Easy Canned Tuna Pasta (Ready in 15 Minutes!)
A quick and satisfying tuna spaghetti made with pantry staples, lemon, garlic, herbs, and Parmesan in just 15 minutes.
Equipment
- 1 large pot for boiling pasta
- 1 large skillet for tossing the sauce and pasta
- 1 colander for draining pasta
- 1 microplane or zester for the lemon zest
- 1 tongs or pasta spoon for tossing
Ingredients
Pasta
- 12 oz spaghetti
- 1 salted water for boiling pasta
Tuna Mixture
- 2 cans tuna 5 oz each, drained
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 lemon zest and 2 tablespoons juice
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt plus more as needed
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes optional
To Finish
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese grated, plus more for serving
- 1/3 cup reserved pasta water as needed
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Cook the spaghetti until al dente according to the package directions.
- Before draining the pasta, reserve 1/3 cup of the pasta water. Drain the pasta and set aside.
- While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute, until fragrant but not browned.
- Add the drained tuna to the skillet and gently break it into flakes. Stir in the lemon zest, lemon juice, black pepper, kosher salt, and red pepper flakes if using.
- Add the cooked spaghetti to the skillet and toss gently to combine. Add a splash of reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the pasta and create a light glossy coating.
- Turn off the heat and toss in the chopped parsley and grated Parmesan until evenly combined.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt, pepper, lemon juice, or Parmesan if needed. Serve immediately with extra Parmesan on top.
Notes
Use tuna packed in olive oil for richer flavor, or add an extra drizzle of olive oil if using water-packed tuna. Cook the pasta just to al dente, and use reserved pasta water to keep the texture silky. Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 2 days and reheated gently with a splash of water.