This 15 minute tuna pasta is light and healthy plus it's so simple to make thanks to the canned tuna. It's great served hot or cold and makes perfect leftovers for lunch the next day.
I don't know about you guys but any dinner that takes just 15 minutes goes straight to the top of my 'must make' list.
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I've been getting a lot of that 'I just can't be bothered to cook' feeling recently. Because of that I've been trying to come up with recipes that take the absolute bare minimum of prep but obviously they still need to taste incredible!
So this is the start of a new little series of recipes here on the blog which can all be made in 15 minutes. I've already got a handful of 15 minute recipes here on the blog like these 15 minute soy peanut noodles or 15 minute salmon pasta with broccoli.
It's so nice to get home and know that you're only 15 minutes away from an awesome dinner especially when it's this super simple canned tuna pasta sprinkled with a pangrattato that's bursting with flavour.
Why we love this recipe...
- First of all let's state the obvious it's so quick to make, in just 15 minutes you can have a bowl of pasta in front of you and that's pretty much the best thing ever, right?
- It's also easy as anything. As long as you can boil some pasta and toss some things in a bowl you can make this dish
- You need mostly store cupboard ingredients to make this recipe and I like to keep spaghetti, tins of tuna and jars of capers and olives on hand so that I can make even a basic version of this delicious recipe at any time
- This recipe is also just as good for entertaining as it is for a weeknight. That sprinkle of pangrattato on top makes it all the more impressive
When I was growing up the tuna pasta dish I was used to was a super rich and creamy pasta with a white sauce and sometimes a baked crispy topping. That was a school dinner classic and, I can't lie, one of my favourites.
However, for this easy pasta and tuna recipe I really wanted to make something light and fresh. Instead of a creamy sauce I went with a dressing of lemon juice and olive oil which combine with a little pasta water to coat the strands of spaghetti and loads of flavour coming from olives, capers and parmesan.
Then of course there's that pangrattato which adds a ton of extra flavour and an amazing crunch.
Ingredients
This section is here to provide further tips and ideas for alternative ingredients. The full recipe and instructions are included in the recipe card at the bottom of the post!
- Spaghetti: You could use a different pasta if you prefer but I really think a long pasta works so much better than a short cut in this dish
- Tuna: One of the best things about this recipe is that you can use canned tuna which makes it such a quick and easy recipe, just make sure you get one that's sustainably sourced. You can also use canned tuna to make these delicious tuna burgers!
- Capers: These add an amazing briney tanginess to this dish which I cannot get enough of
- Green Olives: I like to keep a jar of these in the fridge for an easy added salt hit to so many dishes. Use leftovers to make this olives and tomatoes on toast
- Lemon: For that citrusy kick
- Parmesan: For adding so much cheesy flavour
- Parsley: If you're not a fan you could switch out for another green leafy herb like fresh basil leaves. Use any extra in this pressure cooker creamy mushroom pasta
- Olive Oil: This is a key ingredient to add flavour and moisture to the dish
- Pangrattato: This slightly spicy pangrattato is made from a mixture of breadcrumbs, chilli flakes, garlic and parsley
How to make it
- Cook the pasta: Cook according to packet instructions and reserve 100ml of pasta water before draining.
- Mix: Add all the other pasta ingredients to a bowl with the spaghetti and pasta water and toss well.
- Make the pangrattato: Fry the breadcrumbs in the olive oil until browned, mix with garlic, chilli flakes and parsley. Sprinkle over the pasta and serve.
What is pangrattato?
Pangrattato in English translates as 'grated bread' and is the word used for breadcrumbs. Here breadcrumbs are simply fried until crispy with chilli flakes and garlic for a huge amounts of flavour and a crunchy element to this pasta dish.
Can you freeze pangrattato?
If you wanted to freeze any extra pangrattato you can do so in an airtight container once it is cooled. If it needs crisping up again after defrosting then you can return it to a hot pan for a couple of minute before serving.
Is this pasta good for you?
This recipe is full of healthy ingredients like tuna (which has plenty of omega-3 fatty acids and protein), parsley and lemon. Thanks to the dressing of olive oil, lemon juice and pasta water rather than a creamy or tomato sauce this pasta is definitely on the healthier side!
Try these other simple pasta recipes!
- Easy Chorizo Pasta
- Easy Roasted Tomato Pasta Salad
- Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta
- Tomato Pasta with Goat's Cheese
- Simple Shrimp Linguine
- Creamy Mushroom Pasta with Thyme
- Tuna Pasta Salad with Feta & Pine Nuts
15 Minute Tuna Pasta with Pangrattato
Ingredients
- 400 g Spaghetti
- 200 g Tinned Tuna drained
- 50 g Capers
- 50 g Green Olives sliced
- 1 Lemon juiced
- 50 g Parmesan grated
- 15 g Fresh Parsley chopped
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
- Salt and Black Pepper
Pangrattato
- 2 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 100 g Fresh Breadcrumbs from about 2 pieces of stale bread, blended in a food processor
- 1 teaspoon Chilli Flakes
- 2 cloves Garlic crushed
- 10 g Fresh Parsley chopped
- Salt and Pepper
Instructions
- Cook the spaghetti according to packet instructions. Reserve a mugful of pasta cooking water (approx. 100ml/1/2 cup) then drain the spaghetti.
- Put the tuna in a large bowl and add the capers, olives, lemon juice, parmesan and parsley and mix. Add the pasta, olive oil and pasta water and toss.
- Heat the olive oil in a frying pan over medium high heat and add the breadcrumbs, chilli flakes and a big pinch of salt. Saute for 5 minutes then add the garlic and cook for another couple of minutes. Remove from the heat and mix through chopped parsley.
- Serve the pasta sprinkled with the pangrattato.
Notes
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Lauren Vavala | DeliciousLittleBites says
What an amazing looking recipe - hard to believe that's canned tuna! I was just talking to my fiance about never having tried Tuna Noodle Casserole - I'd MUCH rather try this recipe instead!
Meghna says
Such an easy share for the busy weeknight & also the weekends! Thanks much & I loved the way you paired the flavors. Brilliant!
Tania | Fit Foodie Nutter says
You can never beat a good pasta dish and this looks just perfect! And I bet the leftovers will taste even better the next day!
Jenna says
So happy to stumble on this recipe. I was looking for a new tuna pasta recipe. The one I have makes wayyy too much and takes too long. Love this quick 15 minute version.
Jori says
I have way too many nights when I can't be bothered; this is a lifesaver. I love the brightness that the capers and olives bring. I bet that pangrattato rounds out this dish texturally, too. I can't wait to check out your other 15 minute dishes.