Tuna Pasta for Kids

This tuna pasta for kids dish is quick and easy. It’s a kid friendly recipe that will be enjoyed by the whole family and it only takes minutes to prepare. Older children can help out in preparing this tuna pasta, particularly stirring the sauce in the pot. My 7-year old loves this feeling grown up job of having to stir the sauce. Just be sure to keep an eye out for your children, educate them to hold the pot handle while stirring and keep adequate distance from the stove top.

As for the tuna pasta dish itself — My kids (ages 7, 3 and 1) all love this particular recipe, especially my picky toddler who refuses to have sauce on his pasta. The white creamy sauce just blends in, that he doesn’t even notice the bits of tuna that cling to the pasta spirals. It is a complete meal, containing carbohydrates, protein, dairy and vegetables. And best of all, it is inexpensive. It definitely won’t break the household budget.

Tuna Pasta for Kids

Ingredients:

• 400g. pasta spirals or farfalle
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 250g. mushrooms, sliced (or it may be finely chopped for the little picky eaters to take little notice of it)
• 400g. canned tuna, drained & flaked
• 600ml cream
• Few sprigs of thyme leaves (optional, but I encourage you to use it, as it adds another flavor dimension to the dish)
• 1 cup shredded parmesan cheese
• salt and pepper, to taste

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius.
2. Cook pasta according to packet directions.
3. Sauté onions until soft and transparent. Add mushrooms and sauté for 2-3 minutes. Add the tuna, cream and thyme. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Add the parmesan cheese to the sauce, and simmer until sauce thickens.
5. Mix the cooked pasta into the sauce. Serve and enjoy!

Baked tuna pasta variation: Once pasta and sauce are cooked, combine them in an oven proof dish. Spread 1-2 cups of cheddar cheese (or any melting cheese of your choice) on top. Bake uncovered for 10-15 minutes or just until cheese melts.

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