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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 for 30 seconds. 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!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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What a great and delicious recipe! I am a busy bachelor who works a lot of hours and don’t have time to cook labor intensive healthy meals during the week. I have been trying to eat healthier and this fits the bill perfectly. I did tweak this recipe a little and swapped out the parsley for some frozen artichoke hearts that had been thawed out in the fridge and used whole wheat egg noodles instead because that is what I had on hand. However the base recipe I used was the same. Thank you for this great recipe, I plan on making this often.
I’m so happy you liked it, Brad!! Love the artichoke hearts idea. 🙂
Thank you for recipe! I’m on a meatless diet; and this is definitely gonna be my new favorite meal!!! Adding the Italian dressing and tomato for added zesty zing 😋.
Love this recipe! I was looking for something quick and easy. This hit the spot. I added black olives for an added touch. Yum!
So glad you liked it, Nicole!
This was absolutely delish! So simple and yet so good. I had everything on hand. Definitely a keeper. Very budget friendly. Thank you.
GG
So happy you liked it!
I made this. Seemed a little dry. Added some heavy cream, cream cheese, old bay seasoning and frozen peas. Nice a creamy. Great taste. I have never eaten warm tuna before. Pretty good.
Love your ideas, Dan!
I was looking for something a little lighter than my usual tuna with cream cheese, or tuna with tomato and basil sauce. This fits the bill perfectly! I’ve used garlic, parsley, and lemon for chicken before, but never thought to switch the chicken for tuna! My youngest son had requested “something with tuna” and this went down very well with everyone! Many thanks!
I’m so glad you all liked it!!
Loved this! Added the artichoke hearts as well and some kalamata olives we had on hand since we needed to use them up. We didn’t have tuna in olive oil but can imagine that would make it even better. Delicious recipe. Thank you!!
You’re welcome! 🙂
Delicious, quick, inexpensive and protein packed! All I had in my pantry were rice Ramen Noodles. Light and perfect – love it!
Awesome!! So glad you liked it! 🙂
I really enjoyed this recipe. Well done!
So glad to hear it!
I thank you for this, I’ve been trying to change the way I eat for gaining muscle mass and just to eat healthier purposes and tuna was a staple food in doing so but I just couldn’t find anything good to do with it before I stumbled upon this!
Only thing I did was add a little Italian Dressing for more flavor but great recipe!
I eat this a lot for the same reasons haha. The pasta gives me energy for the weight training, and the tuna is protein. So glad you liked it!
Oh my God. Amazing recipe, my husband loved it. The only thing different I added was some butter and fill for more taste.
I’m so happy it was a hit!
I make similar dish, but adding more lemon, some zest and a couple of cans of artichoke quarters makes it a perfect dish for us. This is good warm or cold., and really nice cold, on a hot night in summer.
Love the artichoke hearts idea!
Hello!
I came on here a few weeks ago looking for a [edited] recipe. :/
I made it today for the first time and it was really good! I added artichoke hearts per a few comments. Thank you.
I am so happy you enjoyed it, Becca! (I edited your comment because I’m going thru and editing any comments that mention the buzzwords to do with what we’re dealing with now… apparently search engines like Google can ding me for it, so I am being cautious).
I came looking for inspiration for some unloved cans of tuna languishing in my store cupboard and yours was the perfect recipe! I added some frozen peas to mine, which needed using up too. Absolutely delicious and so quick and easy to make. So glad I found your blog, I will be back again I’m sure! Thank you.
Excellent!! Thank you for commenting! 😀
Look delicious! I am going to try it.
Enjoy!
Beautiful
Thank you!!