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Home » Dinner » Tuna Pea Pasta

Tuna Pea Pasta

August 12, 2021 by Tracy | Updated January 6, 2022 This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

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a pot of pasta, peas, and tuna with a wooden spoon and Pinterest pin text.
a pot of pasta, peas, and tuna with a wooden spoon and Pinterest pin text.
a pot of pasta, peas, and tuna with a wooden spoon and Pinterest pin text.
a pot of pasta, peas, and tuna with a wooden spoon and Pinterest pin text.
overhead of cooked pasta with tuna and peas and Pinterest pin text.
an overhead of a pot of bow tie pasta with peas and tuna and Pinterest pin text.

Ready in under 20 minutes, this Tuna Pea Pasta is a light, healthy, pasta with tuna recipe made with fresh herbs, canned tuna, and sweet peas. It is so easy to make and a family favorite that can be served hot or cold or for lunch or dinner!

Love Peas and Pasta? Try our Pea Pancetta Pasta, next!

a large pot with farfalle pasta, peas, and tuna.

If ever you need to know the value of a dish, just give it to a 5-year-old. Luckily, I happen to have a very opinioned one around who declared this pasta with tuna recipe her favorite. If that's not a glowing recommendation for our latest Tuna Pea Pasta, then I don't know what is!

My kids love it because of the tuna and pasta. I love it because it is light, healthy, packed full of peas, delicious served hot or cold, annnnnd ready in under 20 minutes! It is our new favorite, fast, pasta of the summer!

Ingredients Needed

pasta, tuna, peas, herbs, lemon, garlic, salt, and pepper.
  • Pasta - My favorite for this recipe is a farfalle, but you can use your own favorite! Even better, you know you can always make your own! No time to make your own? No problem, just use your favorite brand!
  • Peas - Key to a tuna pea pasta recipe, right? I just love the subtle sweetness to them, plus they happen to be one of our girls' favorites. We always have frozen peas in our freezer ready, but if you have access (and time to shell) to some beautiful fresh peas, well color me green!
  • Tuna - We love this tuna pasta packed with albacore tuna.
  • Garlic and Onion - Staples in our recipes.
  • Herbs - I just love the flavor of fresh dill with tuna. But if you don't have fresh, no problem, dried herbs work too! Just see the recipe notes.
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil - Whenever we use olive oil raw, we use a good extra virgin olive oil, and one of our favorites right now is Tre Olive out of Italy (of course).
  • Lemon Juice - Fresh or bottled, whatever you have to add a little acidity and brightness.
  • Parmesan Cheese - Just a touch of cheesy salty goodness.
  • Salt and Pepper

Tip: For the best olive oil, check out our olive oil breakdown here.

Step-by-Step Instructions

adding pasta to a boiling pot of water and peas.

Less than 20 minutes! Another reason why this tuna pasta recipe is such a winner.

Step 1: Prep a pot of boiling water.

Step 2: Add pasta and then a few minutes in, add the peas.

Pyrex with vinaigrette and herbs surrounding it.

Step 3: Meanwhile, make your light, bright, dressing.

Tip: We love using these Pyrex with a pour spout for dressings.

onion and garlic in a pot and pasta and peas being added in.

Step 4: And saute your garlic and onion, before adding your drained pasta and peas!

dressing being added to pasta and cheese being added to pasta.

Step 5: Add the dressing, mix, and then cheese!

Give a final mix and done! Tuna Pea Pasta for the win!

One of the (many) reasons why I love this recipe, is it's delicious hot or cold! Which makes this a perfect make-ahead dish!

a large pot with farfalle pasta, peas, and tuna.

It's easy. It's healthy. It's ready in under 20 minutes. How can you go wrong? My girls love this for lunch or a light dinner. And it's perfect for summer!

Summer Pasta Favorites

  • Sesame Soba Noodle Salad
  • 20 Minute Tomato Artichoke Pasta
  • 20 Minute Tomato Artichoke Pasta
  • Avocado Pasta Salad
  • 20 Minute Sweet and Spicy Noodles
  • 15 Minute Garlic Fried Noodles
  • 15 Minute Garlic Parmesan Zoodles

Ready fast made easy, and most importantly, this Tuna Pea Pasta is delicious! We love this dish so much!

FAQs

Can I use another pasta?

