Pasta al Tonno (Tuna Pasta)
Pasta al Tonno is a quick and flavorful Italian tuna pasta made with al dente spaghetti, olive oil, garlic, capers, cherry tomatoes, and lemon zest for a bright, savory dish ready in under 30 minutes.
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 77kcal
Equipment
- large pot for pasta
- large skillet
Ingredients
- 12 ounces spaghetti or linguine
- 1 3.5 ounce jar Tonnino Yellowfin Tuna in Olive OIl drained and flaked
- 2 tablespoons olive oil reserved from jar if possible
- 1 small onion finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes optional
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 2 tablespoons capers drained
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
- zest from 1 lemon
- salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
Cook the Pasta
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Add pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente.
- Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain pasta.
Saute Aromatics
- While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add onion and garlic; sauté until fragrant and translucent, about 3 minutes.
- Add crushed red pepper flakes if using.
Build the Sauce
- Add cherry tomatoes and cook until slightly softened, 2–3 minutes.
- Stir in flaked tuna and capers, warming through gently.
Combine the Pasta & Sauce
- Add drained pasta to the skillet. Toss with the tuna mixture.
- If the sauce seems dry, add the reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time to loosen it.
- Stir in parsley and lemon zest. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Serve
- Drizzle a little extra olive oil if desired.
- Optional: garnish with additional parsley or a few lemon wedges.
Notes
Tips
- For an extra burst of flavor, add a few anchovy fillets to the sauté with the onion and garlic.
- Swap spaghetti for bucatini or linguine for a heartier texture.
Nutrition
Calories: 77kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 117mg | Potassium: 86mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 269IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 0.4mg