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    Home » Recipes » Dinner » Pasta

    Tuna Macaroni Bake

    Published: Aug 1, 2014 · Updated: Jun 5, 2020 by Neil 4 Comments

    5.8K shares
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    Collage of two photographs of tuna macaroni bake.
    Tuna macaroni bake. This is a simple, tasty and low cost family dish for four. A perfect weeknight quick healthy meal served with a simple side salad. #neilshealthymeals #recipe #tuna #pasta #bake

    Tuna macaroni bake. This is a simple, tasty and low cost family dish for four. A perfect weeknight quick healthy meal served with a simple side salad.

    A portion of tuna macaroni bake being lifted from the baking dish. A portion sitting on a plate at the front with 2 forks on.

    This tuna macaroni bake came together, as I was asked to talk to a group of people at my work about healthy eating. And to demonstrate that healthy food does not have to be expensive!

    Indeed, in many cases a cheaper diet is a healthier diet, because spending less on food is really about returning to the basics.

    Those basics being fresh fruit, vegetables, dairy produce, lentils, beans, starchy foods like wholemeal pasta, wholegrain rice, home baked wholemeal breads, and a small amount of red meat and lean meats such as turkey, chicken and fish too.

    And that's exactly what I'm doing here with this tuna macaroni bake. 🙂

    Returning to the basics means wholesome home cooking from scratch avoiding those packaged highly processed and refined foods that are termed as “convenience foods” shoved in our faces by the large supermarkets and advertisers.

    I bought all of the ingredients for this tuna macaroni bake from my local major supermarket, and in many cases their own brands.

    The total cost (at the date and time I am writing this) was £6.73. This tuna macaroni bake recipe makes 4 portions.

    So even if you had none of these ingredients in your kitchen cupboards, having to buy everything, each portion of this healthy tuna pasta bake would cost £1.68.

    Plus, as you are not using up all of the ingredients you’ve purchased, they can be used to make this again, or for some of my other pasta bake recipes too (see below)!

    Birds eye view of tuna macaroni bake just taken out of the oven. Two plates with two forks on to the right hand side.

    Cut the tuna macaroni bake into 4 portions once it has cooled and freeze any portions not required.

    It’s perfect for re-heating in the microwave or oven once defrosted next time it’s required.

    I really hope you enjoy this tuna macaroni bake recipe as much as Lady Lynne and I do.

    It's a simple tuna pasta bake that we've both loved for years and haven't felt any need to change the recipe!

    A portion of tuna macaroni bake being lifted with a serving spoon from the baking dish. Two plates with forks on to the right hand side.

    Hints and Tips for How To Make Tuna Macaroni Bake

    • You can use full fat milk and full fat cheddar cheese if wish. The recipe nutritional label will not be valid then though.
    • Once baked you can cover the dish in cling film, store it in the fridge and heat up individual portions in the microwave the next day.
    • Store only for one day in the fridge.
    • Freeze the tuna pasta bake by cutting it into portions and storing them in individual containers in your freezer.   
    • If you don't have tuna or you fancy a change you could use some chopped cooked chicken instead.

    For This Healthy Tuna Pasta Bake You May Need….

    The following links and any links in the recipe card below are affiliate links.

    This means that if you click on it and then buy that product, I’ll get a small commission (at no extra cost to you of course).

    If you do click through, then thanks for being a part of Neil’s Healthy Meals!

    Equipment

    • Saucepans
    • Baking dish
    • Measuring spoons
    • Kitchen scale
    • Wooden spoon
    • Measuring jug

    This is the basic baking dish I use. As you can see it's relatively inexpensive and its perfect for oven baked recipes.

    It's durable, resistant to breakage, dishwasher and freezer safe too!

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    Other Popular Pasta Bake Recipes You Might Also Like

    • The best chicken and sweetcorn pasta bake is simply that. An easy, delicious and satisfying chicken pasta bake that all the family will love!
    • Easy vegetarian quorn pasta bolognese bake takes just under an hour to prepare and can serve up to six people. Packed with healthy wholegrain fusilli pasta and vegetables. Then topped with a light cheesy crust you can bet it’s a bake all the family will love!
    • Chicken broccoli stilton pasta bake is a delicious easy family meal. It’s relatively healthy, low cost and can be on the table in less than an hour. An excellent quick healthy meal!

