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    Home » Main Dishes » Canned Tuna Pasta Recipe

    Published: Jun 1, 2020 · Modified: Sep 16, 2022 by Ajoke · This post may contain affiliate links ·

    Canned Tuna Pasta Recipe

    Skip to Recipe - Print Recipe

    Canned tuna pasta! This is one of the cheapest yet delicious pasta recipe you can have on your table within minutes on a busy weeknight. It is quick, simple, packed full of flavour, more importantly, it uses a handful of ingredients you may already have in your pantry.

    Let me show you how to make this super easy recipe in four steps. Boil, Saute, Mix and serve. I love to serve Tuna pasta with homemade garlic bread.

    Tuna Pasta Recipe

    When I was eating this canned tuna pasta, the words that kept ringing in my ears were “The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, without any grief” Prov 10:22. Before you ask, I don’t know why these words came to me, but I reckon the simplicity of today’s post played a part to it

    How easy can easy be with tuna pasta dish. This dish literally takes 15 minutes to make. It doesn’t require any stress and yet it comes out busting with flavours from the simple ingredients used. This dish is mildly creamy as I wanted to keep it healthy so I added half a tub of cream cheese to it just to jazz it up a bit.

    Yes, I am justifying my passage by saying, you can make beautiful dishes in your kitchen that is not only cheap but also easy to make with delicious flavours and satisfied tummies too. 

     great examples of related recipes on the blogs are lemon garlic pasta and instant pot ramen noodles.

    Why this canned tuna pasta recipe is so good

    I sound like a broken record already but canned tuna pasta is an affordable dish. This recipe would cost you less than £3 to make

    Even your fussiest would eat this dish, especially when served with a side of homemade garlic bread. My kids love this pasta dish and I am not about to give it away that it only takes about 10 to 15 minutes to make.

    You can use any pasta you have at hand

    One of the beauties of this simple pasta dish is that you can cook the pasta and the sauce simultaneously. If the pasta will take 10 minutes to cook, prep the other ingredients while this is happening.

    The leftover from the recipe makes a great lunch the next day and it keeps well in the fridge too for some few days.

    Ingredients

    Pasta, any type and shapes of pasta works for this recipe from spaghetti to linguine to fusilli etc

    Canned chunk tuna in oil, I prefer to use this as to the one in the brine or spring water. Also, I find the canned tuna in oil chunkier than the other.

    Olive oil, swap this with any flavourless cooking oil you have.

    Onion

    Fresh garlic cloves

    Cream cheese, this is optional as you also use parmesan cheese or any other cheese of choice.

    Red pepper flakes, swap for cayenne pepper to make it spicier.

    Pasta water

    salt and freshly ground black pepper

    ingredients

    How to make canned tuna pasta

    boil the pasta with salt according to packet instructions until andante, in my case, I cooked the pasta in my instant pot pressure cooker on high pressure for 4 minutes then carefully did a quick release.

    While the pasta is cooking, chop the onions and garlic and drain the tuna if you haven’t already. When the pasta is cooked, reserve some pasta water and drain the pasta.

    Place a pan on medium heat and add olive oil and heat until hot. Add chopped onions a and sauté for about 2 minutes then add the chopped garlic and continue to saute until soft and fragrant

    Lower the heat and add the red pepper flakes then stir to combine.

    sauteed onions in a pan  over the heat.

    Add the drained pasta and stir into the sautéed aromatic then followed by the cream cheese and pasta water. Stir thoroughly to combine.

    Finally, add the drained tuna and mix into the pasta stirring carefully so as not to break the fish too much. Finish off with some chopped parsley, stir into the pasta, take it off the heat and serve immediately.

    Tips

    • Stir in some spinach to this dish for some colours and obviously to make it healthier. I didn’t have any at hand when I made this recipe
    • I love capers with tuna but my family are not a fan of it so if capers is for you, add it to this dish. So good.
    • Adjust red pepper flakes to suit your taste or go hard by making it spicy.
    • Add a squeeze of lemon juice if desired
    • Bake your tuna pasta or make it into casserole if desired. When making this, make sure you have some sauce in the final dish before baking so it doesn’t come out dry.
    • Make this recipe gluten free by using gluten free pasta.

    How to store

    In the fridge, this recipe would stay fresh in the fridge for up to 5 days in an airtight container at the right temperature.

    Tuna pasta can be frozen for up to 3 months, make sure the pasta is completely cooled before storing away.

    Bowl of pasta with a garnish of parsley leaf.

    More pasta recipes on the blog you would love

    Instant pot chicken pasta

    Salmon pasta without cream

    Creamy mushroom pasta

    Creamy cajun chicken pasta

    Broccoli pasta

    Pan fried gnocchi with spinach and tomatoes

    Quick spaghetti Bolognese

    If you made this canned tuna pasta recipe, don’t forget to leave me feedback. Tag me @thedinnerbite on Instagram and save away to your Pinterest. Please subscribe to the blog if you haven’t for free new recipes in your inbox

    a bowl of canned tuna pasta.

