Tuna and Pesto Pasta Bake
Creamy, cheesy, and irresistibly flavorful, this Tuna and Pesto Pasta Bake is the perfect weeknight dinner that combines convenience with gourmet taste. Featuring tender penne pasta coated in a rich pesto and heavy cream sauce, it’s loaded with flaked tuna, juicy cherry tomatoes, and a golden layer of bubbling mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. With just 15 minutes of prep and a quick bake, this one-dish wonder delivers maximum flavor with minimal effort. Garnished with fresh basil for a fragrant finish, this comforting casserole is a crowd-pleaser that makes leftovers equally delightful.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 300 grams Penne pasta
- 2 cans Canned tuna in olive oil
- 120 grams Green pesto
- 200 milliliters Heavy cream
- 150 grams Cherry tomatoes
- 100 grams Mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 50 grams Parmesan cheese, grated
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper
- 5 leaves Fresh basil leaves (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F).
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the penne pasta according to the package instructions, but reduce the cooking time by 1-2 minutes to keep the pasta slightly firm. Drain the pasta and set aside.
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant but not browned.
Add the heavy cream and pesto to the skillet, stirring to combine. Cook for 2-3 minutes until warmed through.
Drain the canned tuna and flake it into the skillet. Stir in the tuna, halved cherry tomatoes, and cooked pasta. Gently mix everything together to ensure the pasta is well-coated in the sauce. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
Transfer the pasta mixture into a greased 9x13-inch (or similarly sized) baking dish.
Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese and grated Parmesan evenly over the top of the pasta.
Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbling with a golden-brown crust.
Remove the pasta bake from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Optionally, garnish with fresh basil leaves before serving. Enjoy your Tuna and Pesto Pasta Bake!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
3532 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 208.1 g | 267% | |
| Saturated Fat | 80.2 g | 401% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1.3 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 518 mg | 173% | |
| Sodium | 6193 mg | 269% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 239.7 g | 87% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 15.1 g | 54% | |
| Total Sugars | 7.7 g | ||
| Protein | 161.5 g | 323% | |
| Vitamin D | 17.0 mcg | 85% | |
| Calcium | 1528 mg | 118% | |
| Iron | 19.8 mg | 110% | |
| Potassium | 2115 mg | 45% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
