One of my go-to lunch options for a hiking trip is the Cajun tuna pasta bake. This dish is simple to prepare, easy to store, and packed with nutritious ingredients to sustain you during the day.
This recipe serves 4, but it also tastes great as leftovers the next day. It’s also a great dish to pre-prepare and bake later.
This cajun tuna casserole recipe has become one of my family’s favorite dishes, even for the fussiest eaters.
Let’s get cooking.
Ingredients
- 10 ounces of wholewheat pasta
- 1 Tbsp of butter (or 2 Tbsp olive oil)
- 1 small red onion, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 5 ounces of canned flaked tuna steaks, drained
- 2 Tbsp of cajun seasoning
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can of diced tomatoes
- 1/2 cup of frozen peas
- 1/2 cup of chicken broth
- 1/2 cup of grated parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup of grated mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup of cheddar cheese
- Chopped fresh parsley or basil for garnish (optional)
- Pinch of French grey sea salt
Cajun Tune Pasta Bake Recipe
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 375 F (190 C)
Step 2
Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add a sprinkle of grey sea salt and pour in the pasta. Cook the pasta according to package instructions (usually 3-4 minutes) until the pasta is al dente.
Drain the pasta and set aside.
Step 3
Melt butter (or add the olive oil) in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the red onion and bell pepper and cook until they are tender about 5 minutes.
Step 4
Stir in the flaked tuna steaks and cajun seasoning and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, or until the tuna is heated through.
Step 5
Add the diced tomatoes, 1/4 cup of chicken broth, and frozen peas to the skillet and bring the mixture to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened slightly.
Step 6
Add the remaining chicken stock, and stir in the parmesan and mozzarella cheese until melted. Remove from the heat, add the cooked pasta to the skillet, and toss to coat it evenly.
Step 7
Pour half of the pasta mixture into a 9 x 13 inch baking dish, cover 3/4 cup of cheddar cheese, add the remaining pasta, and then cover with the remaining cheddar cheese.
Step 8
Add the baking dish to the oven and bake for 30 minutes, until the cheese is melted and slightly crispy.
Serve your homemade cajun tuna pasta bake while still hot and garnished with fresh basil or parsley if desired.
Expert Tips
How to store tuna casserole?
You can store tuna pasta bake in the fridge, it will keep in an air-tight container for up to 3 days.
Tuna pasta casserole also freezes very well and will keep up to 4 months. To store the tuna bake in the freezer, let it cool down completely, wrap it tights in cling film and then foil.
How to reheat frozen tuna casserole?
You need to be careful when defrosting tuna pasta bake, as fish can develop harmful bacteria when defrosting at room temperature. For this reason, I advise that you first defrost your tuna casserole in the fridge. You can transfer it from the freezer to the fridge the night before you wish to cook it.
When the tuna pasta bake has thawed, transfer it to your preheated oven at 375 F and bake for 20 – 30 minutes. Make sure, that it is warm all the way through and bubbly when you take it out of the oven.
Some tuna pasta bake variations
Once you have tried this cajun tuna pasta bake recipe, you might want to try a few variations. Here are a few that I have tried and recommend:
- Tuna noodle casserole with crushed potato chips, broccoli, and carrots
- Tuna and mushroom casserole with panko breadcrumbs
- Tuna and spinach casserole with fusilli pasta
- Tuna and artichoke casserole with herbed breadcrumbs.
Equipment
Sauce pan to boil the pasta
Skillet to heat and mix the ingredients together
9 x 13 inch baking dish to bake the tuna pasta bake
