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    Home

    Tuna Pesto Pasta (5 ingredient!)

    Last Updated: Mar 11, 2023 by Suzy Sakamoto · This post may contain affiliate links · 5 Comments

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    Tuna Pesto Pasta is super quick and easy weeknight dinner using just 5 ingredients! The stars of the show are shelf-stable ingredients that make it that much easier to store in your pantry for the fastest hardy dinner in under 15 minutes!

    tuna pesto pasta on white plate with fork next to green and pink napkins

    When I'm not making this easy fish recipe, I'm making this tuna fried rice, this healthy salmon pasta without cream, or this flavor-rich baked fish with olives and artichokes that gets my mouth watering every time I say it.

    Or this spicy baked salmon sushi that's a quick canned fish and rice recipe that's perfect for a quick weeknight dinner.

    Tuna has always been a staple in my pantry for those busy days where I have less time in the kitchen. With extra canned tuna, whip up this tuna fried rice recipe that's packed with flavor! If you're not sure on how to choose the best tuna, refer to this best canned tuna on the market article.

    pesto pasta tuna on plate with opened canned tuna and dinner napkins

    Pesto makes a great pairing with tuna, and comes together beautifully with a pop of fresh cherry tomatoes and fresh shaved cheese, which is completely optional. I also like adding a sprinkle of red pepper flakes if you don't mind a little kick, I highly suggest it!

    Table of Contents

    • WHY I LOVE THIS RECIPE
    • INGREDIENT NOTES
    • STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS
    • VARIATIONS
    • MY EXPERT TIPS
    • FAQ
    • WHAT GOES WELL WITH PESTO PASTA WITH TUNA
    • MORE SEAFOOD PASTA RECIPES
    • Sign up to receive our Seafood & Wine Pairing!
    • Tuna Pesto Pasta
    • OTHER CANNED SEAFOOD RECIPES

    WHY I LOVE THIS RECIPE

    • SIMPLE! It's incredibly easy to make, requiring only 15 minutes of your time from start to finish.
    • Only 5 ingredients!
    • Leftovers are just as good! Meal prep them for a few days, or have it the next day for dinner.
    • Serve it warm, cold, or at room temp. It's all just as delicious!
    • Tuna is extremely versatile, and a great source of protein in so many meals. And, whether you prefer tuna packed in oil, or tinned tuna in water, this pesto pasta with tuna is going to be delicious!

    tuna pesto pasta ingredients, pesto, canned tuna cherry tomatoes and colorful bowtie pasta

    INGREDIENT NOTES

    This recipe uses just 5 ingredients that work beautifully together to create an easy simple, yet scrumptious meal.

    TUNA

    I'm using high-quality tuna packed in water. I used 4 cans for this recipe, each being 3.5 oz. Tuna comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes, so as long as you're somewhat close to the measurements, this dish will come out great.

    You can also use canned tuna packed in oil to add more flavor.

    PESTO

    Use your favorite pesto for a quick meal. You go the store-bought route, or make your own. Since pesto will be the main source of flavor, opt for a brand you know a love. I like using Basil Pesto from Costco or Trader joes.

    Other types of Pesto to try:

    • Garden Herb Pesto
    • Walnut Pesto
    • Or try this Mediterranean Chimichurri for an extra kick of garlic and spice!

    PASTA

    Choose a fun colorful pasta to have a fun twist on this super Easy Pesto Pasta. I like using pasta over spaghetti. Especially because the pasta, tuna and tomatoes can have an even role in showing up on the same bite.

    Make sure to reserve a bit of pasta water to use along with pesto.

    FRESH CHERRY TOMATOES

    Fresh tomatoes add a much needed pop of freshness that plays beautifully with the tuna. During tomato season, I love picking out the tomato medley, where you can add yellow, orange or red tomatoes to provide a nice pop of color. However, off season, let the fun pasta play a bigger role in the esthetic.

    CHEESE

    And let's not forget the cheese! A sprinkle or two of fresh shaved Parmesan helps bring out the flavor of the pesto even more.

    If you're not a fan of parmesan, go for asiago, or manchego.

    closeup of pesto pasta tuna on plate next to green and pink napkins

    STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS

    1. First thing you'll need to do is cook the pasta to al dente, then drain and add back to the pot.
    2. Now, it gets even easier. Gently stir in the pesto to the pasta, then the tuna.
    3. Scoop out each serving onto your pasta plate.
    4. Sprinkle with cherry tomatoes and parmesan to serve, along with black pepper and red pepper flakes if desired.
    5. Serve Tuna Pesto Pasta at room temp, or warmed up!

    VARIATIONS

    • More Herbs

    Add a handful of fresh basil. It will be both beautiful and bring out the basil pesto flavor, a little more.

    • A Little Kick

    If you're like me, you like almost everything to have a little kick to them. By adding a sprinkle or two of red pepper flakes, your dish will truly come alive! It's amazing how a touch of spicy can transform a bite.

    • Flavored Tinned Tuna

    If you've never try smoked tuna, or tuna packed in oil and lemon this is a great opportunity to give them a try.

    • Creamy Pesto Pasta with Tuna

    Add a touch of cream, a drizzle of olive oil to make it creamy.

    • Try it with Chimichurri Instead of Pesto

    This Mediterranean Chimichurri recipe has an extra kick of garlic and spice. It makes a great pasta salad dressing if you want extra flavor. Though this Tuna Pesto Pasta recipe is great, if you're not a huge fan of pesto, definitely give this Chimichurri a try!

    tuna pesto pasta on plate with braided fork

    MY EXPERT TIPS

    • Don't overcook the pasta. Cook to al dente, or just tender.
    • Choose a Pesto you love!
    • Go for high-quality tinned tuna.
    • Don't skip out on the added ingredients.
    • Serving this tuna dish cold, warm or at room temp are all great options! I suggest trying warm on a cold day, and as a salad on a warm day.

