Easy Canned Tuna Pasta

I turn to this meal when I dread going to the grocery store and need to raid the pantry for an easy to throw together dinner instead. The recipe relies on canned or jarred tuna, dried pasta, onions, garlic, frozen peas and a bit of Calabrian chili paste. Check out more ideas using canned fish here.

Easy Canned Tuna Pasta 

Key Ingredients in This Recipe 

• Tuna – This recipe used canned or jarred oil-packed tuna filets. They are already cooked and stored in olive oil for a fairly in-expensive and shelf-stable protein that’s easy to keep in the pantry. Because the tuna is already cooked, there is no need to cook it again in this dish. I simply add it at the end to keep its texture without drying it out. 
• Pasta – While I use spaghetti for this recipe, you can use another long noodle like bucatini or smaller shapes like shells or gamelli. You can really use what you have in your pantry for this one. 
• Peas – I use frozen sweet peas to add some vegetables to this pasta dish. Fresh shelled English peas can easily be swapped for the frozen peas if you have them on hand. 
• Garlic – Slices of garlic are sautéed in olive oil until fragrant. Because this recipe is so simple it relies on aromatics like garlic to establish a lot of the flavor in this dish. 
• Calabrian chilies – This spicy mixture is made from crushed and oil-packed Calabrian chili peppers; a smoky and sweet pepper that adds a lot of flavor and just the right amount of spice. It’s optional, since the dish can easily be made without it for a mild alternative. If using the peppers, a little goes a long way. Find it online here. If you only have whole jarred Calabrian chilies, substitute 2 finely diced peppers. 

How to Make Canned Tuna Pasta

Step 1: Cook pasta

Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil. Add the pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, about 8 to 10 minutes. Reserve 1 cup of the cooking liquid, then drain the noodles and set aside.

Step 2:Sauté onions

Return the large pot to medium heat, add the oil and heat through. Add the butter and allow to melt then add the onion and sauté until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and continue to sauté until fragrant, about an additional 30 seconds.

Step 3: Add peas

Stir in the Calabrian chili paste (if using) and frozen peas, stirring until the peas have heated through

Step 4: Combine remaining ingredients

Return the pasta to the pot and toss to combine, adding ½ cup (118g) of the pasta cooking water. Add the tuna, lemon zest, lemon juice and parsley to the pot, tossing to combine just to break up the large pieces and heat.

Step 5: Serve

Divide among warmed pasta bowls and serve.

Easy Canned Tuna Pasta

Print Pin

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Serves 4

US Customary – Metric

Ingredients:

• ½ pound spaghetti
• ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• ½ medium yellow onion, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, sliced
• 1 teaspoon Calabrian chili paste (optional)
• 1½ cups frozen sweet peas
• 2 (6-ounce) jars oil-packed tuna, drained
• Kosher salt, as needed
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
• ½ cup packed flat-leaf parsley, chopped

Instructions:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil. Add the pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, about 8 to 10 minutes. Reserve 1 cup of the cooking liquid, then drain the noodles and set aside.
• Return the large pot to medium heat, add the oil and heat through. Add the butter and allow to melt then add the onion and sauté until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and continue to sauté until fragrant, about an additional 30 seconds.
• Stir in the Calabrian chili paste (if using) and frozen peas, stirring until the peas have heated through.
• Return the pasta to the pot and toss to combine, adding ½ cup (118g) of the pasta cooking water. Add the tuna, lemon zest, lemon juice and parsley to the pot, tossing to combine just to break up the large pieces and heat.
• Divide among warmed pasta bowls and serve.

DID YOU MAKE THIS?

TAG ME ON INSTAGRAM TO BE FEATURED ON MY STORIES! @cookingwithcocktailrings

This page may contain affiliate links. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support so I can continue to share recipes with you!