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.
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 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- See, told you it is quick and easy.
- All you have to do is garnish with the cheese and olives.
- Serve and enjoy.
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.
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.
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:
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Easy Canned Tuna Pasta
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)
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.
Sharon
I appreciate how easy this is to put together! And I also love Jamie’s recipes… thanks for sharing!
Homemade & Yummy
Hope you give this recipe a try. Easy and delicious. I am a HUGE Jamie Oliver fan!!
Jolina
Another delicious dish Gloria! We don’t eat tuna as often as we’d like, but this would definitely change that. You’re liking the cookbook? I collect them too and my criteria is if I get at least 3 good recipes out of it it’s worth my $$$ lol. Have a wonderful weekend!
Homemade & Yummy
You too…stay warm…after that dump of snow we got yesterday. As far as my cookbook collection….I might need more shelves!!
Mahy Elamin
Oh girl your killing me, that looks so gooooood! This is an awesome recipe. I LOVE LOVE LOVE capers! Love everything about this recipe!
Homemade & Yummy
Well this is so easy, why not make it for dinner tonight. You will LOVE it!!
Claudia Lamascolo
I love tuna and the colors here are fabulous this is one the whole family will enjoy and ask for seconds!
Homemade & Yummy
Yes make LOTS…you will want leftovers for sure.
Stine Mari
All these ingredients sounds delicious together! And I know what I want for Christmas this year… definitely Jamie’s cookbooks!
Homemade & Yummy
You would never know that common kitchen cupboard staples would produce such a delicious meal. ENJOY!
Karyl Henry
I’m not a fan of capers or olives, but I love everything else in this pasta dish! Looks so good for a quick meal. I usually use tuna in water, but when I’m feeling a little more indulgent I always go the tuna in oil route. It’s so luxurious
Homemade & Yummy
Totally agree, I always used tuna in water…till I tried Riomare….this is my first choice for great quality canned tuna.
Renu
Wow those vibrant red colour cherry tomatoes, loved it. Awesome tuna pasta with all those flavours in it.
Homemade & Yummy
So easy to whip up with pantry staples. Delicious too.
Tina
I really appreciate how fast and easy this came together. I think this is a really great way to feed a crowd. I think I do keep most of these essentials in my pantry, definitely the tuna and pasta. Thanks for this, saving this for later.
Homemade & Yummy
I know, you really don’t need takeout when you can make this faster than pizza delivery. Pantry staples are super delicious in the right combination.
Kelly Anthony
This would make a great lunch option for the week. I could eat on it all week and I won’t dread what I’m eating or what I would need to make. Love it!
Homemade & Yummy
I agree, leftovers would make an awesome lunch. Your co-workers will want the recipe LOL!
Veena Azmanov
We love canned tuna but I usually never make it with Pasta. This sounds so good. Love how simple and easy this is. I love all the recipes by Jamie Oliver. Need to look for that book.
Homemade & Yummy
This is a quick and delicious way to use common food staples to create an meal.
Debra
Always looking for more quick and simple to get on the table during the week. These ingredients are so perfect for us…the capers, olives, feta…..so much flavor packed in. Plus, these are ingredients I always have on hand. Perfect for the night that I didn’t have a plan.
Homemade & Yummy
I agree, this is better than any takeout…and just as fast too.
DENISE
I love all the flavors you are using… and I love that you can eat this hot or cold. I can’t wait to give this a try because my hubby would love it as well!
Homemade & Yummy
You gotta love when recipes turn out to be double duty…delicious both ways.
Michelle Minnaar
This totally reminds me of my childhood also! Just love Jamies recipes, will need to try this!
Homemade & Yummy
I have several of his cookbooks….this is a great weeknight winner dinner for sure.
Sarah
Oh!! My grandpa makes a tuna salad just like this but without the pasta! I love the idea of adding pasta– it would be so much more filling. And I adore capers! (Sometimes I eat them by themselves lol)
Homemade & Yummy
I know the fried capers really had a gourmet touch to this super simple dinner. Hope you give it a try.
Lisa
On the surface this seems like such a simple recipe, but you’ve really taken it up a notch by using quality tuna, heating it with the tomatoes — and frying the capers. That’s a pro-move right there. I’m holding onto this recipe for those nights when I don’t really feel like too much cooking, but I do feel like a homey, comfort-food meal. Winner-winner!
Homemade & Yummy
You really gotta love when simple is so complex in flavours and delicious.