    Tuna macaroni bake. A simple, tasty and low cost family dish for four. A favourite low cost quick healthy meal! Click to Tweet

    Tuna Macaroni Bake Recipe

    I recommend serving this tuna pasta bake with a healthy low cost salad. A simple one we love is of lettuce, cucumber, spring onions and tomato.

    I’d love to hear what you think of my recipe in the comments below and please do rate my recipe 5* if you like it! 🙂

    A portion of tuna macaroni bake being lifted from the baking dish. A portion sitting on a plate at the front with 2 forks on.
    Print Recipe Save Recipe Saved Recipe!
    5 from 1 vote

    Tuna Macaroni Bake Recipe

    Tuna macaroni bake. This is a simple, tasty and low cost family dish for four.
    Prep Time15 mins
    Cook Time20 mins
    Total Time35 mins
    Course: Dinner
    Cuisine: British
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 361kcal
    Author: Neil

    The following links and any links in the recipe card below are affiliate links.

    This means that if you click on it and then buy that product I’ll get a small commission (at no extra cost to you of course).

    If you do click through then thanks for being a part of Neil’s Healthy Meals!

    Equipment

    • Saucepans
    • Pasta dish
    • Measuring spoons
    • Kitchen scale
    • Wooden spoon
    • Measuring jug

    Ingredients

    • 175 g macaroni
    • 300 ml skimmed milk
    • 15 g corn flour mixed with 2 tbsp. cold water
    • 185 g can of tuna in spring water drained
    • 120 g frozen peas
    • 75 g low fat grated cheddar cheese
    Metric - US Customary

    Instructions

    • Pre-heat oven to 180Fan.
    • Cook the macaroni in boiling, salter water for about 8 minutes until slightly tender and then drain.
    • Whilst the macaroni is cooking add the milk and corn flour mixture into a medium sized saucepan. Bring the mixture to the boil, then turn it down to simmer whilst you stir it constantly with a wooden spoon to make a white sauce.
    • Once the sauce has thickened add the drained macaroni, tuna and peas and combine well together.
    • Pour the contents of the saucepan into an oven proof dish, sprinkle with the cheese and place onto the middle shelf of your oven.
    • Bake for approximately 15 – 20 minutes until the cheese has browned slightly and is bubbling.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 361kcal | Carbohydrates: 43.5g | Protein: 23.4g | Fat: 10.1g | Saturated Fat: 5.3g | Cholesterol: 43.3mg | Sodium: 302.5mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6.5g | Vitamin A: 700IU | Vitamin C: 7.4mg | Calcium: 240mg | Iron: 3.1mg

    Nutrition Facts
    Tuna Macaroni Bake
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 361 Calories from Fat 91
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 10.1g16%
    Saturated Fat 5.3g33%
    Cholesterol 43.3mg14%
    Sodium 302.5mg13%
    Carbohydrates 43.5g15%
    Fiber 3g13%
    Sugar 6.5g7%
    Protein 23.4g47%
    Vitamin A 700IU14%
    Vitamin C 7.4mg9%
    Calcium 240mg24%
    Iron 3.1mg17%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. trkingmomoe

      August 01, 2014 at 6:40 pm

      I grew up eating this. My mother liked making this.

      Reply
      • neil@neilshealthymeals.com

        August 02, 2014 at 6:30 am

        Its just such a great "back to basics" dish isn't it? 🙂

        Reply
    2. Susan Bates

      February 22, 2022 at 2:43 pm

      5 stars
      This is a great recipe Neil. My kids love it and in order to get them to eat their veg I vary it each time I make this recipe. So some weeks I might add some cooked broccoli instead of peas. Other times I add a selection of mixed frozen veg. It all works well. Thanks for this!

      Reply
      • Neil

        February 22, 2022 at 2:45 pm

        I'm really glad that you like the recipe Susan. That's a great idea to vary the veg from week to week to get your kids to like it. Thanks for taking the time to rate and comment on my recipe! 🙂

        Reply

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