a true symbol of the decade.
While its recipe was first published in the 1930s, it was in the '50s that tuna noodle casserole really gained popularity in mainstream America. It became a regular part of dinner and potluck lineups, because it was made with packaged foods and was easy to put together.
Campbell's describes tuna noodle casserole as the "original dump-and-bake dinner" and still promotes the recipe — featuring noodles, tuna, and a few other common ingredients — on its website. So the next time you are craving a classic American comfort food, go ahead and make a creamy dish of tuna noodle casserole.