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    Home » Recipes

    Mediterranean Canned Tuna Pasta Toss

    November 14, 2018 *Updated* March 15, 2022 / By: Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy 130 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Disclosure Policy.
    Jump To Recipe

    Need dinner ready in under 30 minutes? Mediterranean Canned Tuna Pasta Toss is for you!

    Pasta and tuna go hand in hand. With a little inspiration from Jamie Oliver, this simple canned tuna recipe is easy to make.

    Overhead shot of Mediterranean Canned Tuna Pasta Toss in a bowl ready to eat.

    Remember that tuna noodle casserole from my childhood?  My Quinoa Tuna Casserole is a modern twist on that classic dish.

    Join Our Mailing List

    You will receive a FREE PANTRY STAPLES PRINTABLE and easy recipes to make with them.

    We all need easy quick recipes, especially for busy weeknights. If you don’t already have this *awesome cookbook, check it out.

    Cookbook where I got the inspiration to this Mediterranean Tuna Pasta recipe from.

    Easy Smoked Salmon Plate was the first recipe I tried from Jamie’s book (well this book). I have several of his fabulous cookbooks in my vast collection.

    Since we LOVE the tuna and noodles combination, I knew I had to give this easy tuna recipe a try. We all need some quick meal ideas.

    Canned fish is affordable and great in recipes. Have you ever tried sardines? This pasta with sardines is made in under 30 minutes.

    Speaking of noodles, have you ever tried Egg Noodle Casserole? Another recipe using simple ingredients. Baba was a master at this one.

    CANNED TUNA PASTA TOSS INGREDIENTS

    You really only need a few simple ingredients to make this healthy tuna recipe.

    • canned tuna (in oil)
    • capers
    • Italian seasoning
    • cherry tomatoes
    • salt & 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.

    CANNED TUNA IN WATER vs CANNED TUNA IN 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 may) I prefer canned tuna in water. I will say however this tuna pasta toss recipe does taste delicious cold as well.

    Tuna packed in water has fewer calories and retains more omega-3’s. 

    If I am making a hot tuna pasta recipe, I prefer canned tuna in oil. It also works beautifully in a no mayo tuna salad recipe like Mediterranean Tuna Salad.

    Canned tuna is also available in solid and chunk form. 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).

    WHAT TYPES OF TUNA ARE CANNED

    Canned tuna is usually classed as WHITE and LIGHT.

    White tuna is Albacore. Light tunas consist of Skipjack, Yellowfin, and Tongol.

    Close up of the cookbook recipe page for the Tuna Pasta recipe.

    Now let’s talk about the best canned tuna for a moment. Do you have a favourite brand? For me, *Riomare is my number one choice. Packed in olive oil, it is the perfect addition to any Mediterranean food recipe.  I love the fact that Riomare has 100% traceability on their products too.

    PASTA SALAD WITH TUNA

    This healthy canned tuna recipe comes together quickly. Perfect for busy weeknights. You can even make it gluten-free too.

    • Get your pasta water boiling.
    • Wash your tomatoes and cut them in half.
    • Open the canned tuna, drain and set aside.

    Canned tuna and tomatoes getting cooked for the tuna pasta toss.

    See, so much done in just 5 minutes.

    • Heat a pan with olive oil. I used a *flavoured olive oil just to elevate this recipe.
    • Now fry those capers. Such a great touch!

    By now your water is boiling. Add your pasta of choice. Have fun with this. Use any kind or any shape you wish. In my opinion, there is NO wrong pasta, EVER! BONUS, gluten-free pasta works well, and that is what I used in this tuna pasta recipe.

    Gluten free pasta getting added to the pan, Tuna Pasta Toss is almost ready to eat.

    The rest is easy peasy (see recipe instructions).

    • 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!
    • Dinner is ready.

    See, told you it is quick and easy.

    Mediterranean Canned Tuna Pasta Toss is all cooked, and ready to eat.

    I happen to love puttanesca pasta sauce, so I took Jamie’s recipe a just a little further. Garnishing with black olives and feta cheese elevates the flavours in this recipe even more.

    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?

    Mediterranean Canned Tuna Pasta Toss garnished with black olives and feta cheese.

    Next time you are in need of a quick meal, give this Mediterranean Canned Tuna Pasta Toss a try.

    Here are few other totally delicious recipes with canned tuna you might like to try:

    • Vietnamese Pizza
    • Tuna and Veggie Fritters
    • Tuna Rice Casserole
    • Easy Tuna Chili
    • Tuna Cakes

    What is your favourite way to use canned tuna?

    Don’t forget to sign up for my WEEKLY NEWSLETTER and grab your FREE printable. If you would prefer to get PUSH NOTIFICATIONS instead, CLICK the PURPLE BELL on the bottom right of this page. FOLLOW ME on social media too!

    Mediterranean Canned Tuna Pasta Toss Pin Image 1

    Overhead shot of Mediterranean Canned Tuna Pasta Toss in a bowl ready to eat.

    Mediterranean Canned Tuna Pasta Toss

    Mediterranean Canned Tuna Pasta Toss is easy to make, economical, delicious and can be made gluten-free too. BONUS leftovers make a great tuna pasta salad for lunch the next day.
    5 from 78 votes
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    Course: Main Course, Main Dish
    Cuisine: Mediterranean
    Keyword: Canned tuna
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 402kcal
    Author: Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy

    Ingredients

    • 10 ounces dried pasta (I used gluten-free pasta)
    • 4 teaspoons capers (drained)
    • 1 pound cherry tomatoes
    • 1 tablespoons 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.
    • ENJOY!

    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.

    Mediterranean Canned Tuna Pasta Toss Pin Image 2

     

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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. Tracy

      July 27, 2019 at 1:10 pm

      Thanks for saving us for dinner last night! We had no time but these ingredients – it was perfect! Can’t wait to try out that book, too! Thanks for always having such great recipes!

      Reply
      • Gloria | Homemade & Yummy

        July 27, 2019 at 2:59 pm

        You are welcome. So glad you and your family enjoyed this recipe.

    2. Sandi

      July 26, 2019 at 1:47 pm

      What a delicious meal this was! Everyone loved it.

      Reply
      • Gloria | Homemade & Yummy

        July 27, 2019 at 3:02 pm

        So glad you enjoyed it. It is always great when something so easy to make tastes delicious.

    3. Renee Goerger

      July 26, 2019 at 1:13 pm

      I adore an easy seafood pasta salad in the summer. This tuna pasta toss one is one my family requests, often!

      Reply
      • Gloria | Homemade & Yummy

        July 27, 2019 at 3:02 pm

        We love the combination of tuna and noodles in lots of great dishes too.

    4. Debra

      July 25, 2019 at 10:02 pm

      This is definitely a HUGE step up from the tuna casserole we had as kids. Love the flavor profile with olives and capers. I will definitely be enjoying this one cold. On the list for this weekend…a great find to take to the beach!

      Reply
      • Gloria | Homemade & Yummy

        July 26, 2019 at 11:36 am

        Thanks so much. I hope you give you enjoy this tuna pasta as much as we do. Have fun at the beach.

    5. Jenni

      July 25, 2019 at 7:45 pm

      This is such an easy pasta recipe and it’s full of big flavors. I love the maximum flavor for minimal effort, and so does my family! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Gloria | Homemade & Yummy

        July 26, 2019 at 11:37 am

        YES…little effort, DELICIOUS results. Enjoy!!

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