Creamy Tuna Pasta is a super budget friendly complete meal coming in at $0.92 per serving when made for 4 people. It is easy to double if you are feeding a larger group. Similar to tuna noodle casserole, it eliminates the need to heat the oven and wait for the casserole to bake.
Need another super cheap recipe? Try this Sausage Egg Bake for less than $1 per serving.
Tuna Pasta Variations
- I prefer penne pasta, but this will work with any shape pasta. Pasta with ridges holds onto the sauce better.
- Add a tablespoon of lemon juice.
- Add 2-3 teaspoons of cajun, blackening or Old Bay seasoning to the sauce when you add the cream cheese. You could really add any seasoning blend your family enjoys.
- Add a handful of baby spinach when you toss in the peas.
- Add 1/4 cup parmesan cheese when you add the cream cheese. You may need to add a little more pasta water because this will thicken the sauce.
- This tuna pasta recipe works well with gluten free pasta.
- Sautee 8oz sliced mushrooms in a little butter and oil until golden brown. Add them to the skillet with the peas and tuna.
Even Cheaper Tuna Pasta
- If your budget is really tight, reduce or leave out the cream cheese. The sauce will be thinner and missing that tang that the cream cheese provides so you may want to add or increase any seasoning you are using. Cutting out the cream cheese will save you $0.20 a serving.
- The frozen peas (at $0.25 per serving) are one of the cheapest ways to get in a serving a vegetables, which is what makes this dish a complete meal. If you have access to a fruit or vegetable that is less than $0.25 per serving then leave them out.
If you leave out both of these ingredients, your cost per serving drops to $0.47.
Creamy Tuna Pasta
Servings: 4
Calories: 497
Cost per Serving*: $0.92
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 oz penne pasta
- 5 oz tuna (canned)
- 2 tbsp cream cheese (softened)
- 4 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 12 oz frozen peas
- salt and pepper (to taste)
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Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta according to package directions.
- When the pasta is done, drain it well but save the pasta water.
- Drain the water from the tuna and break it up with a fork.
- In a large skillet heat the oil and butter until melted.
- Stir in the cream cheese until melted.
- Add the drained tuna and peas.
- Heat, stirring occasionally, until the tuna and peas are hot. This is usually takes about 5 minutes.
- Add the pasta and mix well.
- Add pasta water in small amounts until the pasta sauce is the consistency you prefer.
- Season with salt and pepper.
Nutrition
Calories: 497kcalCarbohydrates: 55gProtein: 19.3gFat: 22.2gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 5.3gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 50.2mgSodium: 198mgPotassium: 409.3mgFiber: 6.7gSugar: 6.6gVitamin A: 1118IUVitamin C: 34mgCalcium: 49.9mgIron: 2.6mg
Read the full nutritional disclaimer.
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Creamy Tuna Pasta Cost per Serving Breakdown
Tuna $0.99
Cream Cheese $0.80
Butter $0.25
Oil $0.15
Peas $0.99
Pasta $0.50
Total Recipe Cost $3.68
Cost per Serving $0.92
