Cheesy tuna and noodles is the ten-minute cupboard dinner that actually feels like a treat. Zucchini noodles, tinned tuna, cream, and two kinds of cheddar steam together in a baking dish inside the Instant Pot. Creamy, savoury, and hot through in three minutes flat — no draining, no separate pan.
Cheesy Tuna and Noodles
(Total Time: 10 MIN| Serves: 4)
Ingredients:
½ cup shredded Cheddar Cheese
2 Tuna cans, drained
1 cup (240 ml) Water
½ cup Heavy Cream
4 Zucchini Noodles
4 tbsp. (60 ml) Cheddar Cheese
Directions:
- Pour the water into your Instant Pot.
- Place the zoodles, heavy cream, tuna, and cheddar, in a baking dish.
- Stir to combine.
- Place the dish inside the IP.
- Close the lid and cook on HIGH for 3 minutes.
- Divide between 4 bowls.
- Top with parmesan cheese.
- Serve and enjoy!
Per Serving (Calories 210| Total Fats 9.3g | Net Carbs 2g | Protein 15g |Fiber: 0g)
Pro Tips
- Drain the tuna well before it goes into the dish; extra brine thins the cream sauce and leaves the zoodles swimming.
- Keep the zucchini noodles thick-cut or spiralize them wide — thin strands turn to mush under pressure in three minutes.
- Shred the cheddar yourself rather than buying pre-shredded; the anti-caking starch on bagged cheese keeps it from melting into a smooth sauce.
- Let the dish sit a minute after opening the lid — the sauce thickens as it cools from blazing hot to edible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use canned salmon instead of tuna?
Absolutely — the richer salmon stands up well to the cream and cheddar, and the cook time stays exactly the same.
Are zucchini noodles actually noodles here?
They are zoodles standing in for pasta, which keeps the dish grain-free and lets the cheesy tuna sauce do all the work.
How do I keep the zoodles from getting watery?
Salt them lightly and pat dry before they go into the dish, and don't overcook — three minutes is genuinely enough.
Can I double the recipe?
Yes, as long as the dish fits inside your pot on the rack; add a minute to the pressure time for the fuller dish.
Recipe Card
Ingredients
Method
- Pour the water into your Instant Pot.
- Place the zoodles, heavy cream, tuna, and cheddar, in a baking dish.
- Stir to combine.
- Place the dish inside the IP.
- Close the lid and cook on HIGH for 3 minutes.
- Divide between 4 bowls.
- Top with parmesan cheese.
- Serve and enjoy! Per Serving (Calories 210| Total Fats 9.3g | Net Carbs 2g | Protein 15g |Fiber: 0g)
