This Creamy Tuna Pasta dish is my version of a Homemade Tuna Helper Meal, ready in about 30 minutes. It’s Quick, Simple & Delicious. With everything done in one pan.
- Just simmer the Pasta with Water, Butter, Seasoning and Vegetables while covered
- Add Cream Mixture & Tuna, cook until thickened
- Cover and rest for 5 minutes before serving.
The Flavor is my very own and is derived from the Seafood Mayo recipe. Add shredded Cheddar or a Three Cheese Blend and cover to rest for 5 minutes for a Cheesy Tuna Helper.
Homemade Tuna Helper Ingredients
Egg Noodles or other Short Pastas, Water, Butter, Seasoning, Frozen Vegetables, Tuna and Cream Mixture.
Short Pasta
In this recipe, 200 g of Egg Noodles is used. Although other kinds of Short Pasta can be used too. Just adjust the simmer time to about 13–15 minutes, or until the Pasta is Al Dente.
A splash of Water or Cream can be added to adjust the consistency after the 5-minute rest if needed to account for the extra time and water loss. You can also reduce the Heat just a tad below medium but still at a simmer.
Short Pasta
Weigh out 200 g of Egg Noodles or other short Pastas.
Tuna Helper Pasta Water
3 Cups of Water is used to simmer 200 g of Egg Noodles or other short Pastas. The Seasoning is added to the Water in order to Flavor the Pasta as it cooks. The Pasta will also release starches that will assist in thickening.
Homemade Tuna Helper Seasoning
This recipe isn’t flavored like your Tuna Helper you pick up at the store. Instead, all the same ingredients used to season this Homemade Tuna Helper are used in the Seafood Mayo. With the addition of Vegeta for Vegetable undertones. It creates a beautiful Flavor that works so well with Tuna.
Hondashi just adds so much more when paired with Seafood. With a bit of Butter Popcorn seasoning, and you get something that is Buttery, Rich and Delicious. Onion & Garlic Powder added in for taste. Aleppo is left out, but can be included.
Hondashi
Adds Umami and is absolutely perfect when paired with Seafood.
Butter Popcorn seasoning
Adds Salt and a Rich Buttery Flavor. I use this in quite a few places because it’s perfect for really upping those Butter Flavors.
Vegeta
Adds Vegetable undertones and a bit of Salt.
Tuna Helper Seasoning
Mix 1 tsp each of the following;
- Hondashi
- Butter Popcorn Seasoning
- Vegeta
- Onion Powder
- Garlic Powder
Tuna Helper Vegetables
For Quickly added Vegetables, use a Frozen or Dehydrated Vegetable Mix.
Frozen Green Peas & Corn
About 1/4 C each or more of Frozen Peas and/or Frozen Corn can be added in with the Pasta or add them in with the Tuna & Cream mixture depending on how soft or firm you want the Vegetables.
Frozen Mixed Vegetables
This one is good, but I don’t like the beans in it for Tuna Helper, so I pick these out.
I find these Frozen Vegetables really need to simmer for much longer, so I add these in when adding the Pasta.
Dehydrated Vegetables
These take about 15 minutes or so to soften. Add these in with the Water to bring to a boil.
Pick these up at the Bulk Barn.
Tuna
The best canned Tuna is the Bom Petisco which is 198g, or you can use 1–2 cans of your generic Tuna in water, which are cheaper. These are about 170g or 120g drained.
Canned Tuna
Squeeze the Juices out well and add last to mix through.
Tuna Helper Cream Mixture
The Cream mixture is made up while the Pasta is simmering and is added in last to thicken everything up. Creating a nicely flavored Creamy Tuna Pasta Dish.
You can adjust the amount of Cornstarch, should you choose to create a thinner or thicker sauce. Keep in mind that the sauce thickens as it rest. Should you find yourself in a position where it is too thick, just add a splash of water or cream.
Cream Mixture
Combine in a bowl and set aside the following.
