Creamy Tuna Pasta Bake – tuna with pasta, peas and sweetcorn in a a lovely creamy, cheesy sauce. It’s an easy meal that everyone loves – made with mostly store-cupboard ingredients!
There’s something about a pasta bake that just seems to make everyone so happy. Possibly the promise of a luxuriously filling meal, topped with cheese and oozing with some kind of sauce 😍.
📋 What do we need?
This creamy tuna pasta bake is a store cupboard saviour. Pasta, sweetcorn, tuna fish – all make up the bulk of the meal. Frozen peas are a great addition too – but you can use canned or fresh if you like.
Apart from that, we’re really just talking milk, cheese and a bit of butter from the fridge.
📺 Watch how to make it
Full recipe with detailed steps in the recipe card at the end of this post.
👩🍳PRO TIP Use albacore tuna if you can – it has a lovely creamy-meaty taste. If you haven’t got it, don’t worry, regular tuna works great too.
I would always suggest using tuna fish in oil (drain it before adding to the dish) as it has more flavour and a richer texture. However, you can use tuna in water or brine if you prefer.
🍽️ What to serve it with
- Parmesan Carrot Fries or Oven-Baked Potato Fries
- Homemade Garlic Bread
- A nice crisp salad
🍲 More fantastic Pasta Bakes
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Creamy Tuna Pasta Bake
Ingredients
- 400 g (14 oz) rigatoni pasta
- 3 tbsp butter
- 1 onion peeled and chopped finely
- 40 g (1/3 cup) plain (all-purpose) flour
- 600 ml (2 1/2 cups) milk
- 250 g (2 1/2 packed cups) strong cheddar grated
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
- 320 g (11 oz) canned tuna albacore tuna if possible, drained and flaked
- 330 g (11.5 oz) canned sweetcorn drained
- 150 g (1 cup) frozen peas
- chopped parsley to serve
Instructions
- Heat oven to 180C/350F (fan).
- Boil a large pan of water, add the pasta and cook for 10 minutes.400 g (14 oz) rigatoni pasta
- Whilst the pasta is cooking, melt the butter in a saucepan, add in the onion and cook on low for 6-8 minutes until the onions are very soft.1 onion
- Turn up the heat to medium and stir in the flour. Cook for 1-2 minutes. Slowly add the milk, using a whisk to stir (just stir, don’t whisk) it in.3 tbsp butter, 40 g (1/3 cup) plain (all-purpose) flour, 600 ml (2 1/2 cups) milk
- Once all the milk is incorporated, continue to heat whilst stirring until the sauce thickens. Then stir in 2/3 of the cheese until melted. Season with the salt and pepper.250 g (2 1/2 packed cups) strong cheddar, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper
- Drain the pasta and pour into a 20x30cm baking dish. Pour over the white sauce, then add the tuna, sweetcorn, and frozen peas.320 g (11 oz) canned tuna, 330 g (11.5 oz) canned sweetcorn, 150 g (1 cup) frozen peas
- Mix together, then sprinkle on the remaining cheese.
- Bake in the oven for 15-20 mins until the cheese is golden brown. Top with a sprinkling of parsley before serving.chopped parsley
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This post was first published in Feb 2016. Updated in May 2021 with new photos, video and FAQs.
Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links – which means if you buy the product I get a small commission (at no extra cost to you). If you do buy, then thank you! That’s what helps us to keep Kitchen Sanctuary running. The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors. For more information please see our Terms & Conditions.
I made this dish for my family. Im not the best cook but this was delicious! Thank you so much for sharing this!
Well we.tryed ur version and we’ll its the best one yet
This is the best recipe ever and I can’t wait to have it again. From my 8 year old boy.
Can you pre-make the dish, put it in the fridge and cook it later on in the evening? I have time to prepare it, then just pop it in the oven when I get home to feed the kids
I tried this recipe for the first time, wasn’t sure my family of 4 could finish it. To my amazement they ate it all, with my son asking for more! They love it! Thank you for sharing your recipe, it’s easy to make and delicious!
Excellent we have really e enjoyed this.
I just made this for our dinner tonight. I have a fussy 3 year old and she loves pasta with cheesy sauce so I thought I’d try this for something different but with the same elements that she knows. Well, success! She loved it!! Thank you thank you thank you for another meal I can add to the short list of things she’ll eat!!! Lol
I didn’t have enough pasta so I used egg noodles which still tasted good! Other than that I followed the recipe to a T. The white sauce was lovely and thick and smooth, and super cheesy (yum)
Thanks again and I’ll definitely be checking out your other recipes!
Sincerely,
A happy mum, Ontario, Canada 🇨🇦
Wow I’ve just read the review below. How can some people be so rude! I adore your recipes. Some people are unbelievable and only say it as they’re hidden behind their keyboards.
Can I be frozen please
My wife does most of the cooking because she is a picky eater, I offered to make dinner tonight and made this, it was awesome, easy and definitely worth the effort and we had most of the ingredients in the house.
Thanks for this great recipe