creamy tuna pasta
This quick and easy creamy tuna pasta recipe is perfect for a weeknight dinner. Made with simple pantry staples, it's ready in under 30 minutes and bursting with flavor. A family-friendly meal that everyone will love!
Prep
: 10
Total
: 25 minutes
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 8 ounces short pasta such as penne, rotini, or macaroni
- 2 cans tuna in water 5 ounce cans, drained
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 0.5 small onion finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese grated, plus more for serving
- 0.5 cup frozen peas (optional)
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper freshly ground, to taste
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
Preparation Steps
- Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve about 0.5 cup of pasta water before draining. Set aside.
- While the pasta is cooking, heat olive oil in a large skillet or deep pan over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add the minced garlic to the skillet and cook for another minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Pour in the heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until melted and the sauce thickens slightly.
- Add the drained tuna, frozen peas (if using), salt, and black pepper to the cream sauce. Stir gently to combine and heat through for 2-3 minutes.
- Add the cooked and drained pasta to the skillet with the sauce. Toss well to coat all the pasta. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water until desired consistency is reached.
- Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley and extra grated Parmesan cheese if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
For a healthier option, you can use whole wheat pasta and light cream. Feel free to add other vegetables like spinach, chopped bell peppers, or mushrooms along with the onion. A squeeze of lemon juice at the end can brighten up the flavors.