Tuna and broccoli pasta bake

I have started doing a weekly Facebook video which I then post on YouTube (don’t forget to like/subscribe by the way), the idea behind this series is that I come up with ideas for quick and easy (under 30 mins) midweek dinners. I respond to requests, so if you have one, head over to Facebook and comment under this one, or the latest one (I’m playing catch up). I think quick dinners for Monday to Friday are the hardest things for busy mums, and that’s why I am starting with this as a theme.

What I love about this tuna pasta bake is that the broccoli and the pasta cook in the same pan, and the sauce is made in the microwave (it’s my famous microwave cheese sauce, made in 6 mins!). So it pretty much couldn’t be easier. It’s a bit like a tuna melt – but in pasta bake form. Cheesy sauce, greenery from the broccoli, protein from the tuna, and then the complex carbs from the brown rice pasta (use any, I just like the extra nutrition from this)… it’s a pretty perfect midweek dinner even if I do say so myself! ; )

As this is a vlog, please do watch the very short, 1 minute video and – again – remember to subscribe to my YouTube channel!

Serves: 4-6
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Total time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:
250g pasta (I like brown rice penne, but any will do)
1 head broccoli, florets chopped in 1/4s, stalks diced
1 tin tuna, drained
Tsp salt (for boiling water)
500ml milk
100g cheddar, grated
3 tbs flour
3 tbs butter
2 tsp mustard (I used Dijon)
Pepper

Instructions: 

1. Preheat oven to 180C.
2. Cook broccoli and pasta for 5 mins in boiling salted water.
3. Pop milk, flour, butter in jug. Microwave for 6 minutes, whisking every minute. Add most cheese and mustard once done.
4. Mix pasta, broccoli, tuna with sauce – season with pepper. Top with leftover cheese.
5. Season and bake for 20 mins.