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–+ servings
Tuna pasta bake in a white baking dish.
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5 from 7 votes

Easy Tuna Pasta Bake Recipe

An easy tuna pasta bake recipe made with tinned tuna, sweetcorn, and penne pasta enveloped in a rich and creamy cheese sauce.
Course Main Course, Pasta
Cuisine British
Prep Time 12 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 32 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 814kcal
Author Beth Sachs

Equipment

  • Kitchen Scales
  • Measuring Spoons
  • Measuring Jug
  • Large Saucepan
  • Large Baking Dish
  • Whisk
  • Cheese Grater
  • Chopping Board
  • Knife

Ingredients

Metric - US Customary
  • 350 g Pasta penne or rigatoni
  • 150 g Frozen Sweetcorn or use a tin of sweetcorn instead
  • 50 g Butter
  • 50 g Plain Flour
  • 600 ml Milk
  • 200 g Extra Mature Cheddar grated
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
  • 1 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
  • ½ teaspoon Salt
  • ¼ teaspoon Pepper
  • 5 Sun Dried Tomatoes chopped
  • 2 x 145 g Tinned Tuna in Spring Water drained
  • 4 tablespoon Grated Parmesan
  • 1 tablespoon Parsley chopped

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 180°c (160 fan/ gas 4/ 350F)
  • Bring a pan of salted water to the boil and cook the pasta to al dente, adding the frozen sweetcorn 5 minutes before the end of cooking. Reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water, drain and set aside.
    💡Pro Tip: If you are using tinned sweetcorn rather than frozen, add it straight into the finished cheese sauce in step 6.
    350 g Pasta, 150 g Frozen Sweetcorn
  • Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large saucepan on a medium heat then stir in the flour. Cook for 1 minute.
    50 g Butter, 50 g Plain Flour
  • Gradually whisk in the milk and continue to whisk until the sauce thickens. It should coat the back of a wooden spoon.
    600 ml Milk
  • Take the white sauce off the heat and stir in the grated cheddar cheese, dijon mustard, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
    200 g Extra Mature Cheddar, 1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard, 1 teaspoon Smoked Paprika, ½ teaspoon Salt, ¼ teaspoon Pepper
  • Mix the pasta, sweetcorn, and drained tuna into the sauce and mix everything together. Add a little pasta cooking water to loosen the sauce if needed.
    5 Sun Dried Tomatoes, 2 x 145 g Tinned Tuna in Spring Water
  • Spoon into an ovenproof dish, sprinkle over the grated Parmesan, and bake in the oven for 15 - 20 minutes until golden brown. For an extra golden top, place under the grill for 2-3 minutes.
    4 tablespoon Grated Parmesan
  • Serve with chopped parsley.
    1 tablespoon Parsley

Notes

Expert Tips:
  • Continually stir the white sauce whilst it simmers (I find a whisk is best), to help prevent lumps from forming. It will only take a few minutes to thicken.
  • Boil the pasta until al-dente as it will continue to cook in the oven. You don't want mushy pasta!
  • Place your ovenproof dish on a baking sheet in case the cheese sauce bubbles over the top when baking it in the oven.
 
Variations:
  • Add olives to the pasta bake before baking it in the oven.
  • Cook frozen peas with the pasta for the last few minutes of cooking.
  • Use different cheeses! Gruyere and mozzarella would work well.
  • Stir torn basil leaves or chopped chives into the cheese sauce.
  • Swap the cheese sauce for a tomato-based sauce.
  • For a crunchy topping, mix the grated Parmesan with 2 tablespoons of dried breadcrumbs and sprinkle over the top of the pasta bake before baking.
 
Storage:
Make Ahead: Make the pasta bake up to the point of baking it in the oven, and instead, pop it in the fridge for up to 2 days (covered in foil). When you're ready to eat it, bake as directed in the recipe but add an additional 10 minutes to the cooking time.
Store: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Reheat: My preference is to microwave leftovers until piping hot. You can also reheat it in the oven, but make sure the pasta bake is covered in foil to prevent it from drying out.
Freeze: Assemble the pasta bake as directed and instead of baking it in the oven, allow it to cool completely, wrap it in foil and freeze for up to 3 months.
 
Nutrition:
The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
 
Nutrition Facts
Easy Tuna Pasta Bake Recipe
Amount per Serving
Calories
814
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
34
g
52
%
Saturated Fat
 
15
g
94
%
Trans Fat
 
0.1
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
2
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
6
g
Cholesterol
 
160
mg
53
%
Sodium
 
881
mg
38
%
Potassium
 
687
mg
20
%
Carbohydrates
 
86
g
29
%
Fiber
 
4
g
17
%
Sugar
 
10
g
11
%
Protein
 
42
g
84
%
Vitamin A
 
1230
IU
25
%
Vitamin C
 
3
mg
4
%
Calcium
 
649
mg
65
%
Iron
 
4
mg
22
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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