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    Home » Recipes » Pasta

    Easy Canned Tuna Pasta

    Modified: Feb 10, 2026 · Published: Sep 5, 2023 by Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy 164 Comments

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    This easy canned tuna pasta recipe is just what you need for busy weeknights. With some pantry staples, dinner is ready in minutes.

    Tuna and pasta go hand in hand. This healthy pasta dish has lots of delicious Mediterranean flavours. Leftovers are perfect for lunch too.

    Canned tuna pasta with tomatoes, olives and capers.

    Easy canned tuna pasta recipe that is quick, healthy, tasty and economical. A pantry friendly meal in minutes.

    This easy tuna recipe is similar to pasta al tonno (pasta with tomatoes and tuna). With the addition of capers, olives and feta cheese, it turns into a Mediterranean fast food masterpiece.

    Canned tuna recipes are budget-friendly and easy to prepare. Remember that tuna noodle casserole from my childhood? My quinoa tuna casserole is a modern twist on that classic dish.

    Mediterranean tuna salad is another family favourite. You can make it into a great tuna sandwich too. Don’t stop there, this avocado tuna sandwich is so delicious.

    If you love easy dinner recipes that include pasta, this recipe for one pan baked gnocchi is a must for sure.

    Canned Tuna Pasta Toss easy dinner recipe.

    Canned Tuna Pasta Ingredients

    You really only need a few simple ingredients to make this easy dinner recipe.

    • canned tuna (in oil)
    • capers
    • Italian seasoning
    • cherry tomatoes
    • salt and pepper
    • olive oil
    • pasta
    • feta cheese
    • black olives

    For the most part, everyone will have the majority of these ingredients as staples in their kitchen cupboards. That is why this is such an easy meal to make. You can even make it gluten-free. Be sure to check out the suggestions below.

    Easy Tuna Pasta For Dinner

    This pasta recipe comes together quickly. Full instructions are in the recipe card below.

    • Get the pasta water boiling.
    • Wash and cut the tomatoes.
    • Open and drain the tuna.

    See, so much done in just 5 minutes.

    Fried capers for tuna pasta recipe.
    • Heat the oil in a pan.
    • Fry the capers. Such a great touch to the recipe.

    By now your water is boiling. Add your pasta of choice and cook according to package directions. The rest is easy peasy.

    Canned tuna and tomatoes getting cooked for the tuna pasta toss.Pin
    • Take out the capers and set aside.
    • Add the tomatoes, tuna, and seasonings to the pan.
    • Cook for a few minutes.
    • Drain your pasta, add to the pan, and toss.
    Gluten free pasta getting added to the pan, Tuna Pasta Toss is almost ready to eat.
    • See, told you it is quick and easy.
    • All you have to do is garnish with the cheese and olives.
    • Serve and enjoy.
    Canned tuna and pasta for a quick budget-friendly meal.

    Suggestions / Recipe Tips

    • Pasta can be any variety you like. You can I even use gluten-free pasta and it works great.
    • Canned tuna is so versatile. I used tuna in oil, but feel free to use any kind you like.
    • Tomatoes should be fresh. I like cherry tomatoes in this recipe, but any variety will work. If you have large tomatoes on hand, just dice them up.
    • Cheese is so delicious. I love feta in this recipe but feel free to use any kind you like.
    • Capers are such a great addition to this recipe. Be sure to fry them as it really takes them to another level of yum.
    • Olives can be any kind you like. I used black but green, purple, or a mixture will be delicious as well.
    Easy pasta and canned tuna recipe.

    Store leftovers in a sealed container placed in the fridge. It will last for several days. This recipe gets bonus points since leftovers can be eaten cold, making it a great lunch option.

    Simple canned tuna with pasta.

    This is the best canned tuna recipe we have ever eaten. What an economical way to feed your family. So much cheaper than take-out. Nutritious, delicious, and easy to make. Who says tuna from a can is not delicious?

    Canned Tuna In Water Or Oil?

    Really the choice is yours. Both are totally delicious. For me, it all comes down to the recipe I am making. 

    In our house, if I am making a cold tuna pasta salad, (especially if I am adding mayo) I prefer canned tuna in water. It has fewer calories and retains more omega-3s. If I am making a hot tuna pasta recipe, I prefer canned tuna in oil.

    Canned tuna is also available in solid and chunk form, and classed as white or light. Either option works for all recipes. Solid tuna tends to be more expensive. Sometimes I do find the chunky tuna can be on the mushy side (depending on the brand). White tuna is Albacore. Light tunas consist of Skipjack, Yellowfin, and Tongol.

