Tuna Pasta Bake
A comforting and delicious meal perfect for family dinners, this Tuna Pasta Bake combines pasta, flavorful tuna, rich tomato sauce, and gooey cheese.
Ingredients
For the sauce
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 800 g crushed tomato
- 1 tbsp tomato paste optional, thickens sauce slightly
- ¾ cup (185ml) water
- 1 tbsp Italian mixed herbs or other dried herbs of choice
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
For the bake
- 425 g can chunk tuna, drained preferably in oil
- 200 g spiral pasta or other pasta of choice
- 1 ½ cups (150g) shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F).
- Cook the pasta according to the package instructions but reduce the cooking time by 1 minute. Once cooked, drain the pasta and rinse it under cold tap water to prevent it from sticking. Set aside.
Cooking
- While the pasta cooks, heat an ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add the minced garlic and diced onion, cooking for about 3 minutes until they turn golden.
- Add the crushed tomatoes, water, dried herbs, salt, and pepper, along with the tomato paste if using. Stir everything together, bring it to a simmer, then lower the heat. Let it simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until it thickens.
- Taste the sauce and adjust the salt if needed. If the sauce tastes a bit sour, add a pinch of sugar.
Assembly
- Turn off the heat and stir in the cooked pasta. Add the drained tuna gently—be careful not to break the tuna into small pieces.
- Drizzle a bit of olive oil on top, then sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese over the dish.
- Bake in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes, or until golden and bubbly.
- Let it stand for 3 minutes before serving.
Notes
Serve hot with a side salad or garlic bread. Add fresh herbs for extra flavor. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.