Pesto Tuna Pasta (15 Minutes)

Pesto tuna pasta is the perfect quick and easy weeknight meal. Made with pantry staples and packed with flavor and comes together in under 15 minutes, with 5 simple ingredients.

If you love pesto, you have to try Pesto Crusted Salmon and Veggies, Pesto Mushroom Pasta or Shrimp Pesto Orzo Pasta.

Tuna pesto pasta in a white bowl with lemons in background.

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Tuna pesto pasta highlights

  • 5 ingredients
  • 15 minute meal
  • Pantry ingredients
  • Customizable

How to make tuna pesto pasta

  • Cook the pasta according to the package directions.
  • Make the pesto (or buy it and skip this step).
  • Drain the pasta, reserving about 1/2 cup of the pasta water.
  • Add the pasta back to the pot along with pesto, tuna, and sundried tomatoes. Stir well.
  • Add at least 1/4 cup of the cooking liquid, stir and add more as needed.
Steps to make pesto tuna pasta.

Other additions

  • Artichoke hearts
  • Chopped tomatoes
  • Spinach, arugula, or kale
  • Cooked vegetables: zucchini, summer squash, asparagus or green beans
  • Roasted veggies: broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts
  • Cannellini beans or chickpeas
  • Frozen green peas (add with the pasta water)
Tuna pesto pasta in a bowl with pesto in background.

Common questions

What is the best tuna to use

Use your favorite canned tuna. I prefer solid tuna in olive oil (vs. flaked tuna in water). I think it has a slightly better flavor and texture in the dish.

Tips for buying tuna:

  • Line caught, pole caught or troll caught as that is a more sustainable fishing option.
  • Skipjack has lower levels of mercury than albacore and yellowfin.
  • Some of the brands I love are SafeCatch, Wild Planet, Thrive Market and Trader Joe’s (which is the most budget friendly).  
Silver pot filled with pesto tuna pasta after stirring.

What is the best store bought dairy free pesto

Homemade pesto recipes

Tip: You can always have fresh pesto on hand by making a double batch and freezing the extra batch. Freeze in ice cube trays and then store the cubes in a freezer safe bag for up to 3 months.

Bowl of pesto tuna pasta with a fork to the side.
★ Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating below!
Bowl filled with pesto tuna pasta.

Pasta Pesto Tuna

Tuna pesto pasta is the perfect quick and easy weeknight meal. Made with pantry staples, this tuna pesto pasta is packed with flavor and comes together in under 15 minutes. This recipe is gluten free, dairy free and so simple!
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Course: dinner
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: tuna pesto pasta
Prep Time: 7 minutes
Cook Time: 7 minutes
Total Time: 14 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients

Instructions

Tuna Pesto Pasta

  • Cook the pasta according to the directions on the box.
  • Optional: While the pasta is boiling, make the pesto.
  • Remove about 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid and reserve it for the sauce. Drain the pasta and add it back to the pot.
  • Add the drained canned tuna, pesto and sun dried tomatoes (omit the oil) to the pasta and stir well. While stirring, add in the 1/4 cup of cooking liquid. If needed add up to an additional 1/4 cup until the sauce has the consistency you prefer.
    Steps to make pesto tuna pasta.
  • Serve the pasta hot, cold or at room temperature.
    Bowl filled with pesto tuna pasta.

Notes

Top tips
    • Reserve some of the cooking liquid: The starch in this liquid helps to create a really thick sauce that sticks to the pasta better.
    • Be sure to use a pesto that you really love (it’s the star).
    • To make this low carb, you can use spaghetti squash, zucchini noodles, heart of palm pasta in place of the pasta. You may need to add 1-2 tbsp. of hot water to the pesto to help distribute it around the noodles. 
  •  
Storage: This tuna pesto pasta is great as leftovers! Store in the fridge in an air tight container for up to 3 days. 

Nutrition Information

Nutrition Facts
Amount per Serving
Calories
464
Fat
 
19
g
Carbohydrates
 
45
g
Fiber
 
8
g
Sugar
 
4
g
Protein
 
30
g
Where does nutrition info come from? Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy, sourced from the USDA Food Database.
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