Weeknight Tuna Pasta Bake
This from-scratch tuna noodle casserole combines fusilli pasta and flaky tuna in a creamy Cheddar sauce brightened with lemon juice and mustard powder. A bread crumb topping adds a crisp contrast to the tender noodles, making it a comforting, easy choice for a weeknight dinner or casual family meal.
- Prep15 mins
- Cook45 mins
- Serves4
- DifficultyEasy
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Weeknight Tuna Pasta Bake, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 50 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 13 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityFair
- 48 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 20
- Heart Health
- 66
- Metabolic
- 38
- Digestive
- 24
- Inflammatory
- 46
- Performance
- 36
- General Wellness
- 1
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- 2
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook fusilli in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 12 minutes.
- 3
Meanwhile, melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour, stirring constantly for about 1 minute. Remove from the heat and gradually pour in milk, whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Return to the heat and cook, stirring constantly, until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Stir in Cheddar cheese. Add lemon juice, mustard powder, salt, and pepper, and mix well.
- 4
Drain fusilli and fold it into the sauce. Mix in tuna. Pour the mixture into an 8-inch casserole dish and sprinkle with breadcrumbs. Top with Cheddar cheese.
- 5
Bake in the preheated oven until the cheese is melted and golden, about 30 minutes.
- Calories 1071.08 kcal High 54%
- Protein 70.55 g Good Source 141%
- Carbohydrate 115.15 g 42%
- Total Fat 37.32 g High 48%
- Saturated Fat 19.01 g High 95%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 134.07 mg High 45%
- Sodium 925.04 mg High 40%
- Dietary Fiber 5.02 g Moderate 18%
- Total Sugars 11.31 g --
- Added Sugars 0.23 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 754.03 mg Good Source 58%
- Iron 6.15 mg Good Source 34%
- Potassium 546.64 mg Moderate 12%
- Vitamin A 77.97 mcg Low Source 9%
- Vitamin C 0.0 mg Low Source 0%
- Vitamin D 3.76 mcg Moderate 19%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Citrus 🍊
- Fish 🐟
- Milk 🥛
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Mustard
About This Recipe
Weeknight Tuna Pasta Bake is made with 14 ingredients and serves 4. It takes about 1 hr and is rated easy. Key ingredients include All Purpose Flour, Black Pepper, Bread Crumbs, and Butter. Each serving provides about 1071.08 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Weeknight Tuna Pasta Bake made of?
- The main ingredients are All-Purpose Flour, Black Pepper, Bread Crumbs, Butter, Canned Tuna. The full list of 14 is above.
- How long does it take to make Weeknight Tuna Pasta Bake?
- About 1 hr in total: 15 mins to prepare and 45 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 1071.08 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Weeknight Tuna Pasta Bake easy to make?
- This recipe is rated easy, with 14 ingredients and 5 steps.
- Is Weeknight Tuna Pasta Bake healthy?
- Weeknight Tuna Pasta Bake has an easyChef Pro health score of 39/100. Per serving, it provides 1071.08 calories and 70.55 g of protein, or 141% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of calcium and iron. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 925.04 mg (40% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 19.01 g (95% of the Daily Value). It contains Citrus, Fish, Milk, Wheat, Gluten and Mustard, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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