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
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.
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.
More pasta recipes on the blog you would love
Pan fried gnocchi with spinach and tomatoes
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Canned Tuna Pasta Recipe
Ingredients
- 350 g dried pasta (about 12.3 ounces ) any type and shapes of pasta works for this.
- 3 canned chunk tuna in oil drained I used 3x145g (5.1oz) canned tuna
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- ⅓ cup onion chopped
- 2 large garlic cloves chopped
- 100 g cream cheese optional
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes or as needed
- 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 al dente, 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 it into the pasta, take it off the heat and serve immediately.
Notes
- stir in some spinach to this dish for some colors 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 is not a fan of it so if capers are 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 a 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
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.
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!
Gerri Blumgold says
I tried the receipe and it worked well. I used less red pepper seasoning. I do not understand why the pasta was listed in grams and the rest of the receipe was in ounces . I had to google 350 g to see what it was in ounces. I like the receipe and I will make it again.
Guido says
Andante is interesting, but incorrect.
The term is “al dente”.
Nice recipe 👍
Miha says
AMAZING!! nothing to change; really it's addictive and you need the willpower to stop after you eat your portion:))
Ajoke says
Aw, Miha, I am glad you enjoyed this canned tuna pasta recipe and thanks for the glowing feedback.
Glynjon says
I had for my dinner with mayo and chease yum very nice
Melody says
I was craving tuna and I was craving pasta so I simply googled a recipe for canned tuna pasta and delighted to have come across this simple and delicious recipe. I didn’t have red onions on hand so I used green onions. I like heat so I added a generous portion of red pepper flakes. Yum!! Next time I’m going to try with capers. Thank you for this fantastic recipe!
Ann Kielbasa says
So easy, so quick and the possibilities are endless! I used this recipe as a base and used what I had on hand. Which were one can of tuna and 1lb of pasta. From there, I added tomatoes, spinach, peas, and garlic, b/c always need it (lol). I also made it creamy by using a little sour cream, pasta water, and parmesan cheese. So tasty, filling, and EASY!
Ajoke says
I am glad you were able to customize this recipe to your liking. Thank you for the feedback. It will surely be helpful to other readers. I appreciate it.
Jessica says
So easy and delicious. Added some corn off the cob, paired nicely. Super easy to make.
Ajoke says
I am so glad you enjoyed this recipe and also for the tip. Thank you!
Liz says
Quick and delicious recipe. The entire family enjoyed it, even the semi-picky 9 year old.
Ajoke says
Aw, I am so glad to hear that! Thank you for the feedback and a bigger thank you to the little big man!
Chloe E says
Excellent! My new go to easy dish, added peas and broccoli and broiled cheese on top.
thato says
first time making it turned out great and tastes amazing
Ajoke says
I am happy to hear that, Thato. Thank you for the feedback.
Ulfrick Wolfgang says
Top notch.
Ajoke says
Thank you for the feedback!
Banke says
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. 💞
Ajoke says
Thank you so much, Banke, I am glad you all enjoyed this recipe.