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    Home » Main Dishes

    Tuna Pesto Pasta

    Aug 21, 2023 · Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This Tuna Pesto Pasta is a quick and simple meal made from pesto, pasta, garlic & canned tuna. It takes only 15 minutes to make and is perfect for busy days. 

    Tuna pesto pasta in a skillet.

    I love pasta and I'm crazy for easy comfort pasta meals so if you are like me and you are looking for more easy comfort food pasta meals, check out my creamy spinach pasta.

    Jump to:
    • 🌟 Recipe Overview
    • 📔 Ingredients & Substitutes 
    • 🍅 Recipe variations 
    • 🥣 How to make this Tuna Pesto Pasta
    • 📖 Storage instructions
    • 🥖 Serving ideas
    • 👩🏻‍🍳 Expert Tips
    • 💬 FAQ
    • 🍝 More easy pasta recipes
    • Recipe

    🌟 Recipe Overview

    • Just 5 ingredients. This recipe requires only 5 easy accessible ingredients
    • Budget-friendly. All the ingredients for this pasta dish are very affordable.
    • It takes only 15 min to make. 
    • You can serve it warm or cold, which means you can make it ahead of time.

    📔 Ingredients & Substitutes 

    Ingredients for tuna pesto pasta on a grey stone background.

    Pasta. I like using gluten-free spaghetti but you can use any pasta of choice.

    Canned tuna. I recommend using canned tuna in olive oil but you can also use canned tuna in sunflower oil or water.

    Garlic. For best flavor use fresh garlic, if you don’t have fresh garlic you can replace it with garlic powder.

    Pesto. You can use store-bought or homemade pesto.

    Parmesan cheese. Parmesan cheese goes so well with the pesto.

    🍅 Recipe variations 

    • Olives. Stir a needful of roughly chopped olives just before serving.
    • Creamy tuna pesto pasta. To get a creamier texture stir in two tablespoons of cream cheese with the pesto.
    • Peas or sweet corn. For a bit of texture add ½ cup frozen peas or sweet corn right adding the garlic.
    • Tomatoes. Slice some cherry tomatoes and stir in just before serving.
    • Mushrooms. Slice a handful of button mushrooms and fry them before adding the garlic.
    • Arugula. Add arugula just before serving.

    🥣 How to make this Tuna Pesto Pasta

    STEP 1 - COOK THE PASTA

    Bring salted water to a boil and cook the pasta of your choice according to the packaging instructions.

    STEP 2 - COMBINE TUNA WITH PESTO AND PASTA

    Heat olive oil over medium-high heat in a wide skillet or saucepan, add garlic, and cook for 30 seconds.

    Add the tuna together with the oil. Break the tuna and saute just until heated.

    Turn off the heat and stir in the pasta and the pesto. Add a bit of the pasta water if it is needed. Serve with freshly grated parmesan cheese.

    Collage with two photos showing cooking garlic and tuna in a skillet.
    Collage with two photos showing tuna with spaghetti and pesto in a skillet.

    📖 Storage instructions

    You can store this pasta covered in the fridge for up to 2 days. You can enjoy it cold as pasta salad or reheated in the microwave.

    🥖 Serving ideas

    This tuna pesto pasta goes so well with crunchy garlic bread or garlic knots.

    Tuna pesto pasta on a plate with parmesan cheese.

    👩🏻‍🍳 Expert Tips

    • Keep a little bit of pasta water to help loosen the pesto.
    • Cook the pasta al dente and don’t over-mix it with the pesto as you might end up breaking it.

    💬 FAQ

    Can I use canned tuna in water?

    I prefer using canned tuna in oil because it has more flavor. However you can use canned tuna in water, just make sure to drain it well from the water before adding it to the pasta

    Can I use different types of pesto?

    I like using basil pesto but you can use any pesto of choice.

    🍝 More easy pasta recipes

    • Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta
    • Pasta with Creamy Beet Sauce
    • Pasta with Creamy Pumpkin Sauce

    Did you make this? Tell me about it! Leave a ⭐ REVIEW and COMMENT below!

    Recipe

    Tuna Pesto Spaghetti with parmesan cheese in a skillet.

    Tuna Pesto Pasta

    Gluten Free Stories
    This Tuna Pesto Pasta is a quick and simple meal made from pesto, pasta, garlic & canned tuna. It takes only 15 minutes to make and is perfect for busy days. 
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate this Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 15 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 3
    Calories 1053 kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 12 oz pasta of choice
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 2 garlic cloves
    • 2 cans of tuna in oil 10-12oz
    • 1 cup pesto
    • ⅓ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

    Instructions
     

    • Bring salted water to a boil and cook the pasta of your choice according to packaging instructions.
    • Heat olive oil over medium-high heat in a wide skillet or saucepan, add garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
    • Add the tuna together with the oil. Break the tuna and saute just until heated.
    • Turn off the heat and stir in the pasta and the pesto. Add a bit of the pasta water if it is needed.
    • Serve with freshly grated parmesan cheese.

    Notes

    • Keep a little bit of pasta water to help loosen the pesto.
    • Cook the pasta al dente and don’t over-mix it with the pesto as you might end up breaking it.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1servingCalories: 1053kcalCarbohydrates: 92gProtein: 56gFat: 49gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 35mgSodium: 1430mgPotassium: 506mgFiber: 5gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 1841IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 307mgIron: 4mg
    Keyword Tuna Pesto Pasta
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