This Quick Easy Tuna Pasta recipe is a delicious dish to make when time is short, but you still want a satisfying meal for dinner or lunch.
Last week, I made a recipe with quinoa pasta, and since I loved the texture of it, I am now totally addicted to this pasta. Every time I want to cook pasta, I choose quinoa pasta because there isn’t a huge difference between traditional pasta and quinoa pasta. Plus, using quinoa means this pasta is a complete protein! Of course, if you choose whole-wheat pasta, it is also a great option.
My husband has been traveling for work for about 10 days. When I am alone, I don’t like to cook anything that takes more than 20 minutes to be ready. Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Skillet and Leek Kalamata Rice are my favorite under-30-minute recipes. I honestly don’t know why people love to cook for one.
For me, it’s so boring to cook only for myself, but I REALLY enjoy cooking for someone else like my husband or friends. I have to confess… Sometimes I even buy frozen cooked meals so that I don’t have to cook for one. Yes, I know. This isn’t great for you, but life is not perfect and neither am I. 😉
So, I decided to make this Quick Easy Tuna Pasta recipe for lunch because it is very easy to make, and I doubled the recipe to have leftovers for dinner. The ingredients are so simple, and I bet everyone has these in the fridge and pantry. Once you chop the onion, you’re almost done. No kidding!!
You only need to sauté the onions and garlic, and then add the flaked tuna, homemade tomato sauce, and cooked pasta to the pan. There you have it! A protein-packed, delicious meal ready to enjoy at any time! If you’re a tuna fan like myself, you should also try my Super Easy Avocado Cucumber Tuna Salad, Tuna Salad Meal Prep Bowls, Tuna Cucumber Cups Recipe, and Avocado Cucumber Tuna Salad!
Quick Easy Tuna Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 cups quinoa fusilli
- salt and ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- ½ cup red onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic finely chopped
- 3½ ounces canned tuna drained
- 1 cup homemade tomato sauce or tomato sauce of your choice
- 1 tablespoon basil leaves chopped, for garnishing
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese shredded
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.
- Add the quinoa fusilli, and cook according to the packet instructions. Drain the pasta.
- Heat the oil in a pan, and add the onion. Sauté until they are golden brown.
- Add the garlic, and cook until fragrant.
- Flake the tuna into the onion mixture, and heat.
- Add the tomato sauce and cooked quinoa fusilli to the tuna mixture. Stir well for 1 minute or so.
- Serve with a generous grinding of pepper, basil leaves, and Parmesan cheese.
Notes
- Feel free to use fresh tuna if you have leftover cooked tuna in the fridge.
- You can use tuna packed in oil or water. It's up to you!
- I use quinoa fusilli but you can use a different pasta.
- To store: Store the leftover tuna pasta in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- To reheat: You can easily reheat everything in the microwave or enjoy it chilled.
- To freeze: Once cooled completely, transfer the dish to an airtight freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 2 months.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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I am the worst at cooking for 1. If Shawn is out of town, I usually just get chipotle. I’m so bad! This pasta looks delicious! I’ve still got to try quinoa pasta.
I’ve never had quinoa pasta! Now I’m curious to know how it tastes! 🙂
This tuna pasta looks amazing, Olivia! I love tuna pastas and casseroles, yet never think to make them! I’m loving how easy this is!
I’m not a fan cooking for just myself either. This tuna pasta looks delicious! Love how easy this is to whip up!
This pasta is beyond gorgeous, Olivia! I love LOVE the sound of quinoa pasta! I’ve so gotta try that. 🙂 Gorgeous photos too, girl!
Wow!! What beautiful pictures! This is great! Looks delicious and healthy! YUM! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!!
This would make such an easy and delicious lunch! I really need to try some quinoa pasta!
I love this. I actually made a similar pasta recipe two days ago and forget to add tuna. We love tuna in our pasta recipes, especially in Spain 🙂
This looks delicious! I love quinoa pasta 🙂
I just recently started cooking with fish and I am loving it!! I will be trying this recipe soon – Looks so yummy!!
Looks so tasty and healthy! I love easy meals like this.
I’m not a big fan of tuna. Actually, I didn’t like tuna…until now. This recipe is amazingly delicious !!! Even my 5 & 3 year old loved it!!! The reason I picked this recipe it’s because it required ingredients, like you mentioned, that I already had. I’m glad I did. I’m gonna make it again today since my kids are asking for leftovers. What left overs .
I am so glad you and your family enjoyed this recipe. Thanks a lot for your comment and for stopping by 😉
This is an amazing recipe. We loved it so much. Thanks.
can you use regular tomato sause not homemade?
Yes for sure!
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I’m. excited to try the tuna pasta . .
I found your recipe as I wanted a one-pan tuna and pasta – so simply adapted by frying onion and garlic then added the pasta (spirals) with 4 cups of hot water, simmered 10 minutes then added in the tuna, sauce etc. Was enjoyed by the family and only one fry pan to clean up.
I know this recipe is great for clean up! Happy you and your family enjoyed it 😉