This canned tuna pasta recipe is easy, quick, and simple. Creamy, packed full of flavor, and filling, this pasta dish is perfect for weeknight dinner when you want something quick and tasty the family will love. Let me show you how to cook tuna with pasta in the best way.
Canned Tuna Pasta Recipe
This canned tuna pasta recipe is one of the easiest pasta recipes you will make. It's as simple as boiling the pasta, making the sauce, and mixing the pasta with tuna sauce!
It requires minimal prep and is quick to make. Yes, 15 minutes is all you need to make this healthy tuna pasta from scratch which makes it a perfect weeknight dinner.
Not only is it easy, and quick, this creamy tuna pasta is packed full of flavor and will get people asking for seconds.
Budget-friendly and delicious, this canned tuna with pasta is about to be on frequent rotation on your dinner table. It just hits all the right spots.
With canned tuna garlic pasta and the other few pantry ingredients, this recipe comes in handy for when there's no fresh or frozen meat.
I used heavy cream in this tuna pasta recipe however you can substitute it for coconut milk or pasta water if you don't want the extra calories of heavy cream.
If you have leftovers, tuna pasta can be easily stored and reheated. Let me show you how to make it in easy steps.
Related: Ground beef pasta, garlic butter shrimp pasta
Ingredients
Pasta- I used penne pasta for this post but you can use any type of pasta. Some other ones I have tried with this recipe are farfalle, fusilli, spaghetti, and linguine.
Canned tuna- I like to use tuna in sunflower oil as it's packed with extra flavor from the oil but you can use tuna in water. Whichever one it's best to drain the oil or water before use.
Parsley, Oregano, and basil- You can substitute these for Italian seasoning.
Smoked paprika (optional)
Garlic
Onion
Black pepper or chill flakes or cayenne pepper.
Cheese- Mozarella, or Cheddar cheese.
Vegetable oil
How To Make Tuna Pasta
Make the canned tuna sauce- Place a large skillet on medium heat.
Add oil, then add in garlic and onions (if using chopped fresh onions). Saute for a minute or two till it releases its fragrance, and it's translucent then add parsley, oregano, black pepper, and smoked paprika.
Stir then add heavy cream, coconut milk, or pasta water. Stir then add in the tuna chunks.
Cook the pasta-Bring a pot of water to boil on high heat, add salt then add the pasta. Stir and cook the pasta according to the package instructions till al dente. It usually takes 8-12 minutes to cook aldente. Reserve a cup of pasta water, and drain the pasta in a colander.
Mix- Pour the drained pasta into the sauce, add grated cheese, stir till all well combined, and cook for a minute or two. While mixing, be careful not to mash up all the tuna.
Serve- Take off heat, and serve.
Canned Tuna Pasta Variation
Tomato base- If you'd like it with tomato sauce, add chopped tomatoes, pasta sauce, or passata after sautéing the onions, and garlic, and add the herbs and spices. Cook on medium heat for 10 minutes before adding pasta. You can also add cream if you wish.
Vegetables- Some vegetables that are good in tuna pasta are sweetcorn, olives, green peas, and spinach. Add these to add more nutrients to the food. They also bulk it up.
Bake- Make baked tuna pasta by transferring the pasta to a casserole dish, top with mozzarella or cheddar cheese, and bake in the oven for 5-10 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
Garlic butter- Garlic butter is almost always a good idea. Add in 1-2 tablespoons of garlic butter for more flavor.
What To Serve With
It can be eaten on its own or served with a side dish. Some suggestions of what it can be served with are:
Coleslaw and salads
Olives
Garlic butter bread
How To Store
It's so good that we rarely have leftovers but It's easy to store. When it's completely cooled, put in an airtight container, label, and store in the fridge where it will keep well for up to 3 days or in the freezer where it'll store well for up to 3 months.
It's best to pack in individual portions so you only bring out and reheat what you need.
How To Reheat
Reheating it can be done in the microwave or oven.
