What is the best tuna to use for tuna pesto pasta?

I recommend using tuna packed in oil for this recipe. Tuna packed in oil is more flavorful and has a more supple, less "dry" texture, in my opinion! For the best flavor, look for tuna packed in olive oil specifically, but if you can't find that, tuna packed in sunflower or vegetable oil would also work. And, if you can find it, canned tuna that comes in larger pieces (aka "solid pack" tuna) provides more texture to the pasta. Tuna labeled solid white albacore and solid light yellowfin are good options.

Can I use tuna packed in water?

If you don't have or don't like tuna packed in oil, you can definitely substitute tuna packed in water. To substitute tuna packed in water for this recipe, just drain out most of the water from the tuna before adding it to the pot (don't worry about getting the tuna super dry before adding it, some moisture is fine). Then, if you like you can add in a drizzle of olive oil (about 2 - 3 teaspoons) to the pasta to replace the oil that would have come from the tuna packed in oil.

What is the best shape of pasta to use for pesto?

In researching the topic of which pasta shape pairs best with pesto, I have come across many varied recommendations. These include long noodles such as spaghetti, capellini and vermicelli, twisty pasta shapes such as fusilli, trofie and gemelli, and even some wild card entries such as lasagna and gnocchi. I am using the twisty pasta fusilli , because the nooks and crannies hold onto the pesto well. However, as you can see there are many different ideas about what is the "best" type of pasta to pair with pesto. Therefore, you can feel free to stick with one of these recommendations above, or choose another shape of pasta you really like. I am sure that your pesto pasta will taste fantastic either way! If you have the option, I do recommend going with a bronze-cut pasta , regardless of what shape you go for. Bronze-cut pasta has a rougher texture that clings even better to sauces. I talk more about bronze-cut pasta in my post for cream cheese pasta .

What goes well with tuna pesto pasta?

Because this pasta dish already has a protein component thanks to the canned tuna, you don't need to add much else to make a complete and satisfying meal. Try serving tuna pesto pasta alongside a fresh green salad , bean salad , or a side of sautéed vegetables . It would also pair well with a small cup of vegetable or minestrone soup. My recipe for burrata caprese would also be a fantastic starting course!

Can I make this recipe vegetarian?

This recipe can be adapted to be made vegetarian but you will need to make a couple modifications. First, you can swap out the canned tuna for a cup (or more!) of canned white beans (drained and rinsed). This is a great swap because the white beans will fill in some of the protein that would have come from the tuna. Next, you can check to see whether the pesto you are using includes cheese made with rennet, which is not considered vegetarian. It would be easy to look for store-bought pesto labeled vegan, or make your own! Finally, you will need to either omit the Parmesan (again, due to rennet), or look for Parmesan (or another similar cheese) that is labeled vegetarian. Here is a great list of brands that offer vegetarian cheeses, including Parmesan !

Tuna Pesto Pasta

Name: Tuna Pesto Pasta
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 8 ounces (227 g) fusilli (or your favorite pasta shape); two 5 ounce (142 g) cans tuna packed in oil; 1 1/2 cups (230 g) grape tomatoes, halved; 1/2 cup (40 g) finely shredded Parmesan, plus more for garnish; 1 cup (227 g) pesto sauce (store-bought or homemade); salt and black pepper, to taste

Tuna Pesto Pasta

Print Recipe

Tuna pesto pasta is an easy dinner that's hearty and filling. With minimal prep, you can make this main course in only about 20 minutes with 5 ingredients (not counting salt and pepper).

Author: Kate
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Yield: 4 servings 1x
Category: main course, entree
Method: stove top
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Units Scale

8 ounces (227 g) fusilli (or your favorite pasta shape)
two 5 ounce (142 g) cans tuna packed in oil
1 1/2 cups (230 g) grape tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup (40 g) finely shredded Parmesan, plus more for garnish
1 cup (227 g) pesto sauce (store-bought or homemade)
salt and black pepper, to taste

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Instructions

Set a large pot of water to boil on the stove. While the pasta water is coming to a boil, continue with steps 2 - 3.
Rinse and dry the grape tomatoes. Cut each tomato in half vertically, set aside.
Finely shred the Parmesan (if not using pre-shredded). Set aside.
When the pasta water begins to boil, add a generous pinch of salt and stir in the pasta. Cook the pasta according to the package directions.
Drain the pasta, but first reserve about 1/2 cup of the pasta water.
Return the drained pasta to the pot. Add in the tomatoes, Parmesan, pesto sauce, and two cans of tuna (add in the entire can, do not drain first).
Gently mix the pasta together with the other ingredients until combined. Do not overmix as to avoid breaking the tuna apart too much.
Taste the pasta and season with salt and black pepper to taste. (Optional - if you want the sauce to be thinner, drizzle in some of the reserved pasta water.)
Serve with additional shredded Parmesan cheese on top.

Notes

Tuna packed in olive oil provides great flavor; otherwise, you can use any kind of tuna packed in oil.

If you can find it, look for tuna labeled "solid," such as "solid white albacore" or "solid light yellowfin." Because this tuna comes in larger chunks, rather than small flakes, this will provide lots of great texture to the dish.

While tuna packed in oil provides the best flavor and texture (in my opinion), you can also substitute tuna packed in water. Drain away most of the liquid (some remaining is fine) before adding to the pasta. If you like, you can also add in 2 - 3 teaspoons of olive oil to replace what would have been added from the tuna packed in oil.

The nutrition information below is an estimate only, provided by an online nutrition calculator. The nutrition counts of your dish will vary based on the brand and exact amounts of ingredients used. This nutrition estimate should not be considered a substitute for professional medical, health, or nutritional advice. See our full disclosure policy.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1/4 recipe
Calories: 654
Sugar: 7.1 g
Sodium: 789 mg
Fat: 35.5 g
Saturated Fat: 7.9 g
Carbohydrates: 49 g
Fiber: 3.8 g
Protein: 36.7 g
Cholesterol: 42 mg

Keywords: tuna pesto pasta, tuna pasta

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