Description
A comforting and easy-to-make tuna pasta bake featuring rigatoni in a creamy cheddar white sauce combined with tuna, sweetcorn, and fresh parsley, all topped with melted golden cheese and baked to perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 600g rigatoni (or penne or macaroni)
White Sauce
- 50g butter
- 50g plain flour
- 600ml milk
- 250g strong cheddar, grated (divided use)
Other Ingredients
- 2 x 160g cans tuna steak in spring water, drained
- 330g can sweetcorn, drained
- Large handful chopped parsley
Instructions
- Preheat and cook pasta: Heat the oven to 180°C (fan 160°C, gas mark 4). Boil the rigatoni pasta in salted water for 2 minutes less than the time stated on the pack to ensure it remains firm through baking.
- Make the white sauce: In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the plain flour and cook for 1 minute to form a roux. Gradually add the milk while stirring continuously to avoid lumps, cooking until the sauce thickens to a creamy consistency. Remove from heat and stir in most of the grated cheddar cheese, reserving a handful for topping.
- Combine pasta and mix-ins: Drain the cooked pasta well. In a large bowl, mix together the drained pasta, white sauce, tuna, sweetcorn, and chopped parsley. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Assemble and bake: Transfer the mixture into a baking dish and evenly sprinkle the reserved cheddar cheese on top. Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes or until the cheese topping is golden brown and starting to crisp.
- Serve: Remove from oven and let the pasta bake sit for a few minutes before serving to allow it to set slightly.
Notes
- Tubular pasta like rigatoni, penne, or macaroni works best for pasta bakes to hold the sauce well.
- Don’t overcook the pasta initially, as it will continue cooking in the oven.
- Use strong cheddar for a rich and flavorful cheese sauce.
- For added texture, try sprinkling breadcrumbs on top before baking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Keywords: tuna pasta bake, baked pasta, tuna casserole, cheesy pasta bake, easy dinner recipe, comfort food
