Microwave jacket potato with tuna and spicy beans
A jacket potato filled with spicy beans and tuna makes a filling meal whatever time of the day. Using beans already combined with a chilli sauce, means you don’t need to buy a range of different spices to make this dish. It’s also delicious made without the tuna and extra cheese instead.
This recipe is part of a budget microwave meal plan for one. In March 2023, it was costed at an average total of £1.23 when checking prices at four UK supermarkets. It is designed to be made in conjunction with a low-cost store-cupboard.
Ingredients
- 1 large potato (250g–275g/9–9¾oz), well washed (see Recipe Tip)
- ½ x 400g tin beans in chilli sauce
- 50g/1¾oz frozen sweetcorn
- 145g tin tuna chunks, well drained
- 10²µ/â…“o³ú cheddar, finely grated
- ground black pepper
- pinch dried chilli flakes (optional)
Method
Prick the potato all over 5–6 times with a fork and place on a microwaveable plate. Cook, uncovered, on HIGH for 3 minutes (1000W) or 3 minutes 30 seconds (800W). Turn the potato over and cook on HIGH for a further for 3 minutes (1000W) or 3 minutes 40 seconds (800W), or until soft and a knife inserted into the centre slides in easily. (If the potato isn’t quite soft enough, cook for a further 1–2 minutes but don’t let it overcook or it will begin to toughen.) Leave to stand for 3–4 minutes.
Mix the beans and sweetcorn in a medium microwavable bowl. Cover with a microwaveable lid or plate and cook on HIGH for 3 minutes (1000W) or 3 minutes 40 seconds (800W), until hot, stirring halfway.
Split the potato open and add the beans and sweetcorn. Top with the tuna (see tip below) and sprinkle with cheddar. Cook on HIGH for about 1 minute, or until the cheese melts.
Serve sprinkled with ground black pepper and a little flaked chilli, if using.
Recipe Tips
If your potato is much larger or smaller than the size recommended, you’ll need to increase or reduce the cooking time in step one.
Use any variety of chilli beans you like for the filling. The recipe has been costed as part of the Budget microwave meal plan for one, so if following the plan, you’ll need to use half here and half with the stuffed peppers.
It’s more cost effective to buy tuna in larger tins but you may not need all of it top your potato, simply decant the rest into a lidded container, keep in the fridge and use within a couple of days.
Use any cheese you like for sprinkling on top, or leave out altogether if you prefer.