We love this tuna pasta with garlic, sundried tomatoes, anchovies and chili peppers. It is made with jarred tuna packed in olive oil and everyday pantry ingredients for an extra quick, delicious weeknight dinner.

If you love this Garlic Chili Tuna Pasta, you will also love this Quick Burst Tomato Pasta With HalloumiOne-Pot Pasta With Cherry Tomatoes or Orzo Pasta With Tomatoes And Parmesan!

A cast iron skillet with garlic chili tuna pasta and utensils. On the table lemon halves, a chili pepper and a cloth napkin.

Why this recipe sings

  • It is delicious.ย Our tuna pasta recipe is inspired by a Calabrian recipe, pasta al tonno.
  • It is easy.ย You can have this delicious tuna pasta ready in twenty minutes.
  • It is versatile. It is easy to swap ingredients based on what is in your pantry. Instead of sundried tomatoes use capers, add chili flakes if chili peppers are not available, or use jalapenos and shortcut pasta instead of bucatini.

Here is what you need

  • spaghetti pasta. This tuna pasta sauce can be enjoyed with bucatini, penne, rigatoni, or whatever you have in your pantry.
  • Tuna. This recipe works best with canned tuna in olive oil. Get a good quality tuna, preferably in a jar. The olive oil in the jar will be used to cook the sauce, adding so much flavor!
  • Lemon. The zest of a whole lemon adds brightness to the dish.
  • Garlic. You can tune up or down the amount of garlic you like in this recipe.
  • Chili peppers. You can use fresh or dried chilies. Substitute with a teaspoon of chili flakes, or slice a jalapeno instead.
  • Anchovies. They can be a secret weapon for seasoning pasta dishes. The anchovies add a savory bite to the simple sauce and pair perfectly with the tuna.
  • Sundried tomatoes. They add a savory bite to the dish.
  • Extra virgin olive oil, sea salt, and freshly ground pepper.
  • Fresh parsley. As a garnish, parsley adds a pop of color and a fresh note to this dish.

How to make Garlic Chili Tuna Pasta

  1. Place a large pot of water on high heat, add plenty of sea salt and bring to a boil. 
  2. Slice the chili peppers and the garlic into thin slices. Roughly chop the sundried tomatoes. Flake the tuna into large chunks. Pour the olive oil into a small bowl. Roughly chop the parsley.
  3. Place one tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet on high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the breadcrumbs, stir, and toast until golden. Place the breadcrumbs on a plate and set aside for later.
  4. Add the tuna olive oil to a skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic, chili peppers, and anchovies, and saute for one minute. Add the white wine and deglaze the pan. Add the tuna to the pan. Add in the sundried tomatoes and zest the lemon over the skillet.
  5. Transfer the spaghetti directly to the pan with tongs. Toss over medium heat to combine for two minutes. Season to taste with sea salt and freshly ground pepper. Add the chopped parsley, and drizzle a little olive oil. 
  6. Add the toasted breadcrumbs, toss and serve immediately.
Close up of a fork with garlic tuna pasta on a plate.
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A plate with garlic chili tuna pasta and utensils. On the table lemon, bread and a cloth napkin.

Garlic Chili Tuna Pasta

by Jenny | The Greek Foodie
Our tuna pasta has garlic, sundried tomatoes, anchovies and chili peppers. Made with pantry ingredients, it is a quick, delicious weeknight dinner.
5 from 8 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian, Mediterannean
Servings 2
Calories 898 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 6 oz spaghetti or bucatini
  • 6.5 oz tuna in olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons sundried tomatoes in olive oil
  • 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • ยฝ cup white wine
  • ยผ cup potato chips crushed
  • 3 garlic cloves sliced
  • 6 anchovies
  • 2 chili peppers
  • 1 lemon zested
  • sea salt
  • freshly ground pepper

Instructions
 

  • Place a large pot of water on high heat, add plenty of sea salt and bring to a boil.
  • Slice the chili peppers and the garlic into thin slices. Roughly chop the sundried tomatoes.
    Flake the tuna into large chunks. Pour the olive oil into a small bowl.
  • Place one tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet on high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the breadcrumbs, stir, and toast until golden. Place the breadcrumbs on a plate and set aside for later.
  • Add the olive oil from the can to a skillet over medium heat.
    Add the garlic, chili peppers, and anchovies, and saute for one minute. Add in the sundried tomatoes and pour the white wine.
    Deglaze the pan.
  • Transfer the spaghetti directly to the pan with tongs.
    Toss over medium heat to combine for 2 minutes.
    Add the tuna to the pan.
    Season to taste with sea salt and freshly ground pepper. Drizzle a little olive oil.
  • Add the crumbled chips, toss and serve immediately.

Notes

  • This recipe works best with tuna in olive oil. There is a great solution if you only have tuna in water in your pantry. Drain it carefully from all the water. Put the tuna in a bowl and add plenty of extra virgin olive oil and some fresh basil if you have it. If you can, let it sit in the oil for an hour. The olive oil and basil will infuse the tuna with their delicate flavor.
  • Drizzle some of the sundried tomatoes oil into the finished dish for a burst of flavor.
ย 
ย 
The nutritional analysis is only an estimate based on available ingredients and the recipeโ€™s preparation.ย 

Nutrition

Calories: 898kcalCarbohydrates: 77gProtein: 33gFat: 46gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 31gCholesterol: 40mgSodium: 545mgPotassium: 498mgFiber: 4gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 202IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 94mgIron: 4mg
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5 from 8 votes

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Recipe Rating




10 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    The simplicity of this recipe is fantastic and the fresh thyme, peppers and sun dried tomatoes lend wonderfully bright flavor as well as pleasing to look at. A great quick dinner. Thanks!

  2. 5 stars
    My first attempt to making this Tuna combination with pasta. This is definitely a Happy meal for my family. Love the Sun dried tomatoes and olive combinations too.

  3. This is a perfect meal to make in a pinch. It’s hearty and satisfying and so accessible too. Love tossing in tuna with some pasta..looks delish!

  4. 5 stars
    This spaghetti is so good!! I always have all of these ingredients on hand, so it’s such a great last minute weeknight dinner ๐Ÿ™‚

  5. This tuna pasta sounds so delicious and fresh! We love a good stovetop meal during the summer when it’s too hot to turn on the oven, so I can’t wait to give this a try.

  6. 5 stars
    Love how simple and easy this is to make and the flavors are just spot on! Sun dried tomatoes are so refreshing in the recipe. So easy to put this dish together!