Easy Homemade Tuna Helper – Delicious in Under 40 Minutes
Homemade Tuna Helper is so much better than the boxed stuff! Plus, it’s super quick and easy to make with a handful of simple ingredients that you might already have on hand. Tender bites of shell pasta are nestled into the best creamy, cheesy sauce with plenty of tuna!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 12 ounces medium shell pasta
- 4 tablespoons salted butter
- 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup half and half, at room temperature
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- 1 (12 oz) can chunk tuna, drained
Instructions
1. Cook the pasta in a large pot according to the package instructions until it’s al dente. Drain the pasta and set it aside.
2. Melt the butter in the same pot over medium heat and stir in the flour mixing continuously to make a roux. Mix in the onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
3. Gradually pour in the chicken broth while stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Continue stirring until the sauce starts to simmer and thickens a bit.
4. Lower the heat and pour in half and half, stirring constantly until the sauce starts to simmer again and is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
5. Turn off the heat and gradually stir in the cheddar and parmesan cheese until melted.
6. Add the cooked pasta and tuna to the sauce and mix until everything is coated evenly.
7. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley if desired.
Notes
Use any short pasta shape you prefer like rotini or penne.
For a lighter version, substitute milk for the half and half.
Add frozen peas or corn for extra flavor and texture.
This dish reheats well and makes great leftovers.
Find it online: https://cookingwithramsay.com/homemade-tuna-helper/