Creamy Tuna Pasta

By Snejana Andreeva

on Nov 12, 2022, Updated Dec 10, 2023

4.85 from 20 reviews
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You are going to love this Creamy Tuna Pasta. My 🎄 Christmas Eve is just not the same without this bowl of pasta. Steve’s uncle inspired this recipe. Zio Iginio was born and raised in Trento, in the Northern part of 🇮🇹 Italy. He lived in the mountains right on the border of Austria and made this dish for us all the time. This is my take on his pasta with tuna, and hopefully, it honors him today. Rip Zio Jimmy, we all miss you and love you.

Table of Contents

A wooden spoon lifts a serving of creamy rotini mixed with shredded meat, garnished with chopped parsley. The rotini is in a white dish, and a sprig of parsley is visible to the side.

Why You’ll Love This Creamy Tuna Pasta

The tuna is cooked to golden perfection in a mix of butter and olive oil and complements the al-dente pasta beautifully. This Creamy Tuna Pasta is a great option for a regular weeknight, as it comes together quickly, or you can use it for special occasions such as my family does on 🎄 Christmas Eve. A bit of pepper adds a nice 🔥 kick, and using the starchy pasta water makes the dish so creamy. Feel free to top it with fresh Parmesan Reggiano or chili oil for extra flavor.

How to Prepare

🔥 Heat butter and olive oil in a skillet on medium heat until it shimmers.

🐟 Drain oil or water from tuna and add it to the skillet. Break up and cook until the tuna is golden. Season with pepper and remove from heat.

💦 Boil your preferred pasta in salted water until al dente and then add the cooked pasta to the skillet along with some pasta starchy water.

Ingredients on a white surface: a bowl of tuna, fusilli pasta, grated cheese, olive oil, butter cubes, and a bowl with salt and pepper.
A white skillet on a marble surface contains cooked ground meat evenly spread across the bottom. Nearby, there are two small bowls, one with grated cheese and the other with ground black pepper.
A white pan filled with fusilli pasta and tuna, ready to be mixed. Small bowls of grated cheese and black pepper are visible in the background on a white surface.

🌶️ Top the dish with fresh Parmesan (not traditional) or chili oil.

❤️ Share and enjoy the recipe with your loved ones.

A white skillet filled with cooked fusilli, topped with grated cheese, black pepper, and small bits of meat. The ingredients are ready to be mixed for a final dish. The skillet has a white handle, and a wooden spoon is visible beside it.
A large white dish filled with rotini pasta tossed in a creamy sauce, garnished with fresh parsley. A wooden spoon rests on the side. Black peppercorns are scattered on the table, and a small bowl of grated cheese is nearby.
A wooden spoon lifts a serving of creamy rotini pasta mixed with shredded meat, garnished with chopped parsley. The pasta is in a white dish, and a sprig of parsley is visible to the side.

Nonna’s Tip 🧂

Please adjust the pasta water according to how creamy you like your dish. The pasta water should be as salty as the sea, as this is your only chance to flavor the pasta.

A large white dish filled with rotini tossed in a creamy sauce, garnished with fresh parsley. A wooden spoon rests on the side. Black peppercorns are scattered on the table, and a small bowl of grated cheese is nearby.

Variations and Substitutions for Creamy Tuna Pasta

  1. Instead of canned tuna, you can use canned salmon or 🐟 fresh tuna; just be sure to cook it according to your taste and doneness preferences.
  2. You can certainly experiment with various pasta shapes and types, like spaghetti, fettuccine, penne, or even whole wheat pasta for a healthier option.
  3. If you need to make this Creamy Tuna Pasta recipe gluten-free, you can substitute traditional wheat pasta with gluten-free alternatives such as rice or quinoa pasta.
  4. Add minced 🧄 garlic to the butter and olive oil for a garlic-infused flavor.
  5. Toss in some capers or chopped olives or include chopped fresh 🌿 herbs such as parsley, basil, or dill for added freshness.
  6. I recommend Parmesan Reggiano but you could try other 🧀 cheeses such as Pecorino Romano, Asiago, or feta for different flavor options.
  7. To make a vegetarian version, replace the tuna with chickpeas, white beans, or sautéed mushrooms.

Other Seafood Recipes

Best Served With

  • Serve this Creamy Tuna Pasta with a simple 🥗 green salad.
  • A lovely crusty 🍞 bread like my No Knead Peasant Bread.
  • A glass of white wine.

Common Questions

Can I use more tuna than suggested?

Yes, you can use as much or as little tuna as you like in this recipe. Keep in mind that this dish would be lovely with salmon or chicken too. Measure with your heart!

How much pasta water should I use?

Please adjust the pasta water according to how creamy you like your dish. The pasta water should be as salty as the sea, and this is your only chance to flavor the pasta.

What type of salt do you use?

I use Redmond Real Salt, please note that depending on the salt you use, your dish may be less or more salty. Salt is to taste so please always taste and adjust as you cook.

Can I skip the parmesan?

Grated parm is totally optional as it’s not traditional to this Creamy Tuna Pasta recipe, but delicious. Make sure it’s a good-quality block of Parmigiano Reggiano. 

5 from 20 reviews

Creamy Tuna Pasta

A wooden spoon lifts a serving of creamy rotini pasta mixed with shredded meat, garnished with chopped parsley. The pasta is in a white dish, and a sprig of parsley is visible to the side.
This delicious recipe is a great option for a regular weeknight, as it comes together quickly, or you can use it for special occasions such as my family does on 🎄 Christmas Eve.
Rate ⭐ Print 🖨
Makes: 3 portions
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
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VideoEquipmentIngredientsInstructionsNutrition

Video

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1.5 cans tuna, large cans without the liquid
  • 5 tablespoons butter
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • pepper , to taste
  • 250 grams pasta, short pasta of choice
  • pasta water, (about two ladles)
  • chili peppers , optional
  • parmigiano , optional

Instructions

  • In a skillet on medium heat add the butter and olive oil and make sure it shimmers.
  • Drain the oil or water from the tuna and add it to the butter and olive oil. Break it up and cook until the tuna “pops” and it’s nice and golden.
  • Add some pepper to taste and take it off the heat. In the meantime, make sure you are boiling the pasta of choice in salted water until al-dente.
  • When the tuna is nice and golden take the pan off the heat completely. Once the pasta has finished boiling, add it to the pan with the tuna and ladle in the starchy pasta water (liquid gold) a little at a time. Stir gently until creamy.
  • Top it off with some fresh Parm or chilli oil and don’t forget to share this recipe with your love ones. Enjoy.

My Notes

Add your personal notes here!

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Creamy Tuna Pasta
Serving Size
 
1 portion
Amount per Serving
Calories
594
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
26
g
40
%
Saturated Fat
 
13
g
81
%
Trans Fat
 
1
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
2
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
9
g
Cholesterol
 
81
mg
27
%
Sodium
 
341
mg
15
%
Potassium
 
342
mg
10
%
Carbohydrates
 
62
g
21
%
Fiber
 
3
g
13
%
Sugar
 
2
g
2
%
Protein
 
27
g
54
%
Vitamin A
 
632
IU
13
%
Calcium
 
39
mg
4
%
Iron
 
3
mg
17
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

4.85 from 20 votes (9 ratings without comment)

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26 Comments

  2. 5 stars
    I love this recipe! I made it as it but added capers. It is delicious. It’t got a lot of flexibility too. I can see adding white beans next time to stretch it a little. Bacon would be yummy too. Simple as it is, it’s delicious and I will make again,.

    Reply