This Canned Tuna Pasta recipe is super simple, healthy, and comforting. The perfect recipe that doesn't require many ingredients.
Looking for more super easy-to-make dinner recipes? Try this Quick & Easy Gouda Mac and Cheese, Instant Pot Chicken Drumsticks, or this super easy Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes.
When you don't have many ingredients in the pantry, tuna pasta is a terrific dish to create. It's time to have a little confidence, canned tuna recipe skeptics! This comes together in just 15 minutes from start to finish and is extremely excellent, inexpensive, and quick.
![canned tuna pasta in a bowl on a white surface](https://www.ambitiousfoodie.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/canned-tuna-pasta-2.jpg)
Canned Tuna Pasta Recipe:
One of the simplest spaghetti recipes you will ever prepare is this one using canned tuna. It only takes a few steps to prepare the sauce, boil the pasta, and combine it with tuna sauce.
It is simple to prepare and quick to prepare. Yes, you can prepare this nutritious tuna pasta from scratch in just 15 minutes, making it the ideal midweek meal.
This creamy tuna pasta is not only quick and simple, but it is also flavorful and will have guests requesting seconds.
This canned tuna with pasta, which is inexpensive and tasty, will soon become a staple on your evening menu. It simply strikes the proper places.
This recipe can be used in situations where fresh or frozen meat is unavailable because it only requires a few cupboard staples, including canned tuna garlic spaghetti.
In this recipe for tuna pasta, I used heavy cream, but if you don't want the extra calories, you can use coconut milk or pasta water instead.
If there are any leftovers, tuna spaghetti is simple to keep and reheat. I'll walk you through the process step by step.
Why You Will Love This Canned Tuna Pasta Recipe?
Even though I keep saying it, canned tuna pasta is inexpensive. You could create this dish for less than £3.
Even the pickiest eaters would enjoy this dish, especially when it is accompanied by homemade garlic bread on the side. I won't reveal that this spaghetti dish just needs 10 to 15 minutes to prepare because my kids adore it.
Use any type of pasta you have on hand.
The fact that you can boil the pasta and sauce at the same time in this straightforward pasta meal is one of its attractions. Prepare the other ingredients while the pasta is cooking if it takes 10 minutes.
The recipe's leftovers are excellent for lunch the following day and store well in the refrigerator for a few days.
Ingredients:
- pasta, Any variety, and form of pasta, such as spaghetti, linguine, fusilli, etc., can be used in this dish.
- Canned Tuna, I prefer to use canned chunk tuna in oil over tuna in brine or spring water. Additionally, I think the tuna in oil in a can is chunkier than the other.
- Olive oil, You can substitute any flavorless cooking oil you have for the olive oil.
- Garlic, fresh cloves of garlic
- Pasta water
- freshly ground black pepper and salt
- Lemon juice
- Fresh parsley
How To Make Canned Tuna Pasta?
- As directed on the pasta package, in one minute, cook the pasta in salted water. It's okay if the pasta is a little underdone (i.e., not quite al dente). The pasta will finish cooking in the sauce, allowing it to savor all of its delicious flavors!
- Just before draining the pasta, take off 1 cup of the cooking water and set it aside. Why? Since this will be used to prepare the spaghetti sauce. The sauce will thicken when the starch in the pasta boiling water reacts with the oil in the sauce, clinging to the pasta threads rather than remaining a watery sauce at the bottom of the pan.
- Oil from the tuna cans should be poured into the same saucepan and heated over medium heat.
- Sauté garlic for 1 minute
- Add the pasta and ⅓ cup of the pasta water that was set aside. 2 minutes of stirring with 2 spatulas. The oil and the starchy pasta cooking water will thicken throughout this process and form a sauce that adheres to the pasta. Additionally, the pasta will reach its full al denseness during this phase of cooking. Add more pasta cooking water if the pasta is still too stiff for your tastes and continue to cook the pasta.
- Add tuna and then turn off the heat. Include the tuna, parsley, lemon juice, zest, and seasonings. Gently stir the tuna to prevent it from crumbling into little pieces.
then serve right away!
Tips And Tricks:
- Add some spinach to this recipe for color and, obviously, nutritional benefits. I made this dish without any because I had none on hand.
- If capers are your thing, add them to this recipe because I love them with tuna but my family doesn't. Very good.
- To your liking, add more or less red pepper flakes, or go all out and make it hot.
- If desired, squeeze some lemon juice in.
- If preferred, bake your tuna pasta or prepare it like a casserole. Make sure there is sauce in the finished dish before baking so it doesn't turn out dry when creating this.
- Use gluten-free pasta to convert this dish to a gluten-free version.
