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!), 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!
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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:
Canned tuna CAN make a delicious meal!
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.
Sigh! I always have the urge to go to the store RIGHT AWAY! after you post a new recipe. Because your recipes look so good I want to make them! RIGHT AWAY!! (we have no tuna in the house-I looked-what up with that??) I love the addition of tomato-yummy!!
I never thought I’d see the day where someone wanted to run to the store to get…..CANNED TUNA??? 😂😂😂
ikr? First time for everything! it’s almost embarrassing, because….TUNA….lol……but I can be shameless when it comes to food!
Oh, dear Dozer, how I fell sorry for you. Nagi please be nice, please. On the other hand I’ve done the same having a cat – my tuna was hers and vs verse. One time neighbour was asking how Maza is doing? Ok, bla, bla.. Is she eating? Oh, yes , she just had what I had and I had what she had.! Exclaim HOPE NOT….DO NOT WORRIE AM NOT THAT POOR. ITS GOOD STUFF, SHOWING HER WHAT WASIT.STILL SHE WAS REPEATING WHAT IS GOING ON IN HERE. OK, ASfor tomorrow am going to Mind, body, spirit show, yay, Love it, can’t get enough of it. Have nice week, and listen Dozer……..no more pinching his food…!! Are you having SMILE FROM EAR TO EAR!
HA HA ! I am so happy to hear it’s not just me who steals tuna from our pets!!! As for Dozer – don’t feel too sorry for him. He honestly lives such a cushy life! Right now he is sprawled out on the couch – because I felt sorry for him, I put a cover on the couch just so he can get on and he is perfectly happy, snoozing away!
Hi Nagi
Thanks for this new spin on an old standby. I love all your recipes, and the videos accompanying them are great too.
Poor Dozer dog, it’s no fun having a sore paw. 🙁 I wish him a speedy recovery. 🙂
You know, I don’t think he is that bothered now that he’s on the Chill Pills!! He sleeps aaaaallll day and only wakes from his slumber to eat!
Believe it not, my Mother never made tuna casserole or any thing like it except Mac’n cheese. I have been looking for a recipe that did not include canned soup, because of the sodium content, and here it is. Will try it, and hoping for the best.
Hope your dog heals quickly. I loved the picture of him completely out of it.
He is so chilled, it’s hilarious! I didn’t even think about pasta bakes being made with canned soup! My mother brain washed us completely, never used it for soup or otherwise 🙂 N xx
I just love your recipes . Quick, easy to prepare and so delicious. Hug and Kisses to Dozer !
Hugs and kisses passed on and received happily! 🐶
Hello from Canada Nagi! I love your cookbooks/recipes and I love your sense of humour. You sound a lot like me. My mind goes everywhere and anywhere when I do things. I also talk to my dog Jake (a lot). We also feed him (and cats) tuna. He loves it. We also need to steal his tuna once in a while, ’cause we love it too. I am so glad I found your site. Lots and lots of natural ingredients in your recipes. I cannot eat things with wheat. So I need to substitute with spelt, rice, almond, flour, etc. I also love the the page on Essential Marinades. Trying hard to keep away from all of the additives, junk, etc. in processed foods. Do you by any chance have such a page for Salad Dressings! I thank you in advance for increasing my knowledge base on healthy food and for all the fun cooking times ahead for me. As they say “We are what we eat”!
Ha ha ha! What are you saying – I sound scatterbrained? 😉 JUST JOKES! So pleased you enjoy reading my blog. And I love the you steal your dogs’ tuna too! YES I have a whole stash of salad dressings, just search it on my site and you’ll come up with stacks, including those used in salad recipes! –> https://www.recipetineats.com/?s=salad+dressing
Dozer is absolutely adorable! I can’t wait to try tiis recipe.
He is a spoilt brat who is lucky to be so cute. 😉 N xx
Tasty looking dish and Dozer cracked me up. That face! 🙂
I want to say he’s high on life, but no, he’s high on pills!
