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.
Remember that tuna noodle casserole from my childhood? My Quinoa Tuna Casserole is a modern twist on that classic dish.
We all need easy quick recipes, especially for busy weeknights. If you don’t already have this *awesome cookbook, check it out.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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:
What is your favourite way to use canned tuna?
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Mediterranean Canned Tuna Pasta Toss
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)
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
Notes
Sam | Ahead of Thyme
Yum, this tuna pasta looks amazing! I am loving the flavour combos in this dish! Pinning to make sometime in the next week!
Homemade & Yummy
It is an upscale version of the classic we all love.
Carrie Ditton
What a great, tasty, quick, easy AND healthy weeknight dinner idea! I love the flavor combination!
Homemade & Yummy
I know, we all need a few of these recipes for sure.
Amanda Mason
I love this recipe! So delish!And I love Jamie Oliver!! The flavors in this dish just pop! Perfect mediterranean taste and super versatile! I love that!!
Homemade & Yummy
You gotta love when kitchen staples tastes this good.
anne lawton
This is such a good idea for a quick easy and healthy dinner. I love all of the ingredients in this. Thanks for sharing
Homemade & Yummy
You are welcome. Hope you give this recipe a try soon.
Nicolas Hortense
I totally agree with you that tuna and pasta are a fantastic combo! And I will have to check out some of those recipes from Jamie Oliver for inspiration. Thanks for sharing that!
Homemade & Yummy
You are welcome. Enjoy this super easy and delicious recipe.
Emily
I love capers with pasta and tomatoes. So fresh! Little bursts of joy!
Homemade & Yummy
Yes they are nice little pops of flavour in this super delicious recipe.
Cathleen @ A Taste of Madness
I always have at least half a dozen cans of tuna in my pantry. This looks so good!!
Homemade & Yummy
Well kitchen staples are the heart of this super easy weeknight dinner for sure.
Anna
I love Mediterranean cuisine, and this dish looks just so tasty and so healthy! Beautifully done, thank you for sharing!
Homemade & Yummy
This is super easy and delicious dinner that can be made in a matter of minutes. Faster than pizza delivery…and healthier too.
David
I really don’t get canned tuna much, but this recipe motivates me to get some! This looks so much more interesting than the tuna casserole concept.
Homemade & Yummy
Yes this is a great version of the traditional classic for sure. A great way to make a delicious meal with ordinary kitchen staples.
Kelly Anthony
What a smart way to spruce up canned tuna! This looks amazing. I would love it for a make-ahead lunch!
Homemade & Yummy
This would be great for lunch. That is the beauty of this recipe. You can eat it hot or cold.
Nicoletta De Angelis Nardelli
All those ingredients are music to my ears. Plus, pasta 🙂 . We love Jamie Oliver and are often inspired by him. Great quick tasty recipe!
Homemade & Yummy
Hope you give this quick and easy recipe a try. I have lots of Jamie’s books….so good.
Lindsay Cotter
What an easy and flavorful dinner! Definitely adding this to the must make list!
Homemade & Yummy
Such a great and easy weeknight meal. So much better than takeout.
Toni | Boulder Locavore
I love how flavorful it looks! So delish!
Homemade & Yummy
Thanks so much, hope you give this recipe a try.
Courtney
Oooh I love this recipe. I mistakenly purchased tuna in olive oil and wasn’t exactly sure what to make with it as we usually do a mayo based tuna salad. We did have all the ingredients in our house! Love the black olives and feta cheese with the tuna, delicious!
Homemade & Yummy
Tuna in oil is so good in this recipe….and it is healthy too.
Elizabeth
This looks SO GOOD! Tuna and pasta are my favorite combination. This update on the classic looks so good.
Homemade & Yummy
This is such an easy and delicious weeknight meal. Hope you give it a try.