Cooking Options
Take this recipe as a guideline and feel free to add to it. Here are a few possibilities:
- Add a couple of pinches of red pepper flakes to make it spicier.
- Incorporate any leftover cooked veggies (asparagus would be fantastic!). Add some baby spinach or arugula to turn it into a complete dinner.
- Artichoke hearts, green olives, kalamata olives, and/or sun-dried tomatoes can be used to enhance Mediterranean flavors.
- Add a portion of soft white beans for more substance.
- Add a few handfuls of grated parmesan cheese to the dish to finish it.
- Try experimenting with other pasta types, such as gluten-free pasta, whole wheat pasta, and bucatini.
What Kind Of Pasta Can I Use?
A straightforward recipe for tuna spaghetti can be made with any type of pasta. The following pasta shapes are my favorites since they can hold sauce the best:
- Spaghetti
- linguine
- fettuccine
- Penne
Although some contend that the right kind of pasta noodles and the particular sauce must be combined. Really, there isn't a bad noodle to go with this tuna pasta recipe. This tasty pasta dish won't lose or overpower your noodles.
Additionally, you can choose pasta that is gluten-free or whole-wheat.
How To Store?
This recipe would stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 5 days at the proper temperature when stored in an airtight container. Pasta with tuna can be frozen for up to three months; just make sure it has cooled thoroughly.
How To Reheat?
You may reheat it in the oven or microwave.
Put the pasta in a microwave-safe bowl, top with 1-2 tablespoons of water, place the bowl in the microwave, cover it, and cook the tuna pasta on high for 30-second intervals until heated through.
Do You Eat Tuna Pasta Hot Or Cold?
You can eat it either hot or cold. Serve warm for dinner; for brunch, serve cold with salads.
Can Tuna Pasta Help You To Lose Weight?
A nutritious fish is a tuna. It is high in protein and minerals and low in fat. Tuna pasta can be included in meals for weight loss in moderation.
How Long To Cook Tuna Pasta?
It takes 15 minutes to prepare pasta using canned tuna. That quickly! Depending on the type of pasta, boiling it takes 8–12 minutes. It takes 15 minutes to cook the pasta, and the sauce, and toss it with the pasta.
What To Serve With Canned Tuna Pasta?
Pasta and tuna pair nicely together, as this recipe demonstrates. Garlic bread, coleslaw, and salads are additional dishes that pair well with canned tuna.
More Easy To Make Dinner Recipes:
- Air Fryer Roasted Baby Potatoes
- Grilled Buffalo Chicken
- Instant Pot Fried Rice
- Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes
- Quick & Easy Gouda Mac and Cheese
- Instant Pot Chicken Tenders
Super Easy Canned Tuna Pasta
INGREDIENTS
- 3 tbsps olive oil
- 2 glove garlic, finely minced
- 1 can canned tuna in oil, drained
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 2 tbsps fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 200 g 7 oz spaghetti pasta
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon salt
INSTRUCTIONS
- For your pasta, boil some salted water and cook it till al dente as directed on the packet. While it cooks, prepare your other ingredients.
- Add the oil to a small pan over medium heat when the pasta is nearly done. Add the garlic to the heated oil and sauté for 30 seconds.
- Add the parsley, lemon juice, and tuna by stirring. Let it warm up fully.
- When the pasta is finished cooking, drain it and toss it with the sauce after adding a small amount of the pasta water (a few tablespoons) to the sauce. Add salt and pepper to taste.
NOTES
- Pasta never really reheats well, especially these varieties of pasta that don't come with a ton of tomato or creamy sauce. Leftovers will keep for 2 days in the fridge. The best way to reheat food in the microwave is with a dash of water (or, even better, save some pasta boiling water!).
- To your liking, add more or less red pepper flakes, or go all out and make it hot.
- If desired, squeeze some lemon juice in.
- If preferred, bake your tuna pasta or prepare it like a casserole. Make sure there is sauce in the finished dish before baking so that it doesn't turn out dry when creating this.
- Use gluten-free pasta to convert this dish to a gluten-free version.
dina and bruce miller says
WE love easy recipes! Can not wait to make this!
Sara Welch says
Enjoyed this for dinner last night and it was a savory success! Quick, easy and delicious; an excellent meal for a busy weeknight, indeed!
Sharon says
This pasta was easy to whip up using just a few simple ingredients. I will have to keep some canned tuna on hand all the time now so I can make it anytime I want.
TAYLER ROSS says
I have a ton of canned tuna (we stock up for hurricane season) so I can't wait to use it to make this delicious pasta!
Anjali says
Love this easy, budget friendly meal! It was a great lunch for our family today!