Cheesy Tuna Melt Bake with Garlic Crumb
Built by the community using tuna, and, cheddar
A bubbling, golden bake of flaked tuna in a savory tomato and herb sauce, blanketed under a thick layer of melted cheddar. Comforting, quick, and deeply satisfying — the kind of meal that punches way above its ingredient list.
Prep
10 mins
Cook
25 mins
Serves
2
Difficulty
Easy
Budget
Cheap
Calories
420
Ingredients
- 2 x 145g tins of tuna in oil or water, drained
- 150g cheddar, grated
- 1 x 400g tin of chopped tomatoes
- 1 medium onion, finely diced
- 3 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp dried mixed herbs or oregano
- 1 tsp soy sauce
- Juice of half a lemon
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp flour (for thickening the sauce)
- 1 tbsp butter
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Method
1. Preheat your oven to 200°C (180°C fan / Gas Mark 6).
2. Heat the olive oil and butter together in an oven-safe pan or skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook for 5 minutes until soft and translucent.
3. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant, stirring so it doesn't burn.
4. Sprinkle in the flour and stir everything together, cooking for 1 minute to remove the raw flour taste. This will thicken your sauce.
5. Pour in the tinned tomatoes, soy sauce, lemon juice, and dried herbs. Stir well, season generously with salt and pepper, and let it simmer for 5 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
6. Fold in the drained tuna, breaking it into flakes but keeping some chunks for texture. Taste and adjust seasoning — it should be bold and savory.
7. If your pan is oven-safe, level the mixture out. If not, transfer to a small baking dish. Scatter the grated cheddar generously and evenly over the top.
8. Bake in the oven for 15–18 minutes until the cheese is fully melted, golden, and bubbling at the edges.
9. Remove from the oven and let it rest for 2 minutes. Serve hot with crusty bread, rice, or a simple green salad.
Nutrition per Serving
420
Calories
38g
Protein
18g
Carbs
22g
Fat
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