- 1 Cup 10 % Cream
- 2 Tbl Cornstarch
- 1 Tbl Lemon Juice
- 1/8 tsp Cream of Tartar
Cream Mixture Consistency
This is the Cream Mixture heated and thickened. You don’t have to do this when preparing the dish. I just wanted to show how thick the mixture itself gets. It’s like a very thick condensed Cream of Soup.
Cookware
Use a Large Skillet or Deep Pan with a Lid to cook the Tuna Helper. I use the Masterclass Steamer cookware set bottom Pan. Which is about 11 inches wide and 4 inches high.
Masterclass Steamer Set
This is a good cookware set with a 4.6 QT capacity, which I use often.
How to Make Homemade Tuna Helper
This is a Quick & Simple Dish, perfect for a light Seafood Saturday or Sunday Meal. Everything is done in a single Sauce pan and plated in 30 minutes or less.
Tuna Helper Pasta Water
In a large Sauce pan add the following, cover and bring to a boil over max heat.
- 3 Cups of Water
- 2 Tbl Butter
- 1 tsp Vegeta, Hondashi, Butter Popcorn Seasoning, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, & Sriracha, each
Sriracha can be omitted, reduced or increased based on preference. 1 tsp is a very mild heat.
If using Dehydrated Vegetables, add those here.
Boil the Pasta & Vegetables
Add 200 g of Pasta and the 1/2 C of Frozen Vegetables to the Boiling Water.
Bring back to a boil while mixing, cover and reduce the heat to medium to simmer Egg Noodles for 10 minutes. Stir every few minutes.
Simmer anywhere between 13–15 minutes for short Pastas, or until softened to your liking.
Cream Mixture & Tuna
While the Pasta is simmering away. Prepare the Cream mixture and squeeze out all the juices from the Tuna. Add to the Pan after 10 minutes and mix well. Cook until thickened.
Cream Mixture;
- 1 Cup 10 % Cream
- 2 Tbl Cornstarch
- 1 Tbl Lemon Juice
- 1/8 tsp Cream of Tartar
Rest it
Cover and remove from the heat to rest for 5 minutes before serving. During which it will thicken more and become Creamier.
Tuna Helper Ideas
Homemade Tuna Helper with Cheese
Turn it into a Cheesy Tuna Helper dish with shredded Cheddar Cheese sprinkled on top right before removing it from the heat and covering to rest. This creates a just melted, gooey cheese topping. Optionally, place into the oven and broil to cook the Cheese through more using an ovenproof skillet.
Cheesy Tuna Helper
With shredded marble cheese.
Equipment
- 1 Large Skillet or Pan
- 1 Spatula
- 1 Digital Scale to weigh out 200 g of Pasta
- 1 Bowl & Whisk for the Cream Mixture
Ingredients
- 200 g Egg Noodles - or Short Pasta
- 3 C Water
- 1 Can Tuna in Water - Juices squeezed out
- 1/2 C Frozen Mixed Vegetables - or 1/4 C each of Green Peas & Corn
- 2 Tbl Butter
- 1 tsp Vegeta, Hondashi, Butter Popcorn Seasoning, Onion Powder, garlic Powder, & Sriracha - each – see notes for amounts of Sriracha
Cream Mixture
- 1 Cup 10 % Cream
- 2 Tbl Cornstarch
- 1 Tbl Lemon Juice
- 1/8 tsp Cream of Tartar
Instructions
- Place into a Deep Skillet the Water, Vegeta, Hondashi, Butter Popcorn Seasoning, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, & Sriracha along with the Butter and bring to a boil over max heat while covered.
- Add the Pasta & Frozen Vegetables and mix well. Bring back to a boil, cover and reduce the heat to medium. Cook for 10 minutes while stirring every few minutes.
- Meanwhile, combine the Cream mixture into a bowl and whisk well. Drain the Tuna, squeezing the juices out. Set aside both until needed.
- After the Pasta has cooked for 10 minutes. Whisk the Cream mixture again and add to the Pan along with the strained Tuna. Mix well and cook until thickened. Cover and remove from the heat to rest for 5 minutes before serving.