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Pasta recipes

Pasta with Tuna and Tomato Sauce

With a few basic ingredients from the fridge and the pantry, you are not more than minutes away from a delicious pasta dinner.

Pasta with Tuna and Tomato Sauce
Prep: 10 min   •   Cook: 15 min   •   Total: 25 minYield: 4 servings

Easy to prepare and endlessly versatile, pasta makes a wonderful quick supper when time is short. If you are a tuna lover, this easy-to-follow recipe is perfect for a light supper or a festive outdoor dinner al fresco. With a few basic ingredients from the fridge and the pantry, you are not more than minutes away from a delicious pasta dinner. If you grow your own herbs, make sure to toss in some chopped fresh basil!

Christina Cherrier
by Christina Cherrier
Christina Cherrier

Christina Cherrier is a recipe developer and editor for Eatwell101 since 2011. She specializes in savory recipes, quick dinner options, and holiday menus. She is a professionally trained cook and worked as a consultant in the hospitality industry.

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Updated Jan 12, 2026

Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com

 Ingredients list for pasta with tuna and tomato sauce

Serves 4 :

  • 1 pound (500g) rigatoni pasta or penne
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • A large can of skinned tomatoes (1.5 lb)
  • 1 to 2 cans of tuna packed in oil (if all you have is tuna in brine, drain it, add oil directly into the can, and let it steep for a few hours in the refrigerator)
  • 1 bunch of  fresh basil leaves, keep the stems apart
  • 1 pinch of cinnamon
  • Salt and pepper
  • Grated parmesan cheese (optional)
  • Zest and juice of a lemon

Directions

1. Boil a large volume of salted water to cook pasta. Meanwhile, prepare the sauce.
2. Chop onions and fry over low heat with a little olive oil, chopped basil stems, and ground cinnamon.
3. When the onion is translucent, add the skinned tomatoes and flaked tuna. Add salt and pepper, and simmer while the pasta finishes cooking.
4. When pasta is cooked al dente, add torn basil leaves, a drizzle of lemon juice, and grated zest to the tuna and tomato sauce. Check and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
5. Drain pasta and combine with sauce, serve with a drizzle of olive oil and sprinkle with freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional).

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    Nutrition Info (Beta version)
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