Lift your hand in case you loveeeee mac and cheese.
As a child, my Dad would all the time make me macaroni and cheese made with sharp or white cheddar, plus LOTS and plenty of pepper. If I have been fortunate, he would upload peas (as a result of I cherished them greater than every other veggie on the earth.)
Now that I’m into full-on #adulting, I LOVE when my mac and cheese is full of anything else just a bit bit distinctive: truffle mac and cheese, vegan mac and cheese, mac and cheese with a Ritz cracker topping, mac and cheese with brussels, BUFFALO cauliflower mac, or perhaps a vintage broccoli cheddar mac and cheese. Can mac and cheese be its personal meals team but?
I assumed I’d convey you any other distinctive twist on mac and cheese that I’m completely in love with: Southwest tuna mac and cheese with highly spiced flavors and distinctive umami taste. Consider me, I do know that it sounds a bit of loopy, however I promise you it’s one of the most BEST mac and cheese recipes you’ll ever make.
Substances in tuna mac and cheese
No longer handiest is that this tuna mac and cheese full of taste, however it additionally makes use of easy substances and pantry staples that it’s possible you’ll have already got on-hand. The additional protein makes this a scrumptious, wholesome tuna mac and cheese dinner!
- Elbow macaroni: you’ll use gluten unfastened, complete grain or common noodles. I actually love the chickpea pasta on account of the additional fiber however complete grain is superb, too.
- Sharp cheddar cheese: I really like to make use of a block of cheddar as it melts a lot more uncomplicated. I don’t suggest the use of pre-shredded cheddar for this recipe however fairly shred or dice it your self.
- Flour: I used complete wheat pastry flour to assist in making a wonderfully thick cheese sauce for the tuna mac and cheese. You’ll be able to additionally use all goal or gluten unfastened all goal flour!
- Tuna: I AM IN LOVE with the tuna on this recipe. It provides an enchanting savory umami taste that I will be able to’t get sufficient of, to not point out heaps of protein. You’ll be able to use yellowfin or albacore tuna on this scrumptious recipe.
- Taco seasoning: I determined to make use of a packet of natural taco seasoning to season the mac and cheese as a result of that’s what I had in my cabinet, then again, my DIY taco seasoning is easiest for this recipe!
- Black beans: those beans are one more reason I really like this recipe. The fiber and protein within the beans assist to stay you complete and upload a southwest aptitude to the recipe.
- Milk: be happy to make use of any milk you’d like on this recipe (even though I wouldn’t use skim). Once I first made this recipe I selected to make use of unsweetened cashew milk as it’s extremely creamy and provides wonderful taste to the mac and cheese.
Customise your tuna mac and cheese
This simple tuna mac and cheese is superb for customizing on your style personal tastes and what you will have readily available! Right here’s what I will be able to suggest:
- Cross gluten unfastened: merely use your favourite gluten unfastened pasta form like this one, in addition to gluten unfastened all goal flour.
- Take a look at it dairy unfastened: as a substitute of cheese that you must upload my cashew cheese sauce for a dairy unfastened possibility.
- Upload some veggies: be happy to fold in veggies like peas (so nostalgic) mushrooms, chopped bell pepper, and even diced jalapeño.
Can I make it vegetarian?
Positive! Merely fail to remember the tuna and benefit from the protein that black beans supply. Be happy so as to add an additional can of black beans in case you’d like.
Methods to make tuna mac and cheese at the stovetop
- Cook dinner the pasta. First boil the noodles till al dente, then drain them and set them apart.
- Make a slurry. Whilst the pasta is boiling, you’ll make a slurry (or a roux) via melting butter in a pot or skillet with garlic. Whisk within the flour and onion powder & stir till a paste bureaucracy. Then slowly upload within the milk, whisking away any lumps so it’s great and clean.
- Thicken the sauce. Building up the warmth and convey your aggregate to a boil, then cut back warmth and simmer for 5-10 mins stirring each and every so steadily, till the sauce thickens up very similar to a gravy
- Cheese it up. Subsequent, upload within the cheese and taco seasoning and stir till totally melted.
