Description
This Tuna Pasta Bake is a creamy, comforting dish featuring rigatoni pasta mixed with a cheesy white sauce, tuna, sweetcorn, and parsley. Baked until golden and bubbling, it’s a perfect hearty meal ideal for family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 600g rigatoni (or penne/macaroni as alternatives)
White Sauce
- 50g butter
- 50g plain flour
- 600ml milk
- 250g strong cheddar, grated (reserve a handful for topping)
Other Ingredients
- 2 x 160g cans tuna steak in spring water, drained
- 330g can sweetcorn, drained
- Large handful chopped parsley
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Heat your oven to 180°C (fan 160°C, gas mark 4) to get it ready for baking the pasta after assembly.
- Boil Pasta: Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the rigatoni for 2 minutes less than the cooking time indicated on the pack to ensure it remains slightly firm. Drain and set aside.
- Make White Sauce: Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the flour and cook for about 1 minute to form a roux. Gradually whisk in the milk, stirring continuously until thickened to a creamy white sauce. Remove from heat and mix in all but a handful of the grated cheddar cheese.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the drained pasta, white sauce, drained tuna, sweetcorn, and chopped parsley. Season the mixture with salt and pepper to taste and mix well.
- Assemble: Transfer the combined pasta mixture into a suitable baking dish and evenly sprinkle the reserved grated cheddar cheese on top.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese topping is golden brown and bubbling.
- Serve: Remove from oven and let it cool slightly before serving for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Tubular pasta like rigatoni, penne, or macaroni works best as it holds sauce well.
- Don’t overcook the pasta initially because it will continue cooking while baking.
- You can add a pinch of nutmeg to the white sauce for extra flavor if desired.
- For a richer dish, substitute some of the milk with cream.
- Fresh parsley adds a nice bright flavor; you can also try chives or basil.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Keywords: tuna pasta bake, baked pasta, cheesy pasta, tuna recipes, family dinner, comfort food