    Canned Tuna Pasta Recipe

    Ajoke
    Canned tuna pasta! This is one of the cheapest yet delicious pasta recipe you can have on your table within minutes on a busy weeknight. It is quick, simple, packed full of flavour, more importantly, it uses a handful of ingredients you may already have in your pantry. Let me show you how to make this super easy recipe in four steps
    5 from 16 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Total Time 15 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American, British, Italian
    Servings 4
    Calories 483 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 350 g dried pasta any type and shapes of pasta works for this
    • 3 canned chunk tuna in oil drained
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • ⅓ cup onion chopped
    • 2 large garlic cloves chopped
    • 100 g cream cheese optional
    • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
    • ½ cup pasta water
    • ½ teaspoon salt to taste then more to cook the pasta
    • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

    Instructions
     

    • Boil the pasta with salt according to packet instructions until andante, in my case, I cooked the pasta in my instant pot pressure cooker on high pressure for 4 minutes then carefully did a quick release. While the pasta is cooking, chop the onions and garlic and drain the tuna if you haven’t already. When the pasta is cooked, reserve some pasta water, and drain the pasta.
    • Place a pan on medium heat and add olive oil and heat until hot. Add chopped onions a and sauté for about 2 minutes then add the chopped garlic and continue to saute until soft and fragrant
    • Lower the heat and add the red pepper flakes then stir to combine.
    • Add the drained pasta and stir into the sautéed aromatic then followed by the cream cheese and pasta water. Stir thoroughly to combine. Finally, add the drained tuna and mix into the pasta stirring carefully so as not to break the fish too much. Check for salt and adjust accordingly.
      Finish off with some chopped parsley, stir into the pasta, take it off the heat and serve immediately.

    Notes

    Tips
    stir in some spinach to this dish for some colours and obviously to make it healthier. I didn’t have any at hand when I made this recipe
    I love capers with tuna but my family are not a fan of it so if capers is for you, add it to this dish. So good.
    Adjust red pepper flakes to suit your taste or go hard by making it spicy.
    Add a squeeze of lemon juice if desired
    Bake your tuna pasta or make it into casserole if desired. When making this, make sure you have some sauce in the final dish before baking so it doesn’t come out dry.
    Make this recipe gluten-free by using gluten-free pasta.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 483kcalCarbohydrates: 69gProtein: 13gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 28mgSodium: 99mgPotassium: 259mgFiber: 3gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 484IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 49mgIron: 1mg

    Nutritional data: Please note that the nutrition label provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. It will vary based on the specific ingredients and brands you use. Under no circumstances will thedinnerbite.com be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information.

    Keyword canned tuna pasta recipe, how to make tuna pasta, tuna pasta, tuna pasta recipe
    Tried this recipe?Mention @thedinnerbite or tag #thedinnerbite!
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? PLEASE RATE IT AND LEAVE ME A COMMENT. USE #THEDINNERBITE OR TAG @THEDINNERBITE ON INSTAGRAM SO I CAN SEE YOUR PHOTOS, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOUR CREATIONS. THANK YOU!

    1375 shares

    Filed Under: Main Dishes, Meatless Monday Tagged With: 10 ingredients or less, 15 minutes recipes, quick and easy

    About Ajoke

    Hello, Nice to meet you! Welcome and thanks for visiting my food blog "The Dinner Bite". Feel free to browse through, you are guaranteed nothing here but a yummy experience

    Previous Post: « Honey Sriracha Chicken Wings Recipe
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jessica says

      July 17, 2022 at 6:37 pm

      So easy and delicious. Added some corn off the cob, paired nicely. Super easy to make.

      Reply
      • Ajoke says

        July 18, 2022 at 12:21 pm

        I am so glad you enjoyed this recipe and also for the tip. Thank you!

        Reply
    2. Liz says

      June 03, 2022 at 12:14 am

      5 stars
      Quick and delicious recipe. The entire family enjoyed it, even the semi-picky 9 year old.

      Reply
      • Ajoke says

        June 04, 2022 at 8:06 am

        Aw, I am so glad to hear that! Thank you for the feedback and a bigger thank you to the little big man!

        Reply
    3. Chloe E says

      July 16, 2021 at 6:44 pm

      5 stars
      Excellent! My new go to easy dish, added peas and broccoli and broiled cheese on top.

      Reply
    4. thato says

      July 15, 2021 at 3:54 pm

      5 stars
      first time making it turned out great and tastes amazing

      Reply
      • Ajoke says

        July 16, 2021 at 3:58 pm

        I am happy to hear that, Thato. Thank you for the feedback.

        Reply
    5. Ulfrick Wolfgang says

      July 09, 2021 at 12:53 pm

      5 stars
      Top notch.

      Reply
      • Ajoke says

        July 13, 2021 at 8:41 pm

        Thank you for the feedback!

        Reply
    6. Banke says

      June 01, 2020 at 6:33 pm

      5 stars
      Couldn't think of what to make for dinner for my fam and thankfully came across your post on Instagram, had all the ingredients at home so that was cool. Tweaked it a bit and yum!!!! My little one who is a very picky eater ate it all up! Thank you so much Ajoke. 💞

      Reply
      • Ajoke says

        June 01, 2020 at 9:05 pm

        Thank you so much, Banke, I am glad you all enjoyed this recipe.

        Reply

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