Tuna Pasta Bake

Learn how to transform sushi-grade tuna into a cheesy pasta bake everyone will devour.

tuna pasta casserole dish

Craving comfort food that's both delicious and surprisingly simple?

Get ready to dive into my Tuna Pasta Bake recipe, a surefire family pleaser.

This isn't your average casserole; prepare for a flavor explosion that will have everyone asking for seconds, and keep reading to find out how!

Ingredients Spotlight

highlighting key ingredients

Let's talk about the building blocks of our poke bowl—the ingredients! First, we need sushi rice—the sticky kind. Two cups, rinsed! Then, 2 1/2 cups of water.

For the seasoning, grab 1/4 cup of rice vinegar, 2 teaspoons of white sugar and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Don't skimp!

The magic's in the ginger marinade dressing: 1 1/2 tablespoons of light soy sauce, 2 teaspoons of dark soy, then 2 1/2 tablespoons of toasted sesame oil for that nutty flavor. Add 2 tablespoons each of mirin – it's a sweet cooking sake – and rice vinegar. Spice it up with 2 1/2 teaspoons of chili paste; finally, 1 1/2 teaspoons of grated fresh ginger.

For the bowl? 350g of sashimi grade tuna – dice it up well. Much like tuna tartare, it's important to source sushi-grade tuna for this recipe. We also have a small carrot, julienned, one diced cucumber, one avocado cut into wedges, six sliced radishes, a cup of edamame, a green onion sliced on the diagonal, and black sesame seeds

Preparation Instructions

instructions for preparation process

Time to get cooking, so let's break down how we're going to whip up this fantastic poke bowl! First, rinse 2 cups of sushi rice, then cook it with 2 1/2 cups water. Once boiled, simmer covered for 18–20 minutes—no peeking! Let it sit for 15.

Next, mix 1/4 cup rice vinegar, 2 tsp sugar, and 1/4 tsp salt for our rice seasoning. Spread the rice out, drizzle half the seasoning, and gently fold to mix. Repeat with the rest! Sounds weird, I know, but trust me.

For the dressing – the star! – whisk 1 1/2 tbsp soy sauce, 2 tsp dark soy, 2 1/2 tbsp sesame oil, 2 tbsp mirin, 2 tbsp rice vinegar, 2 1/2 tsp chilli paste, and 1 1/2 tsp ginger.

Dice 350g tuna. Now, you are ready to assemble it all!

Baking Guidelines

baking process and instructions

With our rice seasoned, salad ingredients prepared, and dressing ready, it's easy to feel like we're practically done with dinner, right? But we've still gotta bake this deliciousness! That's why this step is important.

I usually preheat my oven to 375°F (190°C). This gets everything nice and toasty! I find this temperature just perfect!

Don't use a glass baking dish – metal will cook more evenly. Choose an oven-safe dish, lightly greased, of course. I usually grab my 9×13 inch, which is the best in my opinion. The cheesy sauce in the seafood gratin recipe would make for a great addition to this dish.

Alright, make sure you bake for 15 minutes, or until golden brown and bubbly! I can't wait to taste the cheesy goodness; can you? Let it cool for a few minutes before serving – patience, my friend!

Serving Suggestions

meal presentation ideas shared

Now that we're ready to dish up-I've got a few ideas to make this Tuna Pasta Bake even more awesome!

First, try a simple green salad. A light vinaigrette gives it a nice contrast! I'm not a big salad person but I'll still eat it like this.

Garlic bread's always a winner, too. I mean, who doesn't love garlic bread?

Steamed green beans are great if you are like my sister-trying to sneak in some veggies. A squeeze of lemon juice? Perfect!

Want something different? Coleslaw! That creamy texture next to the cheesy pasta is surprisingly good. Don't knock it 'til you try it!

Ultimately, it's up to you and what you're craving. I hope this recipe makes your tuna pasta bake is your new favorite!

Short Recipe Version

Tuna Pasta Bake

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 25 minutes

Servings: 6

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb pasta
  • 12 oz sushi-grade tuna
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 3 cups milk
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Cook pasta according to package directions.
  2. Drain pasta and set aside.
  3. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute.
  4. Gradually whisk in milk until smooth. Cook, stirring constantly, until sauce thickens.
  5. Remove from heat and stir in 1 1/2 cups cheese, salt, and pepper.
  6. Combine pasta, tuna, and cheese sauce in a baking dish.
  7. Top with remaining cheese and breadcrumbs.
  8. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown and bubbly.
  9. Let it cool about five minutes.

Nutrition Information (per serving, estimated):

  • Calories: 450
  • Protein: 35g
  • Fat: 20g
  • Carbohydrates: 30g