Tuna pasta with sauce ready in 15 minutes is the perfect recipe when you want to serve a quick, tasty first course accessible to everyone without sacrificing flavor. A simple idea, ideal for Sunday family lunch or for those days when time is short but the craving for something delicious remains.
This “red” version is the comforting alternative to the classic tuna pasta in white: the light and fragrant tomato sauce blends with a base of garlic, oil, and a pinch of chili pepper, creating a balanced and never heavy dressing.
The secret is to add the tuna only when the heat is off, so it remains soft and flavorful, without losing its delicacy. By the time the pasta cooks, the dressing is already ready: in a few minutes, you’ll serve a perfect dish even in summer, when you’re looking for something good without spending hours at the stove.
Before moving to the recipe, here are some ideas for other quick and easy first courses, perfect for every day.
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Economical
- Preparation time: 5 Minutes
- Portions: 3
- Cooking methods: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All Seasons
- Energy 271.76 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 36.79 (g) of which sugars 0.58 (g)
- Proteins 15.52 (g)
- Fat 7.67 (g) of which saturated 2.01 (g)of which unsaturated 2.56 (g)
- Fibers 3.51 (g)
- Sodium 1,407.63 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 200 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients
- 4 cups water (for cooking pasta)
- coarse salt
- 9 oz spaghetti
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic
- chili pepper
- 1 can tuna (medium)
- salt
- 14 oz chopped tomatoes
- parsley
Tools
- 1 Pot
- 1 Frying Pan
🍝 Procedure
1️⃣ Bring the water to a boil
Place a pot with plenty of water and a handful of coarse salt on the stove. Once it reaches a boil, keep it ready for the pasta.2️⃣ Prepare the aromatic base
In a large frying pan, pour a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil, add two roughly chopped garlic cloves and a piece of chili pepper.
Let it flavor over low heat until the garlic turns slightly golden and releases all its aroma.
3️⃣ Cook the sauce
Add the chopped tomatoes, season with salt, and let it cook over medium heat for about 10–15 minutes, until the sauce slightly thickens and becomes rich yet light.4️⃣ The secret to soft tuna
Turn off the heat and add the tuna raw, mixing gently.
This way, it stays soft, flavorful, and doesn’t dry out. Finish with a handful of chopped fresh parsley.5️⃣ Cook and toss the pasta
Cook the pasta al dente, drain it, and transfer it directly into the pan with the sauce.
Toss everything over off heat for a few seconds so that the pasta mixes well and absorbs the flavor.
6️⃣ Serve and enjoy
Serve your tuna pasta with sauce hot, fragrant, and creamy just right.
A simple, quick, and perfect first course even in summer when you want something good without spending hours at the stove.
📝 Final Notes – Tips and Variations
If you want to add a little extra to your tuna pasta with sauce, you can enrich it with sliced black olives or a teaspoon of well-rinsed capers: they add a savory note that pairs perfectly with the tomato.
Always remember to add the tuna off the heat: this way it stays soft, fragrant, and doesn’t dry out, keeping all its flavor.
If you don’t like chili pepper, you can easily omit it or replace it with a grind of black pepper for a more delicate aroma.
👉 For an even more “summery” version, try adding at the end of cooking a grating of untreated lemon zest: it gives freshness to the dish without covering the taste of the tuna.
FAQ (Questions and Answers)
Can I use natural tuna instead of tuna in oil?
Yes, you can also use natural tuna, but I suggest adding a good drizzle of oil to enhance the flavor of the dish. Tuna in oil, in fact, makes the pasta more flavorful.
Can I prepare the sauce in advance?
Sure! You can prepare the sauce in advance and store it in the fridge for a couple of days. Add the tuna only when serving the pasta, so it stays fragrant and doesn’t dry out.
