Pesto Tuna Pasta

Only 6 ingredients & 20 minutes. This quick and easy Italian meal of pesto tuna pasta is amazing. Great for dinner, lunch, or as a side dish. Serve it warm or cold - the perfect fancy but cheap seafood pasta dish.

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Prep Time 5

Cook Time 15

Total Time 20

Course Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine American, Italian

Servings

Calories 579 kcal

Equipment

pasta pot or stock pot & colander
skillet

Ingredients

10 ounces rigatoni pasta or other short tube pasta like penne
2 cans (6-oz each) white albacore tuna, in water or oil drained
7-8 ounces prepared pesto sauce
¼ cup olive oil
2 cloves garlic pressed
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
shaved parmesan cheese optional for topping
Fresh lemon juice optional for topping
salt & fresh ground black pepper optional to taste

Instructions

Boil pasta in a large stockpot or pasta pot in plenty of salted water. This should take about 7-8 minutes.
While the pasta is cooking, to a medium skillet over medium heat, add the olive oil. Add pressed fresh garlic cloves and the red pepper flakes.
Stir & heat for 5 minutes over medium-low heat. Be careful to not let the garlic or peppers burn.
Once ready, add the drained tuna to the skillet. Stir carefully to coat the tuna in the flavored olive oil. You do not want the tuna to break apart too much - some big chunks are ideal.
When the pasta is al dente, turn off the heat. Now scoop out 2-3 tablespoons of pasta water and set aside. Drain the pasta and add it back to the pot.
Add the pesto sauce and stir to coat the pasta. Add some of the starchy pasta water (a little at a time) to thin the pesto and help it cling to the rigatoni.
Transfer the tuna mixture to the pot with the pesto pasta. Gently fold or stir everything together. Again, try and keep the tuna in chunks.
To serve, spoon the Pesto Tuna Pasta into individual pasta bowls or plates. Top with shaved parmesan. Drizzle with olive oil &/or squeeze on some fresh lemon juice for a bit of zing.
Add salt and/or fresh black pepper to taste. Enjoy immediately while warm.

Notes

STORING:

Refrigerate for up to 3 days.
Do not recommend freezing.

This is for 4 main dish servings - if serving it as a cold side salad it can serve up to 8 people. ( the nutritional info will vary based on the kind of pesto or tuna used -below is an estimate)

NUTRITION NOTE: the calories, carbs, & fat will vary based on they amount & type of pesto used.

Nutrition

Calories: 579kcalCarbohydrates: 58gProtein: 12gFat: 33gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 479mgPotassium: 175mgFiber: 3gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 1149IUVitamin C: 0.5mgCalcium: 99mgIron: 1mg

Keyword 6-ingredient, cold, easy, Italian, lunch, potluck, quick, salad, warm

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