Quick & Easy Canned Tuna Pasta
User Reviews
5
-
Prep Time
5 mins
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Cook Time
10 mins
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Total Time
15 mins
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Servings
4
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Calories
413 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
American
Quick & Easy Canned Tuna Pasta
Description
Quick & Easy Canned Tuna Pasta combines simple pantry ingredients to make a light yet satisfying meal. Cooked spaghetti is tossed with a warm sauce of tuna packed in oil, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, and optional capers. Red pepper flakes provide a subtle heat. The sauce gains a smooth texture by incorporating salted pasta water, which binds the ingredients and coats the noodles evenly. Fresh parsley adds herbal freshness, and garnishes like lemon zest and grated Parmesan can brighten and enrich the flavors. This dish works well as a quick weeknight dinner and can be customized with additions like white beans or leafy greens for extra nutrition.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces spaghetti or other pasta
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2-3 cloves garlic minced
- Pinch red pepper flakes
- 2 cans tuna packed in oil, drained, 5 oz each
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons capers (optional)
- 2 tablespoons parsley chopped, fresh
- salt kosher salt
- black pepper kosher salt
Optional garnishes:
- parsley chopped parsley, lemon zest, grated parmesan cheese
- lemon
- Parmesan Cheese
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving about 1 cup of the pasta water.
- While the pasta is cooking, make the sauce. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and add the garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook 30 seconds until fragrant. Add the tuna, lemon juice, capers, and parsley and stir to break the tuna up. Cook 2-3 minutes to heat the ingredients through.
- Add the drained spaghetti and about ¼ cup of the reserved pasta water to the skillet. Toss everything together until a smooth sauce forms coating the pasta. Add more pasta water as needed. Taste and season the pasta with salt and pepper.
- Garnish the pasta with fresh parsley, lemon zest, and/or grated parmesan cheese, if desired.
Notes
- Reserve some pasta water while cooking; its starch helps create a silky sauce.
- Choose high-quality tuna packed in olive oil for better flavor and texture.
- Add white beans to boost protein and make the dish more filling.
- Include vegetables like baby spinach, arugula, peas, or tomatoes to increase nutrition.
- For a creamier sauce, stir in some cream cheese before serving.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 413 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 0g | |
| Calories | 413kcal | 21% |
| Carbohydrates | 43g | 14% |
| Protein | 22g | 44% |
| Fat | 17g | 26% |
| Saturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2g | 12% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 11g | 55% |
| Cholesterol | 23mg | 8% |
| Sodium | 367mg | 15% |
| Potassium | 316mg | 7% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 2g | 4% |
| Vitamin A | 247IU | 5% |
| Vitamin C | 5mg | 6% |
| Calcium | 29mg | 3% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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