Simple Recipe for Tuna and Shells With Cheese

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Updated on 01/23/23
Simple Tuna With Shells and Cheese
Diana Rattray
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 15 mins
Total: 20 mins
Servings: 4 to 6 servings
Yield: 1 casserole

This tasty old-fashioned "seashells," a tuna and pasta recipe, is a very simple combination of just five ingredients and made on the stovetop—the perfect dish to throw together on a busy weeknight. Any fan of macaroni and cheese will love this dish, and all you need is a salad on the side to make this meal complete.

But since this recipe is somewhat of a blank slate, feel free to add some herbs, cooked peas, or mixed vegetables for a more colorful dish. If you prefer a baked casserole, you can put the pasta mixture in a baking dish and top with some buttered breadcrumbs, French fried onions, or crushed potato chips. Bake at 350 F for about 20 to 25 minutes until the mixture is hot and bubbling and the topping is crispy and golden brown.

Ingredients

  • 3 cups (12 ounces) uncooked shell pasta, macaroni, or similar sized pasta

  • 8 ounces American cheese, such as Kraft Velveeta cheese, shredded

  • 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

  • 1/2 cup milk

  • 2 to 3 cans solid white tuna in water, drained and flaked

  • Salt, to taste

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Steps to Make It

  1. Cook the shell pasta in boiling salted water following the package directions. Drain in a colander, rinse lightly with hot water, and set aside.

  2. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan over medium heat, combine the American cheese and Parmesan cheese with the milk. Cook, stirring until cheese is melted.

  3. Stir in the hot cooked pasta shells and the flaked tuna. Blend ingredients thoroughly.

  4. Add salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

  5. Serve the pasta with a fresh tossed green salad or Caesar salad and hot baked biscuits or rolls.

Variations

This is the kind of recipe you can easily change to your liking, whether it be adding different cheese, including favorite vegetables, or turning it into a casserole. Here are some suggestions for how to enhance this "sea shells" recipe.

  • Use part cheddar cheese with the American cheese or all cheddar for a heartier cheese flavor.
  • Stir in steamed peas, cooked mixed vegetables, or chopped cooked broccoli to the dish along with the tuna.
  • Saute onions and celery in a little butter; add to the pasta mixture along with the tuna.
  • Saute 4 to 8 ounces of sliced mushrooms and add to the pasta mixture.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
336 Calories
13g Fat
22g Carbs
31g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 336
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 13g 16%
Saturated Fat 6g 32%
Cholesterol 69mg 23%
Sodium 960mg 42%
Total Carbohydrate 22g 8%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 31g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 571mg 44%
Iron 2mg 11%
Potassium 369mg 8%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)