Hi Nagi, thank you for this, it would be terrific if u or someone come up with a version that has more vegetables in it than pasta that also tastes good, many of us are trying to lose weight and want to fill up on vegetables rather than pasta but also have food that tastes great
Thank you so much fir all your great recipes.
with much appreciation
Margaret
Hi Margaret! Healthy version added in the notes, when I next make it I will try to remember to snap a photo. 🙂 N xx
Thank you, I just came across your website recently through a link on another food website. I can’t wait to learn to cook some of your delicious recipes
Hi Margaret! This would be TERRIFIC with half the pasta switched out for vegetables. Let me pop a healthier version in the notes along with nutrition. N x
Oh dear poor Dozer, you have a poorly paw and your mummy steals all your favorite
tuna how cruel, wicked Nagi lol. Oh and the tuna bake looks delicious I will definitely
be trying this soon, I never had tuna bakes when I was young so still love all things
tuna, I hope Dozer had a little taste !!
Ba ha ha!!! Believe me, swiping his tuna barely made a dent in his stash of food!!
Oh, but I did love that tuna casserole that my mom served on a regular basis! It is still an old comfort food to me! 🙂
My Mother made the Tuna Casserole and I made it for my Family. I love it too! Nagi’s dish could be made with Chicken too but I get so tired of chicken and the tuna is a wonderful change. thX for the Tuna Resipe.
I bet YOUR mum made a wonderful one too! Was it tomato based or a creamy one? And YES to chicken in this! N xx
I bet she made a WICKED tuna pasta bake!
I love all your recipes. And poor Dozer. Does the vet approve or says it’s ok for Dozer to eat tuna? My dogs love it but i was afraid to give them any.
Keep up all the good recipes.
Hi Ginger! Gosh yes, they actually recommend fish oil tablets but the real deal is better. I give him a mix of tuna, salmon and sardines – all in springwater, not brine or oil, and I load up when it’s on special at the shops. And he gets it every morning mixed in with his kibble. I prefer to do that than buy fish oil tablets!
Thank you Nagi, i’m going to try it. I know my little girl is going to love this.
Poor Dozer! I hope you shared the casserole with him. Like Dorothy, I cannot stand the smell of canned tuna due to eating too many tuna noodle casseroles when young. However, the recipe sounds like it would be great using leftover roast chicken. It has the markings of a great casserole, everyday ingredients, NO canned soup, and lots of cheese.
Ha ha!! I get it, I have the same aversion to particular types of cold cuts – specifically, DEVIN and SPAM. You will ever ever EVER see anything SPAM on here!
Hi Nagi. When I was young and without much of money, I ate way too much tuna noodle casserole. The result is now I can’t even stand the smell of the stuff. I will eat a tuna salad sandwich occasionally. I couldn’t swap in canned salmon either, as I only like that in pan fried salmon cakes (fresh tuna or salmon I’m all for). I think this is the first time we have ever been on opposite sides of the food fence!! Dozer does look out of it, but hopefully this will allow his paw to heal properly.
I hear you Dorothy! I knew people would be divided on this!!! 😉 He has been zonked out all week but the good news is his paw is almost healed and I can take him out tomorrow!!
Poor little Dozer, he is beautiful!! Can I please ask Nagi what brand of pan that is and what size? I really need a pan that I can use on the stove and then put directly into the oven. I did end up getting some Chasseur cast iron pots after seeing them on this site (the duck egg blue one I think) so I thought I would just ask. Thanks:-)
Hi Kate! Aww let’s not feel too sorry for him, he lives a VERY cushy life. Gosh I can’t believe I haven’t pulled out my Chasseur shallow casserole pan in a while! I guess because it is larger it makes it harder for me to use in videos 🙂 This would work brilliantly in that – as you can see in the video, the skillet I used here is a bit small, I spilt some when stirring the pasta and tuna in! In this recipe it’s my Lodge Cast Iron skillet http://www.victoriasbasement.com.au/Product/Details/17238/lodge-logic-cast-iron-skillet-26cm-made-in-the-u-s-a It is very good value, and I love it! This 26cm one is not huge so if you’re feeding a family, definitely go up a size. N x