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This canned tuna pasta recipe is quick, healthy, and comforting. It’s the perfect recipe when you don’t have a lot in your pantry!
You may also like my Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad or my Canned Salmon Pasta recipes.
Why you’ll love it
This tuna garlic pasta recipe takes me back to my childhood. My mom used to make something similar when I was a kid, and I just loved it. I’ve even made this with just tuna, garlic, and olive oil when I’m in a rush and I really have nothing in the fridge.
I never put this recipe on the blog because I wasn’t sure people would like it even though I know it tastes great. I did a little research, and there definitely is demand for canned tuna pasta, so I figured I’d do it! If you’re busy with after school activities, this tuna spaghetti recipe is one way to save some time and keep your sanity.
What you’ll need
- Pasta – I use spaghetti
- Olive oil – for the base of the sauce
- Garlic – use even more than suggested if you’re a big fan. I like using a garlic press to easily mince the cloves.
- Tuna – the star of this inexpensive pasta recipe! I recommend using a can of tuna packed in oil for maximum flavor.
- Lemon juice – for a pop of acidity and brightness
- Parsley – a little freshness and herb flavor
Pro tip
Check out the comments section below for reader suggestions to change up this simple tuna pasta!
How to make tuna pasta
This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
Cook the pasta until al dente. Meanwhile, prep the other ingredients. When the pasta is almost done, heat up the oil in a saucepan. Once hot, add the garlic and cook until fragrant. Stir in the tuna, lemon juice, and chopped parsley.
Let it heat through. Once the pasta is done, drain it, reserving some of the pasta water. Add a couple of tablespoons of it to the sauce. Toss the spaghetti with the sauce, and season with salt & pepper as needed.
Substitutions and variations
- This healthy tuna pasta recipe can be jazzed up or even made more simple than it already is. For the photos I added some grated parmesan cheese and a little lemon zest (I used the same handy tool to do both so it took me like 30 seconds), but in real life I don’t usually bother.
- I like to add a handful of fresh spinach and let it wilt at the end. Sometimes I cut a handful of little tomatoes (grape, cherry, etc.) into halves and then toss them in and cook until they’ve softened.
- My mom would sometimes chop up celery leaves instead of using parsley, but I never have those on hand, so parsley it is!
What to serve with tuna pasta
- Try a big slice of Cheesy Garlic Bread or fresh crusty bread to round it out.
- I like serving this pasta with a salad. My Super Simple Parmesan Arugula Salad is really quick.
Leftovers and storage
- This tuna pasta is best eaten fresh, but it’ll keep for a few days in the fridge in a covered container.
- Reheat leftovers in a saucepan over a low heat until warmed through.
- I don’t recommend freezing the sauce. Because it’s a small quantity and so simple, it’s worth making fresh each time.
Will you give this easy canned tuna pasta a go? What’s your favorite clean-out-the-pantry recipe? Questions? Talk to me in the comments below! You can also find me on Instagram.
Easy Canned Tuna Pasta
Ingredients
- 4 ounces uncooked pasta (I used spaghetti)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 large cloves garlic minced
- 1 (5 ounce) can tuna, drained I prefer tuna packed in oil
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Boil a salted pot of water for your pasta and cook it al dente according to package directions. Prep your other ingredients while it cooks.
- When the pasta is close to being ready, add the oil to a small pan over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the garlic and cook it for 30 seconds.
- Stir in the tuna, lemon juice, and parsley. Let it heat through.
- Once the pasta is done, add some of the pasta water (a couple tablespoons) to the sauce and then drain the pasta and toss with the sauce. Season with salt & pepper as needed. Optional: serve pasta with freshly grated parmesan cheese and lemon zest.
Notes
- See blog post for some ideas on recipe variations!
- This pasta can also be found on page 27 of the Salt & Lavender: Everyday Essentials hardcover cookbook.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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This is fabulous and so straightforward to make. It ticks all the boxes: quick, easy, store cupboard ingredients and popular with everyone. Many of the tweaks on the comments seem interesting, my own very simple one was a couple of handfulls of cherry tomatoes. Thanks so much for this recipe.
I am so glad you liked it, Doug!! I was definitely quite surprised how popular this recipe has become, but obviously I am happy about it haha.
I am planning on making this tonight and am unsure about wether or not to drain the tuna.
Sorry, I misread.
No worries! Hope you like it! 🙂
This was super easy to make and really fast too! Im pregnant and have been craving tuna and this was amazing. I did add condensed tomato sauce with the tuna and loved it like that as well. Thank you so much for posting this.
Great! I am so happy it was a hit. 🙂
Added a bit of tarragon, and used capers instead of salt. Also added red bell pepper and sugar snap peas to level up the veggies and color. Will make again. Thanks for the inspiration!
You are very welcome!
Sounds yummy! Have you ever tried it with zucchini noodles instead of pasta?? I am doing the whole low carb thang 😉
Hi! I haven’t tried this particular recipe with zoodles, but I think it would definitely taste delicious!! Just toss them with the sauce for a few minutes and that should soften them up a bit. 🙂
Hello! This was a very quick, easy and delicious recipe that I made for lunch today. I found it through Pinterest. Thanks a lot 🙂
So happy you liked it, Kirstine! Thanks for leaving a sweet comment. 🙂
Delcious! Would you happen to know the nutritional facts? Thanks
Thanks! I do not. I am not a trained nutritionist, and I don’t really trust the online nutrition calculators out there. If you want to know calorie info, I suggest plugging the exact ingredients you’ve used into one of the free calorie calculators out there. Calories in this recipe can vary a lot… depending on the size of the can of tuna you use, whether the tuna is packed in oil or water or not, what type of pasta you use, etc.
The baby napped through my only chance to go grocery shopping today, so tried to find a recipe for what I had in the house. This was easy, tasty, and (most important of all) picky toddler approved! I made it with pastina instead of spaghetti. Thanks!!
You’re very welcome!! So glad it worked out. 🙂
Delicious! I added shallots, mayonnaise (non-sweetened; a table spoon), grated parmigiano and capers and I used freshly chopped celery leaves from my garden. A hit with my family and will definitely make this again.
I’m so glad you liked it! Your additions sound delicious!
What a great recipe! It’s simple, fast, very economical and delicious! Even two of my pickiest eaters ate some and said they liked it. Thanks for sharing!
That’s awesome!! So happy it worked out.