This Quick Canned Tuna Pasta is just what you need for busy weeknights.
Pasta and tuna go hand in hand. With a little Mediterranean flair, this is a healthy pasta dish for dinner any night of the week. Leftovers are perfect for lunch too.
I love cheap canned tuna meals. They 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. Great for lunch or dinner.
If you love easy dinner recipes that include pasta, this recipe for one pan baked gnocchi is a must for sure.
RECIPE and INSTRUCTIONS for this easy canned tuna pasta can be found at the bottom of this post.
Canned Tuna Pasta Ingredients
You really only need a few simple ingredients to make this easy pasta with tuna:
- 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. You can even make it gluten-free. Be sure to check out the suggestions below.
Making Mediterranean Canned Tuna Pasta
This easy pasta with tuna 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.
- Dinner is ready.
See, told you it is quick and easy.
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.
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You may also enjoy these canned fish recipes:
Quick 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.
Marisa Franca
We bought some more tuna in olive oil the other day and once I read your recipe I knew I had to make it. The recipe is absolutely delicious and so full of flavor!! No tuna casserole for us — nope this is one delicious dish everyone in the family loves.
Homemade & Yummy
Tuna in oil is so good…especially in recipes like this one.
Melissa
I love the flavours in this, the tomatoes and olives make the dish so much more “grown up” than the traditional tuna casserole!
Homemade & Yummy
YUP…this is not your mom’s tuna noodle casserole that is for sure.
Amanda
I’m with you on tuna and pasta. It’s such a great combination, and I always love Jamie Oliver’s recipes. Can’t wait to try this!
Homemade & Yummy
Enjoy, we sure do. Super easy to make.
Marisa Franca
Tuna and pasta is VERY Italian! My mamma would do lot of dishes with it — no tuna casseroles for us. Love the briny capers and what makes the difference is a good brand of tuna. We love our tuna in olive oil. We think the taste is better. I haven’t heard of the brand you mentioned. I’ll have to go take a look. This dish is ideal for a busy weeknight.
Homemade & Yummy
This has become a favourite for us…and so easy to make. YES for the tuna in oil…so delicious.
April
It’s funny but I also remember tuna noodle casserole from my childhood. I don’t think it was a particularly popular dish or something but for some reason I have a good memory of it. So this is just perfect for me to try after all of these years!
Homemade & Yummy
Well I do know that this is NOT the tuna casserole of my childhood!!
Meg
Tuna is probably one of my favorite ingredients for fast and easy meals! I love the capers in this-they’re so salty and would taste amazing with tuna. I’m so glad there’s no mayonnaise in this either! I have to admit, I usually use mayonnaise with canned tuna but this should be my new canned tuna fast and easy meal!
Homemade & Yummy
Yes I use mayo in cold tuna salad too. This just happens to taste great cold…so bonus for sure.
Dana
Canned fish pastas are amazing. I love this recipe! So simple, and with high quality canned fish, you don’t need to add many ingredients for flavor! It makes such a nice clean-tasting dish. I’m with you on puttanesca sauce, too. So salty and delicious! I’ll have to look for Riomare. I usually avoid canned tuna because of lack of traceability and it’s known to be very unsustainable. So I really appreciate brands like this. My favorite canned fish brand is King Oscar, but they don’t have tuna. So I’m definitely going to keep my eyes peeled for Riomare!
Homemade & Yummy
This tuna is amazing. If you have a Costco near you…they should have it.
Jacqueline Debono
Pasta with tuna is really popular here in Italy and canned tuna really is a staple in every Italian larder, as are capers and olives. Love the addition of feta gives it a Greek flavour! So very Mediterranean!
Homemade & Yummy
I know…this is the perfect recipe to use kitchen cupboard staples…and SO delicious.
Traci
Great recipe, Gloria! We’re super fans of a tuna pasta skillet and make them on the regular. I love it that you used capers, one of my favorite, always-on-hand ingredients, of all time! Love it that you fried them too…yummmm! This is such a great recipe for weeknights, and I’m always down with busting out a can of tuna and creating a masterpiece like yours. Thanks for sharing!
Homemade & Yummy
Everything about this recipe is focused on the ease and flavours of the recipe. Such a great recipe for busy weeknights. No need for takeout when you can make something as delicious as this at home.
Maddy
Thank you for sharing, my husband would love this! I’ve never been a big tuna fan but this dish looks like it could convert me lol! Pinning for later!
Homemade & Yummy
Well maybe if you try it, you just might like it. It makes a great lunch too since the leftovers are great cold.
Dan Zehr
I need to find this book immediately. The recipe is really wonderful. All ingredients in this recipe are good for me and my family. I love easy recipes.
Homemade & Yummy
There is a link at the bottom of the post….easy to order.
Pavani
That sounds so flavorful and delicious. I love the saltiness/ briny taste of capers. Love the idea of adding pasta – makes the dish more filling.
Homemade & Yummy
I ever used to like capers….but I sure do now. Hope you give this recipe a try.
Denay DeGuzman
What a delicious pasta recipe! It’s absolutely perfect for a mid-week dinner during the busy holiday season.
Homemade & Yummy
Yes it sure is. Easy and delicious, all with the help of regular kitchen staples.
Linda
I love a good quick meals at home. Especially when it’s under 30 minutes. Capers and tuna definitely make a perfect combo and I love having that bright colorful meals anytime of the day.
Homemade & Yummy
All the flavours in this recipe go so well together. I think this is going to be on our dinner table a lot.
Cheese Curd In Paradise
Yum! Briny capers and olives with pasta are one of my favorite things. I am loving the tuna and tomatoes as well. This looks like a meal packed with flavor!
Homemade & Yummy
I know, all the flavours combine to make one tasty and easy to make dinner. Enjoy!!