To reheat tuna pasta in the microwave, put the pasta in a microwaveable bowl, sprinkle with 1-2 tablespoons of water, put it in the microwave, cover, and microwave it on high settings at 30 seconds intervals till it's warmed through.
Tips For Making Tuna Pasta
- Use any type of pasta like fusilli, bow tie, or spaghetti, however, cooking time might vary slightly.
- You can substitute the double cream/heavy cream for coconut milk or pasta water.
- Drain the tuna before use.
- Don't overcook the pasta. Check If it's done at 8 minutes or follow the instructions on the pasta package.
- Add vegetables like sweetcorn, spinach, chopped carrots, and peas if you wish.
- You can adjust the pepper quantity to how spicy you like.
- Fresh herbs can be used in place of the dried herbs if available.
- Serve hot or cold.
- Make it into a casserole by topping it with cheddar or mozzarella cheese and baking in the oven for a few minutes until the cheese is melted.
FAQS
Do you eat tuna pasta hot or cold
It can be eaten hot or cold. Serve hot for dinner, and can be served cold with salads for brunch.
Is Tuna pasta good for losing weight
Tuna is a healthy fish. It is low in fat, and high in protein and nutrients. Tuna pasta can be eaten in moderation as part of weight loss meals.
What goes well with canned tuna
As shown in this recipe, pasta goes well with tuna, Salads, coleslaw, and garlic bread are also foods that go well with canned tuna.
How long to cook tuna pasta
How long to cook canned tuna pasta is 15 minutes. It's that quick! Boiling the pasta takes between 8-12 minutes depending on the type of pasta, cooking the pasta, the sauce, and toss the pasta in sauce all in 15 minutes.
More Easy Pasta Recipes
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Canned Tuna Pasta Recipe
Equipment
- Pot
- Skillet
- Spoon
- Colander
Ingredients
- 500 g Pasta penne, fusilli, farfalle, spaghetti
- 500 g Canned tuna
- 1 small Onion or 1 teaspoon onion granules
- 4 cloves Garlic minced
- ½ tablespoon Smoked paprika
- 1.5 teaspoon dried Parsley
- ½ teaspoon Oregano
- ½ teaspoon Basil
- ½ teaspoon Black pepper or cayenne
- Salt to taste
- 2 tablespoon Vegetable oil
- 1 cup Heavy cream or coconut milk or pasta water
- ½ cup Cheese- Mozarella or Cheddar grated
Instructions
- Make the canned tuna sauce- Place a large skillet on medium heat.Add oil, then add in garlic and onions (if using chopped fresh onions). Saute for a minute or two till it releases its fragrance, and it's translucent then add parsley, oregano, basil, black pepper, salt, and smoked paprika.
- Stir then add heavy cream, coconut milk or pasta water. Drain the canned tuna and add it in.
- Cook the pasta-Bring a pot of water to boil on high heat, add salt then add the pasta. Stir and cook the pasta according to the package instructions till al dente. It usually takes 8-12 minutes to cook aldente. Reserve a cup of pasta water, drain the pasta in a colander.
- Mix- Pour in the drained pasta, and cheese, stir till all well combined and cook for a minute or two. While mixing, be careful not to mash up the all the tuna. Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Serve- Take off heat, and serve.
Notes
- Use any type of pasta like fusilli, farfalle, or spaghetti, however, cooking time might vary slightly.
- You can substitute the double cream/heavy cream for coconut milk or pasta water.
- Drain the tuna before use.
- Don't overcook the pasta. Check If it's done at 8 minutes or follow the instructions on the pasta package.
- Add vegetables like sweetcorn, spinach, chopped carrots, and peas if you wish.
- You can adjust the pepper quantity to how spicy you like.
- Fresh herbs can be used in place of the dried herbs if available.
- Best served hot can be eaten cold.
- You can make it into a casserole by topping it with cheddar or mozzarella cheese and baking it in the oven for a few minutes until the cheese is melted.
Nutrition
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