    You may also enjoy these canned fish recipes:

    • Sardine Pasta
    • Mackerel Salad
    • Salmon Loaf

    CLICK THE SUBSCRIBE BUTTON located in the TOP MENU. You will get recipes delivered to your inbox ONCE A WEEK.

    Tuna with pasta pin.Pin
    Canned tuna pasta with tomatoes, olives and capers.

    Easy Canned Tuna Pasta

    Easy canned tuna pasta recipe that is quick, healthy, tasty and economical. A pantry friendly meal in minutes.
    5 from 124 votes
    Pin Recipe Print Rate Save To Your Recipe Box Saved!
    Course: Main Course, Main Dish
    Cuisine: Mediterranean
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 402kcal
    Author: Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
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    Ingredients

    • 10 ounces dried pasta (I used gluten-free pasta)
    • 4 teaspoons capers (drained)
    • 1 pound cherry tomatoes
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil (I used flavoured olive oil)
    • 8 ounces canned tuna (packed in oil)
    • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
    • ¼ cup black olives (sliced)
    • ¼ cup feta cheese (crumbled)
    • salt & pepper (to taste)
    US Customary – Metric

    Instructions

    • Put on a large pot of water to boil. Once boiling, add the pasta and cook until your desired level of doneness.
    • Wash the tomatoes, cut in half. Set aside.
    • Open the tuna, drain, flake and set aside.
    • Heat a large (non-stick) skillet to medium-high. Add the olive oil.
    • Fry the capers until crisp, and remove from pan. Set aside.
    • To the pan add the tomatoes, tuna, and seasonings. 
    • Drain the pasta, reserving a cupful of water.
    • Add the water to the pan. Cook until ingredients are heated through.
    • Add the pasta and capers. TOSS!
    • Place in serving bowls and garnish with olives and feta cheese.

    Nutrition Information

    Calories: 402kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 28mg | Sodium: 448mg | Potassium: 518mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 675IU | Vitamin C: 25.8mg | Calcium: 102mg | Iron: 3mg

    Notes

    If you are lucky enough to have leftovers, lunch the next day is made. This tastes great cold too.
    Feel free to use canned tuna in water if you want to cut down on calories.
     
    Tried this recipe?Take a picture and tag @homemadeandyummy
    Nutritional information on this site is generated via a plugin. I am not responsible for the accuracy of the plugin information.

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    MEET THE AUTHOR

    Gloria Duggan is the author for Homemade & Yummy, where she creates fun and easy recipes. She is also a brand ambassador/influencer for well-known companies. Gloria has judged food competitions and has posted about local food events. Gloria's work has been featured in magazines, and she has been interviewed on several podcasts. Read More…

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jamie

      September 18, 2023 at 5:14 pm

      Oh my, this dish looks amazingly delicious! It almost has everything we want! Tuna is such a perfect and great stuff we all want then combine it with pasta! It’s just so perfect! Loved it!

      Reply
      • Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy

        September 19, 2023 at 8:26 am

        So glad you enjoyed this easy to make tuna pasta.

    2. Amy Liu Dong

      September 18, 2023 at 11:01 am

      Love this! It is easy and quick to make and the tuna still taste so good!

      Reply
      • Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy

        September 19, 2023 at 8:27 am

        This is an easy meal for busy weeknights that doubles as lunch too.

    3. Moop Brown

      September 18, 2023 at 12:54 am

      I like how quick and easy to make this recipe is. Seems perfect for busy weeknights.

      Reply
      • Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy

        September 18, 2023 at 8:43 am

        I agree, this is perfect for busy weeknights. ENJOY!

    4. Krysten

      September 17, 2023 at 9:32 pm

      I love this tuna pasta toss! The feta cheese and olives are my favorite. Going to make this for my meal prep lunch for the week. So easy and a perfect light meal.

      Reply
      • Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy

        September 18, 2023 at 8:43 am

        We love the combination of feta and olives too.

    5. Tristin

      September 17, 2023 at 8:49 pm

      This made a filling and delicious dinner. Bonus points for there being leftovers to take to work and still tasted great!

      Reply
      • Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy

        September 18, 2023 at 8:43 am

        It’s great to have tasty leftovers that is for sure.

    6. Enriqueta E Lemoine

      September 17, 2023 at 8:39 pm

      We just have this tuna pasta toss. It was a total success. Easy, delicious, and very Mediterranean. Thanks for the recipe and the inspiration.

      Reply
      • Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy

        September 18, 2023 at 8:44 am

        You are very welcome, so glad you enjoyed this tuna and pasta recipe.

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