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Tuna pasta bake for kids

Try this quick, cheap and tasty fish recipe, as a teatime meal to cook for all the family...even fussy eaters will love it!

★★★★★ Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars. 26 Ratings
Rate this recipe
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Serves 4
  • Freezable

Preparation

Total time
45 Mins
Preparation time
10 Mins
Cooking time
35 Mins
  • 300g pasta, dried

  • 1 onion, chopped

  • 1 garlic (clove), crushed

  • 160g tuna

  • 400g chopped tomatoes

  • 1 tsp oregano, dried

  • 100g cheddar cheese, grated

  • 2 tbsp olive oil

  1. Cook pasta for 2 minutes less than the instructions on the packet and drain

  2. Preheat oven to 180'C/Gas mark 4

  3. Use olive oil or oil from your tuna if you have some - pour into a pan and fry some onion and garlic

  4. Pour away the rest of the oil, add the tuna to the pan, and heat through and mix up for a minute

  5. Add the chopped tomatoes, herbs and some black pepper - cook for 5-10 minutes

  6. Add to the cooked pasta

  7. Pile into an oven dish and top with grated cheese

  8. Bake for 20-30 minutes

You will need

Frying pan - Specially designed by Jamie Oliver for Tefal, this is the perfect all-rounder frying pan. See more details here at Amazon.

Oven dish - This durable baking/roasting (or even serving) dish is 26 x 18cm, which makes it ideal for bakes, casseroles and pies. See more details here at Amazon.

Tips

Older kids can help with chopping the veg and grating the cheese, while even toddlers can help you sprinkle the cheese on top.

This keeps in the fridge for a few days, or even longer in the freezer. Reheat in the microwave, and be sure it's piping hot throughout before serving. (Pro tip: add extra cheese on top after reheating to keep the scrummy cheesy flavour).

We haven't included any salt in our recipe, as too much salt isn't good for toddlers and young kids. If older kids or adults find the taste a little bland, feel free to add salt to individual portions instead.

Variations

Try adding a tablespoon of half-fat crème fraiche to make a creamier tuna pasta bake

Stir some shredded mozzarella through the pasta before whacking it in the oven; this makes a gloriously gooey, cheesy pasta bake

Making this for adults? Add a small amount of red wine to the sauce

For extra taste add sweetcorn and/or mushrooms, or a stock cube to the pasta water

If you don't like tuna, the same recipe works really well with any kind of fish or seafood, or even chopped up bacon or Quorn pieces - the only limit is your imagination!

For a crispy top, pop a couple of slices of bread in a blender along with the cheese, and use to make a crunchy breadcrumb topping.

Instead of a bake, keep it simple and mix it all in a big bowl

Reviews

★★★★★ Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars. 26 Ratings
Rate this recipe
  • Laura S(100)

    ★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 stars.

    Great recipe and my kids love it. The best way to have some fish!

    Reviewed on 09/07/20

  • Guest

    ★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 stars.

    Interesting

    Reviewed on 19/06/20

  • Polly L(45)

    ★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 stars.

    A complete go-to; we have this at least a few times a month, and everyone loves it!

    Reviewed on 15/04/20

  • Sarah S(4625)

    ★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 stars.

    Great recipe from store cupboards ingredients. I just add a big squirt of ketchup to counteract bitterness of tomatoes.

    Reviewed on 09/01/19

  • Guest

    ★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 stars.

    I made this for me and mum and found it really simple and tasty so happy I pleased her

    Reviewed on 26/08/17

  • Guest

    ★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 stars.

    My two-year-old finished his plate- winner! Thank you!

    Reviewed on 23/01/17

  • Guest

    ★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 stars.

    simple easy to do meal that all the family love

    Reviewed on 29/11/15

  • Beverley C(146)

    ★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 stars.

    Straight away i wanted to try this reciepe out and i must say i wasn't disappointed, the children loved it so much there was nothing left for me and my husband!..So while they are off out with their grandparents i made another one just for us :) and i can see why they didn't leave anything.. It's so tasty and nutritious..and so easy to create which is great when you are pushed for time.

    Reviewed on 19/11/15

  • Guest

    ★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 stars.

    So handy on a cold evening

    Reviewed on 14/11/15

  • Guest

    ★★★★☆ Rated 4 out of 5 stars.

    Great recipe - my husband, daughter and MIL loved it ! The recipe doesn't mention salt but it tastes better with a pinch.

    Reviewed on 13/11/15

  • Guest

    ★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 stars.

    cheap, quick and easy the perfect meal

    Reviewed on 08/11/15

  • VG.G

    ★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 stars.

    one of my childrens favourite meals!!

    Reviewed on 03/11/15

  • Guest

    ★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 stars.

    Really quick and easy to make! My kids absolutely love this dinner!

    Reviewed on 02/11/15

  • Guest

    ★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 stars.

    Always a winner as guaranteed kids will eat it and takes little time or energy to make!

    Reviewed on 31/10/15

  • Guest

    ★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 stars.

    Simple and quick to make. Very tasty ive got a feeling this will become a family favourite

    Reviewed on 29/10/15

  • Guest

    ★★★★☆ Rated 4 out of 5 stars.

    I'm working my way through some of the recipes on here, to try and get some new family favourites. This is definitely one of them, even my fussy 6yr old was tucking in. I stirred some fresh baby spinach through, as had some that needed using up. So quick & easy too.

    Reviewed on 13/10/15

  • Guest

    ★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 stars.

    Really nice, easy budget recipe. I add some cream cheese and use homemade pasata (veggies & tinned tomatoes slow cooked and blended) to make it more nutritious. Also add peas & sweetcorn. My 2.5 year old and husband love this, as do I - a weekly staple for us!

    Reviewed on 17/08/15

  • Guest

    ★★★★☆ Rated 4 out of 5 stars.

    Easy and tasty.

    Reviewed on 05/03/15

  • Guest

    ★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 stars.

    really tasty . got top marks for oh and the kids :)

    Reviewed on 26/02/15

  • Guest

    ★★★★☆ Rated 4 out of 5 stars.

    The kids loved this recipe. I just put it in a bol with sweet-corns, tomatoe sauce (with oigons and oregan and garlic). They absolutely loved it!!!!! Thank you

    Reviewed on 16/02/15

  • Guest

    ★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 stars.

    It really was very easy and quick to make, and you can do it in different variations, with more veg thrown in - peas, sweetcorn, asparagus... the list is endless :-) The kids loved it, and they usually turn their nose up at tuna.

    Reviewed on 16/02/15

  • Guest

    ★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 stars.

    Thank you for sharing this recipe. Tried it first time with for my 1 yo and now cook it on a regular bais. It's lovely and quick!

    Reviewed on 08/02/15

  • Guest

    ★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 stars.

    This went down well in our house with my 2 and 5 year olds and my husband took the leftovers to work! I added some spinach too which worked really well. Will definitely make again.

    Reviewed on 27/01/15

  • Guest

    ★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 stars.

    Lovely recipe, I added frozen peas too for more veg and a bit of colour.

    Reviewed on 23/01/15

  • Guest

    ★★★★☆ Rated 4 out of 5 stars.

    So simple yet so delicious, enjoyed by all. I used tinned chopped tomatoes - my staple sore cupboard ingredient - and it worked a treat.

    Reviewed on 22/01/15

  • Guest

    ★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5 stars.

    Hi. I used a tin of tomatoes instead and it went down very well - clean plates all round include the 2 from the play dates! Have frozen the left overs for another day.

    Reviewed on 09/01/15

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