    FAQ

    Can I use canned tuna packed in oil?

    You can use either tuna packed in oil, or packed in water. I prefer packed in oil when I have it on hand. It provides more fat and flavor with little to not added effort. Drain the liquid well before mixing canned tuna into the rest of the ingredients.

    Do you add pesto to hot or cold pasta?

    I prefer to add pesto to warm pasta. It helps melt the pesto and distribute it better. If it's warm vs cold it will mix much better.

    WHAT GOES WELL WITH PESTO PASTA WITH TUNA

    Charcuterie. Serve alongside. Feel free to add Artichoke hearts and Kalamata olives to the pasta if they're on your charcuterie board.

    Rosemary Parmesan Bread would go SO well with this dish!

    For a light dessert this Pumpkin Bread with Cardamom Sugar or Tahini Banana Bread to enjoy after making Pesto Pasta with tuna.

    Drink: Pair this recipe with this Spicy Mango Margarita! Or try a dry white wine, like a Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon blanc. Cheers!

    MORE SEAFOOD PASTA RECIPES

    • Crab pasta with lemon herb sauce and tomatoes surrounded by dungeness crab
      Crab Pasta With Tomatoes and Lemon Garlic Sauce
    • overhead of salmon pasta without cream in white dish with fork and blue towel
      Healthy Garlic Dill Salmon Pasta Without Cream
    • razor clam spaghetti with white sauce sauce angel hair pasta mushrooms red peppers parsley garnish
      Razor Clam Spaghetti with Wine Sauce
    • pasta al salmone with capers fresh basil and freshly shaved parmesan
      Penne Pasta al Salmone (Salmon Pasta)

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    I LOVE HEARING FROM YOU! When you make this Tuna recipe, please RATE using the stars in the recipe card, and COMMENT at the end of the page how you enjoyed this dish.

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    tuna pesto pasta on white plate with fork next to green and pink napkins

    Tuna Pesto Pasta

    Tuna Pesto Pasta salad is a super quick, easy, and delicious recipe to whip up! Using pesto, canned tuna, pasta, fresh cherry tomatoes, and freshly shaved parmesan.
    It's a quick weeknight dinner that's ready in under 15 minutes!
    5 from 6 votes
    Cuisine: Italian, Seafood
    Course: Main Course, Side Dish
    Prep: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook: 8 minutes minutes
    Total: 13 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6 servings
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    Ingredients

    • 16 oz pasta *reserve ½ cup of pasta water
    • 14-16 oz canned tuna , I used 4, 3.5 oz cans
    • ½ cup pesto , use your favorite
    • 1 cup cherry tomatoes cut in half
    • ¼ cup shaved parmesan or manchego

    Instructions

    • First, cook the pasta to al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water, then drain and add the pasta back to the pot.
    • To the pasta, add the pesto and pasta water, and gently stir to combine. Then, add in the tuna and gently combine.
    • Serve the pasta on a pasta plate, or bowl.
    • Sprinkle with cherry tomatoes and parmesan to serve, along with black pepper and red pepper flakes if desired. Serve at room temp, or warmed up!

    Notes

    How to serve this tuna pasta: You can serve cold, warm, or at room temperature. I enjoyed mine at room temp one the day I made it, and warmed up the leftovers for lunch the next day. Both were great, though I preferred it warm on a cold day.
    Leftovers: This is a great easy meal to prep in advance for lunches or dinner. Store extras in air-tight containers and store for up to 4 days.
    Add-ons: Add fresh basil, artichoke hearts, kalamata olives, or fresh minced garlic to add even more flavor.
    Cheese: Use parmesan, asiago or manchego.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 366kcal
    Keywords: 15 minute meal, canned tuna recipe, pasta salad, pesto pasta with tuna, seafood pasta salad
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 6 votes (6 ratings without comment)

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    1. Grace

      November 26, 2022 at 2:11 pm

      How cool! Looks like a yummy way to enjoy canned tuna.

      Reply
      • Suzy Sakamoto

        November 30, 2022 at 9:35 pm

        Thank you! Exactly what we were going for :).

        Reply
    2. Gina

      November 26, 2022 at 7:14 pm

      This definitely looks like something my family will love!

      Reply
      • Suzy Sakamoto

        November 30, 2022 at 9:35 pm

        Thank you! Can't beat an easy seafood dish :).

        Reply
    3. Lori

      January 09, 2023 at 12:37 am

      We had this for dinner and the next few lunches. It was easy to make and we enjoyed it. Thank you for posting.

      Reply

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    seafood blogger in the pacific northwest

    Hi, I'm Suzy! Welcome to my Pacific Coast kitchen!

    Here you will find authentic Mediterranean recipes and a variety of fresh seafood recipes that are easy to achieve, feature fresh ingredients, and are packed with flavor! Growing up on the Mediterranean I cherish our current catch-and-cook lifestyle, and my seafood recipes are tested, perfected, and easy to re-create! Subscribe to get them via email, and in the meantime you can Shop My Kitchen!

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    seafood blogger in the pacific northwest

    Hi, I'm Suzy! Welcome to my Pacific Coast kitchen!

    Here you will find authentic Mediterranean recipes and a variety of fresh seafood recipes that are easy to achieve, feature fresh ingredients, and are packed with flavor! Growing up on the Mediterranean I cherish our current catch-and-cook lifestyle, and my seafood recipes are tested, perfected, and easy to re-create! Subscribe to get them via email, and in the meantime you can Shop My Kitchen!

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