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Close-up of a golden brown tuna potato bake in a casserole dish, showing tender potato slices, melted cheese, and creamy filling.
Emily Carter

Tuna Potato Bake

A comforting and budget-friendly tuna potato bake featuring creamy tuna and vegetables topped with tender potato slices and melted cheese.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 651

Ingredients
  

  • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter chopped
  • 1 leek trimmed, thinly sliced
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 4 cups milk
  • 1 ½ tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 cans tuna in water 15 oz each, drained and flaked
  • ½ cup frozen peas
  • ½ cup frozen corn
  • 2 oz baby spinach
  • 3 green onions thinly sliced
  • 1 ½ cups shredded cheese blend (such as mozzarella and cheddar)
  • 3 large potatoes washed, unpeeled, thinly sliced
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • cooking spray or oil for greasing

Equipment

  • 1 9x13 inch baking dish
  • 1 large saucepan
  • 1 whisk
  • 1 Sharp knife
  • 1 Cutting board

Method
 

  1. Preheat your oven to 425°F. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
  2. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat until foaming. Add the sliced leek and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes until softened.
  3. Stir in the all-purpose flour and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, for 1 minute until the mixture bubbles and forms a roux.
  4. Gradually add the milk, about 1/2 cup at a time, whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Continue to stir until all the milk is incorporated and the sauce boils and thickens, about 3 minutes.
  5. Stir in the Dijon mustard until well combined. Add the drained and flaked tuna, frozen peas, frozen corn, and baby spinach. Cook, stirring, for 2 minutes or until warmed through and the spinach wilts.
  6. Remove from heat. Stir in the green onions and 1 cup of the shredded cheese blend. Continue to stir for 1 minute until the cheese melts into the sauce.
  7. Transfer the tuna mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread evenly.
  8. Arrange the thinly sliced potatoes over the tuna mixture, slightly overlapping them to create an even layer.
  9. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded cheese over the potatoes.
  10. Bake for 45 minutes or until the potatoes are golden and tender, and the cheese is bubbly and lightly browned. If desired, broil for the last 1-2 minutes for extra crispness.
  11. Remove from the oven and let stand for 10 minutes before serving to allow the casserole to set.

Notes

For an even quicker prep, you can use pre-sliced potatoes if available, though they are often more expensive. Ensure your potatoes are sliced uniformly thin for even cooking.
If you don't have leeks, a finely diced yellow onion can be used as a budget-friendly alternative. Cook it until very soft before adding the flour.