Because everybody has a can of tuna, pasta, canned tomato and some sort of dried herbs in the depths of their pantry, everybody should have one wickedly delicious Tuna Pasta Bake recipe up their sleeve!
Pasta baked in a homemade tomato sauce topped with melted cheese, this Tuna casserole is juicy and full of flavour and bears no resemblance to the usual acts of desperation associated with canned tuna meals! After a CREAMY tuna pasta bake? Try Tuna Mornay!
Tuna Pasta Bake
Confession: I say “Everybody has a can of tuna” but I don’t. Well, I do have lots. But it’s not for me. It’s for Dozer. So on the odd occasion that I do want tuna, I swipe his.
So here’s the truth. This Tuna Pasta Bake in these photos is made with Dozer’s tuna. 😂
Oh, just to be clear – it’s normal human tuna. Whatever is on special at the time, and I get the little cans so I had to use a bunch of them to make this big batch of Tuna Pasta Bake.
You should have seen the look on his face as I was popping open can after can. His eyes were sparkling and he was wriggling like a puppy with excitement, thinking Christmas had come early. Then his tail slowly started sagging as he realised it was going into something I was making, and not into his food bowl!
I grew up in a household where I was sent to school with bento boxes when all I wanted was a peanut butter sandwich. So I totally missed the Tuna Mornay experience that many of my friends shudder at the memory of – some sort of white sauce in a jar mixed with pasta and tuna, then baked.
I shudder at the description.
And while actually, I do enjoy Tuna Mornay (made from scratch – use this Seafood Gratin recipe but sub tuna for seafood), I prefer this tomato based Tuna Pasta Bake.
This recipe is almost a guide so I’ve provided suggestions for substitutions. Basically, you need tuna, pasta, canned tomato or passata and/or tomato paste, some sort of dried herb or spices, garlic or onion (or leek / shallots/scallions/green onions or eschallots) and that’s it. Everything else you see in the recipe is something that takes it up a notch, they aren’t deal breakers.
If that makes sense? 🙂
To be honest, my favourite part of this Tuna Pasta Bake is that golden crust on the surface. Yes, it is fantastic with a sprinkling of cheese, but even without it, it’s still fantastic (try panko or breadcrumbs if you don’t have cheese). Your mind will be telling you that it’s Cooks’ Privileges to pick at the top, but don’t do it because if you start, you may find you’ve picked all the surface off before it gets to the table.
Now that wouldn’t be very fair, would it? 😉 – Nagi xx
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
Tuna Pasta Bake recipe video!
Hungry for more? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.
Tuna Pasta Bake
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 1 small onion , finely diced
- 800g / 28 oz crushed tomato (Note 1)
- 1 tbsp tomato paste (optional, thickens sauce slightly)
- 3/4 cup (185ml) water (Note 2)
- 1 tbsp Italian mixed herbs , or other dried herbs of choice
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 425g / 15 oz can chunk tuna (preferably in oil), drained (Note 3)
- 200g / 7 oz spiral pasta (or other pasta of choice)
- 1 1/2 cups (150g) shredded mozzarella cheese (Note 4)
- Olive Oil , for drizzling
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180C/350F.
- Cook pasta per packet directions, minus 1 minute. Drain, rinse under tap water to stop it sticking together, set aside.
- Meanwhile, make the sauce. Heat an ovenproof skillet over medium high heat. Add garlic and onion, cook for 3 minutes until golden.
- Add tomato, water, herbs, salt and pepper and tomato paste if using. Stir, bring to simmer, lower heat to medium and simmer energetically for 5 minutes (stir every now and then) until it thickens.
- Adjust salt to taste. Also add a touch of sugar if it tastes a bit sour (depends on quality of tomato).
- Turn the stove off, add pasta, stir in.
- Add tuna and GENTLY stir it in - don't break up the tuna so it disintegrates into mush. Leave some chunks on the surface (nice when it is golden).
- Drizzle with oil, top with cheese then bake for 20 minutes until golden and you get those nice crusty bits you see in the photos.
- Stand for 3 minutes then serve!
Recipe Notes:
- 700g / 1.2 lb tomato passata or American Tomato Sauce (NOT Aussie / UK Tomato Sauce)
- 400g/14 oz crushed tomato + 1.5 cups chicken or vegetable broth + 3 tbsp tomato paste + 2 tsp sugar 2. Broth - If you have chicken or vegetable broth, that would be a terrific addition, or add a crumbled bouillon cube or 1 tsp chicken or vegetable powder. 3. Tuna - I find Tuna in oil has better flavour for a recipe like this, but any canned tuna or salmon is great for this recipe. "Chunk tuna" is my preferred because it comes in chunks which I think is nicer than the fragile tuna that disintegrates through the pasta. 4. Tomato paste thickens the sauce slightly which is what I used in the recipe I made for the photos. I did not use it in the recipe video - but you can see that it's still lovely and tomatoey, not watery and thin. 5. Topping - Try using 3/4 cup panko / breadcrumbs sprinkled with salt and drizzled with oil instead of cheese. Crunch is fantastic! 6. STEP IT UP A NOTCH: Finely chop 2 anchovies and add them in with the onion, they will disintegrate and add a savouriness that is no fishy at all. Add 1 tsp of red pepper flakes - or more if you dare! Use Chicken or vegetable broth in place of the water and stir through fresh basil with the pasta. This is no longer a basic pantry Tuna Pasta Bake, but I thought I'd share what I do if I am making an effort! 7. DIET TUNA PASTA BAKE - pursuant to reader request, here are recipe adjustments for a healthier version with 251 calories per serving (5 servings), 23g carbs: Reduce oil to 2 tsp, add 1 cup each finely chopped carrot and celery plus 1.5 cups diced zucchini with the onion and saute on low heat for 10 minutes until soft and sweet. Then proceed with recipe but REDUCE pasta to 100g/3.5 oz and stir through 2 handfuls of spinach when you add the pasta. Spray surface with oil then top with low fat mozzarella. Healthy AND delicious!!! 8. Make ahead - best way to make ahead for freezing:
- cook and cool pasta
- make sauce per recipe, add extra half cup water at end. Cool.
