My Quick & Easy Canned Tuna Pasta is simple dish that will make you look at canned tuna in a whole new way. This is a delicious, budget-friendly dish that you can make with a handful of ingredients in just 15 minutes! It's the perfect family-friendly recipe for busy weeknights.
I love having an arsenal of quick and easy dinner recipes for busy weeknights when I need to get a delicious and healthy dinner on the table fast. Some of my favorite 30 minute meals are my Marry Me Chicken, Crispy Baked Panko Chicken, and Juicy Air Fryer Turkey Burgers.
Now I'm so excited to bring you this delicious Quick & Easy Tuna Pasta recipe. After a long day, simple recipes like this can be a lifesaver!
This tuna pasta is very different from the tuna casserole you may have grown up eating. This dish will make you look at canned tuna in a whole new way!
There are so many things to love about this tuna pasta recipe. It's simple, delicious, healthy, and budget-friendly. And it can be made in 15 minutes! All you need is a couple of cans of tuna and a few simple ingredients. If you're looking for a vegetarian version of this dish, try my delicious Mediterranean pasta.
While the pasta is cooking, you make the tuna sauce in a skillet. It's a simple sauce that's full of lemony flavor. Then, just toss the cooked pasta with the sauce and dinner is ready!
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Why You'll Love This Dish
- Quick and easy- make this canned tuna pasta in just 15 minutes! The sauce comes together while the pasta is boiling.
- Budget-friendly- made with simple, inexpensive ingredients, most of which you may already have in your pantry or fridge.
- Healthy- incorporates nutritious seafood rich in omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D.
- Tasty- this delicious recipe is a great way to get your kids to eat seafood!
Doctor's Tips
The US Dietary Guidelines recommend eating at least 8 ounces of a variety of seafood per week for those following a 2,000 calorie-per-day diet. Why? Because among other things, seafood is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, which have numerous health benefits.
Tuna is low in calories, low in saturated fat, and is packed with a variety of important nutrients! It’s an excellent source of high quality protein, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals. I love using canned tuna to make tasty dishes like my tuna tostadas.
Tuna and other fish are among the few natural food sources of vitamin D, which is a nutrient that many of us are deficient in. 42% of Americans and about 1 billion people worldwide are vitamin D deficient.
Seafood is a key ingredient in the Mediterranean diet. Numerous studies have shown that a Mediterranean-style diet can help reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, obesity, certain types of cancer, depression, and cognitive decline.
Ingredients
Ingredient Notes and substitutions (see recipe card below for full ingredient list):
- Canned tuna- I recommend using a good quality canned tuna (yellowfin tuna or albacore tuna) packed in oil rather than water; you can also buy a jar of Italian tuna fillets preserved in oil (tonno sott'olio). Tuna packed in oil is richer, creamier and more flavorful and works better in pasta dishes like this.
- Pasta- I like to use a long pasta like spaghetti or linguini in this tuna pasta but any type of pasta will work including penne or bow tie pasta.
- Capers- I love capers in this dish- they add a nice salty bite that complements the tuna. If you don't like them, you can leave them out or substitute chopped olives.
How To Make Tuna Pasta Step-By-Step
- Step 1- Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted water until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving about a cup of pasta water. While the pasta is cooking, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and add the chopped garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Step 2- Add the drained tuna, fresh lemon juice, capers, and parsley and stir to break the tuna up. Cook 2-3 minutes to heat the ingredients through.
- Step 3- Add the cooked pasta to the skillet along with about ¼ cup of the reserved pasta water. Toss everything together until a smooth sauce forms coating the pasta. Add more pasta water as needed.
- Step 4- Season the pasta with kosher salt and black pepper. Garnish the pasta with fresh parsley, lemon zest, and a drizzle of olive oil. Although it's not traditional to mix pasta and seafood, you can also add some grated parmesan cheese for extra flavor.
Chef's Top Tips
- Be sure to set aside some of the pasta water from the pot to add to the sauce. The starches in the water help create a silky smooth sauce that coats the pasta.
- Use a good quality canned tuna with large chunks that's packed in olive oil rather than water. Tuna packed in oil is richer, creamier and more flavorful and will work better in this dish.
- To make this dish even heartier and add a boost of protein, you can stir in a can of white beans (tuna and white beans is a traditional Italian pairing).
- To add some veggies to this canned tuna pasta, stir in some baby spinach, arugula or peas. You can also add cherry tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes or sun-dried tomato pesto for a pop of flavor and color.
- I love the light, lemony sauce that's made with the olive oil, lemon juice and pasta water. However, if you want a richer dish, you can stir in some cream cheese to form a creamy sauce.
Recipe FAQs
This easy tuna pasta can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Yes, this tuna pasta dish is healthy. Tuna is low in calories, low in saturated fat, and is packed with a variety of important nutrients. It’s an excellent source of high quality protein, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins (including vitamin D) and minerals.
Although this tuna pasta can be served hot, cold or at room temperature, I recommend serving it hot.
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Recipe
Quick & Easy Canned Tuna Pasta
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 ounces spaghetti or other pasta
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
- Pinch of red pepper flakes
- 2 cans (5 ounces each) tuna packed in oil, drained
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons capers (optional)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Kosher salt and pepper
Optional garnishes:
- Chopped parsley, lemon zest, grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving about 1 cup of the pasta water.
