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 plate with garlic chili tuna pasta and utensils. On the table lemon, bread and a cloth napkin.

Why this recipe sings

  • It is delicious. Our tuna pasta recipe is inspired by a Calabrian recipe, pasta al tonno.
  • It is fast and easy to make. You can have this delicious tuna pasta ready in twenty minutes, making it a perfect weeknight dinner.
  • 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

All the ingredients to make tuna pasta on a butcher block.
  • Spaghetti pasta. Of course, our tuna pasta sauce can be enjoyed with bucatini, penne, rigatoni, or whatever you have in your pantry.
  • Tuna. This recipe works best with canned tunaย in olive oil. The olive oil will cook the sauce, adding so much flavor! If you only have tuna in water, don’t despair! See our tips and recipe notes on how to use it successfully.
  • Anchovies. They are a secret weapon for seasoning.
  • 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.
  • Sundried tomatoes. For an extra savory bite.
  • White wine. It is always great for giving flavor to sauces. The alcohol evaporates during cooking. Substitute with an equal amount of preferred broth.
  • Lemon zest. For brightness.
  • Potato Chips. Yes, you read this correctly. We sprinkle crumbled salty potato chips all over the pasta as a finishing touch. Yum!
  • Extra virgin olive oil, sea salt, and freshly ground pepper.

How to make Garlic Chili Tuna Pasta

Place a large pot of water on high heat, add plenty of sea salt, and bring to a boil. 
Slice the chili peppers and chop the garlic. Roughly chop the sundried tomatoes. Flake the tuna into large chunks. Pour the olive oil into a small bowl.

Anchovies, chili pepper, garlic cooking in olive oil

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.


Anchovies, chili pepper, garlic cooking with wine in olive oil

Add the white wine and deglaze the pan.  Add in the sundried tomatoes and stir.

Adding cooked spaghetti in a pan with anchovies, chili pepper and garlic.

Transfer the spaghetti directly to the pan with tongs. Toss over medium heat to combine for two minutes.


Spaghetti in a pan with lemon zest on top.

Zest a whole lemon on the spaghetti and toss lightly with the sauce.

Tuna on spaghetti in a pan.

Flake the tuna and add on top and toss. Season to taste with sea salt and freshly ground pepper.


Crumbled potato chips on top of tuna spaghetti.

Drizzle a little olive oil,  add the crumbled potato chips, toss, and serve immediately.

A plate with garlic chili tuna pasta and utensils. On the table lemon, bread and a cloth napkin.

What to eat with Garlic chili tuna pasta

There are a few dishes you can add to your table to transform this delicious tuna spaghetti into a feast.

olive oil guide

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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 541 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 6 oz spaghetti or bucatini
  • 6.5 oz tuna in olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons sundried tomatoes in olive oil
  • ยฝ cup white wine
  • ยผ cup potato chips crushed
  • 3 garlic cloves sliced
  • 6 anchovies
  • 2 chili peppers
  • 1 lemon zested
  • ยผ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 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: 541kcalCarbohydrates: 75gProtein: 33gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 40mgSodium: 285mgPotassium: 767mgFiber: 4gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 235IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 74mgIron: 4mg
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