- assemble per recipe, cover then freeze. Thaw before cooking.
Nutrition Information:
LIFE OF DOZER
It’s been 13 days since he shredded his paw when he bolted across a bed of oysters in pursuit of a pelican (🙄) and it’s still not fully healed because this dog is unable to refrain from bolting around the yard like a psycho when he goes out to pee.
As an alternative to getting stitches, he’s currently on chill-pills in an attempt to keep him quieter during the days. So he’s spending his days half asleep, like this.
I want his life.
Thank You Nagi. Made this recipe tonight it was delicious, just added zucchini and red capsicum. Family loved it.
Cannot decide what to have for meal tonight and came across this in my bookmarks so tonight this will be on the menu
Trying this tonite
Enjoy Valerie!! N x
I made this again tonight and it was delicious. It’s a meal that always gets eaten, even by my fussy eater. This time I used 3/4 cup of the pasta water and instead of olive oil I used the oil from the tinned tuna. All I can say is “Yum, yum yum”!!! Thank you Nagi.
We all love the Tuna Mornay it’s a firm fav especially if I’ve forgotten to defrost anything… so first time making this one I don’t have a ovenproof frying pan(skillet) would I be able to put it all in a dish and bake it?
Yes 100% Abby! N x
Hi Nagi, love this recipe-big hit with the whole family. Could I swap tuna with fresh salmon? Would I need to do anything different? Thx
Sure can Rose!! N x
This is so yummy, I make it at least once a month.
The last time, not wanting to go to the shop for just one item, I discovered it’s just as delicious if the crushed tomato is replaced with 700ml of passatta and 100g chopped up sun-dried tomato.
A great base recipe to get creative with 😀
This was unbelievably tasty! So much better than anything else I’ve ever managed to do with a can of tuna…
Thanks Nagi for all your consistently fantastic recipes. You have transformed my life.
Winner! Thankyou for a great recipe! Family friendly!
Made this for dinner, so easy & delicious. For years I have made tuna mornay so this is a nice change. I also cut up capsicum and cooked with the garlic and onion.
Perfect Kezza! N x
I made the tuna pasta bake for dinner today and it was amazing. I accidentally bought fresh mozzarella instead of grated. I thought it still taste d good. Thanks for sharing this recipe!
Somehow this worked when every other tuna pasta recipe I’ve tried I never really like.. I even had substitutions as well! I even like the crunchy top (usually it just ends up tough) I sprinkled a couple of tspns of cornmeal, maybe it added the crunch.
Such an AMAZING recipe!!😍😍
Such precise instructions as well!!👌🏻👌🏻
It turned out fabulous!!🥰🥰
Thank you so much!!♥️♥️♥️
Wahoo! That’s great to hear Aisha! N x
♥️
Hi Nagi, another great dish. I added kalamata olives, capers, anchovies and sun dried tomatoes. All my family love your recipies and everything I make of yours is delicious 🤤
This is great when I’m on night shift. Premade on Sunday and tastes even better as I’m finishing it off on Thursday. It has all other staff drooling.
That’s awesome Vanessa, I’m so glad you love it! N x
Just made this with 2 tins of shop branded tuna in spring water, with shop branded pasta sauce and tomato ketchup as getting tinned tomato is a challenge at the moment. It was okay but I think it would been much nicer with John West Tuna in Oil, like you said. Thanks
Oil = flavour Michele! 🙂 N x
Thanks Nagi, it’s just challenging times where you cannot always get the things you want in the supermarket but when things return to normal it will be awesome. 👌🏾
Oh poor Dozer, I hope he is ok
🙁 🙁
Hes 100% fine Karyl 🙂
Made this last night. Delicious!!! I made this portion for 5 pax and I and hubby almost finished the whole thing. This will be a good one to bring for potlucks or for those emergency last minute meals. Thanks, Nagi
Yes perfect!! I’m so glad you enjoyed it Mashy!
Sounds lovely! Could you make this to pre-bake stage and then freeze?
You sure can! Best to cool pasta and loosen sauce up a bit – popping directions in the notes now! N x
How long can I freeze it for ?3months?
Made this for my boys tonight and the loved it! Even my fussy Ollie gave it a thumbs up 👍
Perfect!
Lovely,brilliant..Easy and cheap…was just clearing out my cupboard.,checking date of cans.. came across your website..was so useful..And a lovely meal to boot..Will try more of your recipes..Tnk u for posting 🙂
I love it John, too easy!