- While the pasta is cooking, make the sauce. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and add the garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook 30 seconds until fragrant. Add the tuna, lemon juice, capers, and parsley and stir to break the tuna up. Cook 2-3 minutes to heat the ingredients through.
- Add the drained spaghetti and about ¼ cup of the reserved pasta water to the skillet. Toss everything together until a smooth sauce forms coating the pasta. Add more pasta water as needed. Taste and season the pasta with salt and pepper.
- Garnish the pasta with fresh parsley, lemon zest, and/or grated parmesan cheese, if desired.
Notes
- Be sure to set aside some of the pasta water from the pot to add to the sauce. The starches in the water help create a silky smooth sauce that coats the pasta.
- Use a good quality canned tuna (yellowfin or albacore) with large chunks that's packed in olive oil rather than water. Tuna packed in oil is richer, creamier and more flavorful and will work better in this dish.
- To make this dish even heartier and add a boost of protein, you can stir in a can of white beans.
- To add some veggies to this canned tuna pasta, stir in some baby spinach, arugula or peas. You can also add cherry tomatoes or sun-dried tomatoes.
- If you want a richer dish, you can stir in some cream cheese to form a creamy sauce.
Debby says
I've been wanting to make this dish for awhile. I bought the ingredients, even one of the types of tuna you suggested. I was blown away by how easy this dish is to prepare and how tasty it was. Since it made 4 servings I reheated each serving separately and each time it tasted just as good as the first time. I will keep this recipe in mind for those times I really don't want to cook and I want something tasty. Thank you so much.
Dr. Sonali Ruder says
I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed the dish, Debby! It’s a favorite in my house on busy weeknights. Thanks for taking the time to leave a review 🙂
JD Marsden says
But I LOVE the tuna casserole I grew up with!
Dr. Sonali Ruder says
Me too! Two totally different but equally delicious dishes!
Big Rigs 'n Lil' Cookies says
This definitely is NOT the tuna dish I grew up with! It's beautiful and sounds tasty!
sonaliruder says
Thanks so much Kris!
Rosey Rebecca says
I don't eat tuna but I just wanted to say that this dish looks amazing. I turn to pasta a lot too for dinner. I always try to "beef" it up a bit with tons of veggies.
sonaliruder says
Thanks so much, Rosey, it's a staple in my house! You could definitely make this dish substituting veggies for the tuna 🙂
Kristy Sayer @ Southern In Law says
Yummmmmm! I loveee tuna as a quick and easy protein option and this looks amazing!
sonaliruder says
Thanks, Kristy!
Alisa says
I loved this recipe the moment I saw it on Facebook Sonali! We eat tuna frequently and I'm always looking for new delicious ways to serve it. This recipe is positively perfect!
sonaliruder says
Awww, thanks Alisa! The tuna really works great in this dish. I hope you try it out!
Julie Wunder says
This looks so easy and delicious. Perfect for a meal on a budget too. Love how your freshened it up too.
sonaliruder says
Thanks, Julie! Good point, it's definitely economical. And I love using fresh basil to brighten up a dish 🙂
Natalie @ Obsessive Cooking says
Looks great! I have a ton of pasta but trying to always think of ideas to make it healthier! I'm not familiar with canned tuna since we didn't eat it growing up but my fiance loves that stuff
sonaliruder says
Thanks, Natalie! I hope you give the dish (and canned tuna) a try!
Marissa says
I love tuna pasta! I always call it Tuna Puttanesca so it sounds fancy... 😉 Love this, Sonali!
Amelia says
Haha, love it, Marissa. Sometimes changing the name is just the ticket 😉
sonaliruder says
Haha, I actually thought about calling it a puttanesca! That will be a future post- I have a great puttanesca recipe 🙂
Amelia @ Eating Made Easy says
I literally just wrote down these ingredients so I can buy them and try this dish over the weekend. My kids feel so-so about tuna but my husband and I love it. And I think this dish could be the one that converts the kiddos. YUM.
sonaliruder says
Thanks Amelia, I hope you and your whole family like it! Sienna feels so-so about a lot of ingredients, but if I put them into a pasta dish, I can usually get her to try it at least! Have a great weekend 🙂
Rebecca Pytell says
O yes! Canned tuna is always one of my go-tos!!! You can always make it delish! A blank slate protein!
sonaliruder says
Definitely! Thanks, Rebecca!
Deanna - Teaspoon of Spice says
Pasta + seafood is pretty much my favorite dinner combo ever. And I adored tuna noodle casserole growing up - this looks so much better 🙂
sonaliruder says
It's one of my favorite combos too! It's funny, I never really ate tuna casserole growing up but did have plenty of tuna sandwiches!
Jessica Levinson says
Tuna mixed with pasta never appealed to me - until now! This dish looks so flavorful and light. Especially love the lemony breadcrumbs on top!
sonaliruder says
Thanks, Jessica! It actually works great together. And the lemony breadcrumbs- I can pretty much eat them on anything!
EA-The Spicy RD says
So pretty!! Canned tuna was one of my favorite foods growing up, but my kids haven't developed a taste for it. Still, this dish looks SO tasty to me-I may just make it for myself one night, and send the kids out to dinner with their dad 🙂
sonaliruder says
Haha, that sounds like a great plan, EA!
Farrah says
I have a hecks of a lot of cans of tuna, and I'm about to go off to live in student housing again, so excited to try making this! It looks delicious!
sonaliruder says
Thanks, Farrah! Canned tuna was always a staple for me when I was in school too 🙂