- Combine within the mac. After all fold in cooked noodles, black beans and tired tuna and blend till smartly mixed.
- Broil & serve. Most sensible with the remainder of the cheese, then both combine it in or position your skillet beneath the broiler for 1-2 mins till the cheese is bubbly and rather golden. Most sensible with recent herbs like parsley or cilantro and sizzling sauce in case you’d like, and serve!
Storing guidelines
You’ll be able to retailer any leftover tuna macaroni and cheese within the fridge for as much as 4-5 days. Merely reheat within the microwave.
I do know you’ll love this filling convenience meals tuna mac and cheese. It’s superb on a comfy night time and nice for reheating too. I like to recommend topping it with sizzling sauce and cilantro!
Extra comfortable dinners you’ll love
Get all of my dinner recipes right here!
If you’re making this straightforward tuna mac and cheese recipe, be sure you depart a remark and fee the recipe underneath letting me understand how you adore it. You’ll be able to additionally add a photograph and tag #ambitiouskitchen on Instagram! xo.
Stovetop Southwest Tuna Mac and Cheese
A southwest impressed model of tuna mac and cheese with taco seasoning, black beans, yellowfin tuna and quite a few cheese. This creamy, highly spiced tuna mac and cheese recipe comes in combination in simply half-hour and is full of protein. Absolute best for weeknight dinners, sport day or anytime you will have a convenience meals yearning!
Substances
-
8
ounces
elbow noodles (or no matter noodles you want) -
2
tablespoons
butter -
1
clove
garlic, minced -
1/4
cup
complete wheat pastry flour (or sub common flour or GF all goal flour) -
½
teaspoon
onion powder -
1 1/2
cups
unsweetened cashew or almond milk - Salt and pepper, to style
-
6
ounces
sharp cheddar cheese (about 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese) -
1
(1.1 ounce) packet taco seasoning (ideally natural)* -
1
(15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and tired -
1
(5 ounce) can yellowfin or albacore tuna, tired -
2
ounces
sharp cheddar cheese, shredded and reserved for the topping (or about ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese) - To garnish:
- Chopped recent cilantro
- Sizzling sauce, if desired
Directions
-
First boil the noodles till al dente, in keeping with the instructions at the package deal. As soon as finished cooking, drain and put aside.
-
Whilst the noodles are boiling, make a slurry: In a big oven protected skillet or pot upload butter and garlic. As soon as butter is melted, whisk within the flour and onion powder and prepare dinner for 30 seconds till a paste bureaucracy. Slowly upload in cashew milk, whisking away any lumps.
-
Building up warmth and convey aggregate to a boil, then cut back warmth and simmer for 5-10 mins stirring each and every so steadily, till the sauce thickens up very similar to a gravy
-
Subsequent upload in 6 ounces cheese and 1 packet of taco seasoning and stir till totally melted.
-
After all fold in cooked noodles, black beans and tired tuna and blend till smartly mixed.
-
Most sensible with 2 oz of shredded cheddar. At this level you’ll both serve the mac and cheese and simply fold within the further cheddar you simply added, or take away from warmth and position beneath the broiler for 1-2 mins or till cheese is bubbly and rather golden. Serves 6. Most sensible with cilantro and sizzling sauce if desired!
Recipe Notes
*To make your personal taco seasoning: use my go-to recipe right here!
To make dairy unfastened: be happy to make use of my cashew cheese sauce as a substitute of constructing the cheese sauce for this recipe.
See the entire put up for much more tactics to customise this recipe.
Diet
Servings: 6 servings
Serving measurement: 1 serving
Energy: 425kcal
Fats: 19g
Saturated fats: 10.6g
Carbohydrates: 40.8g
Fiber: 6.6g
Sugar: 1.6g
Protein: 23.2g
This put up was once at the beginning revealed on October thirtieth, 2017, republished on April 1st, 2020, and republished on September twenty eighth, 2022.