Of course! Use another cut of pasta or even rice noodles. Use your favorite, just be sure to cook to the particular pasta's instructions. If using fresh pasta that's only about 2-3 minutes. Otherwise, just follow the instructions on the package.

Can I use different veggies?

While sweet peas are our favorite to use, of course, you can use any that you have. If using frozen, add to the pasta water like the peas. If using canned or fresh, see recipe notes.

Do I use frozen, fresh, or canned peas?

We always have frozen peas on hand so that's what we use for this recipe but you can of course also use fresh or canned. If using fresh, just add in the last 2 minutes of boiling. If using canned, since they're already cooked, all you need to do is add the tuna.

Can I use dried herbs?

Of course! Just use 1 teaspoon of dried herbs for every 1 tablespoon of fresh.

Can I make this ahead?

Definitely! Prep the pasta and veggies and the dressing and cheese separately and then mix it all together right before serving.

Do I serve it hot or cold?

That's totally up to you, we love it both ways!

Enjoy! As always, if you make this recipe or any of my others, I love to hear what you think! Leave a comment below, email me, or you can find me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest!

a large pot with farfalle pasta, peas, and tuna.

Tuna Pea Pasta

An under 20, easy to make tuna pea pasta recipe that's delicious served hot or cold or for lunch or dinner!
4.93 from 14 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Kid Friendly, Main Course, Noodles
Cuisine: American
Diet: Diabetic, Low Salt
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Author: Tracy

Ingredients

  • 1/2 lb pasta farfalle, egg noodles, or any of your other favorites
  • 1 5 oz can albacore tuna drained
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/2 onion diced
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
  • 1 1/2 tablespoon fresh parsley minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh dill minced
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese shredded

Instructions

  • Heat a 3 quart pot of water on stove until it comes to a boil.
  • Meanwhile, in a small bowl of measuring cup with a pour spout, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Whisk and set aside.
  • When water comes to a bowl, add pasta. Set timer for pasta - according to time on package for the kind of pasta you're using. When there's about 4 minutes left for the pasta to cook, add frozen peas.
  • While peas cook, heat remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a dutch oven or large pot and on medium and saute garlic and onion until soft and transluscent.
  • When pasta is al dente, drain and add to the onions in the pot. Turn off heat. Add the tuna and mix.
  • Add herbs, mix, and then drizzle dressing. Add Parmesan cheese and give a final mix.
  • Serve and enjoy!

Notes

Storage: 
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. 
Substitutions: 
Herbs- Use dried herbs for the fresh.  Use 1 teaspoon of dried parsley and 1 (scant) teaspoon of dill.  
Peas - Fresh or Canned.  If using fresh, add to boiling water 2-3 minutes before the pasta is finished cooking. If using canned, add with tuna.  
Pasta - Use your favorite! If using fresh, it only takes a couple of minutes to cook, so add peas at the same time to boiling water.
Make-Ahead:
If making to serve cold, prep everything as described, but save the dressing and cheese for right before serving. 

Nutrition

Calories: 268kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 37mg | Sodium: 988mg | Potassium: 503mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 723IU | Vitamin C: 23mg | Calcium: 108mg | Iron: 2mg
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. MaryAnn

    March 09, 2022 at 4:32 pm

    We loved this healthy version of good old fashioned tuna casserole. It was so delicious as well as fast and easy. We will be adding this to our biweekly menu.

    Reply
    • Tracy

      March 09, 2022 at 5:51 pm

      So great to hear, MaryAnn! Thanks so much for sharing!

      Reply
    • Viktoriya

      July 09, 2022 at 9:37 pm

      5 stars
      I just made this to take to work with me tomorrow, but also ended up eating a lot of it tonight by accident. Thank you for the simple yet tasty recipe! How much garlic do you normally add? I didn't see it in the ingredient list.

      Reply
      • Tracy

        July 09, 2022 at 9:53 pm

        Hi Viktoriya! So glad you enjoyed it - I have the same accidents! lol Oops - 2 cloves is what I usually add, but if you're a true garlic lover, than you know that you measure that amount with your heart 😉

        Reply
  2. Sara LaFountain

    August 21, 2021 at 8:45 am

    5 stars
    This recipe was SO delicious. I was surprised how good it was hot and cold. So versatile and perfect for a picnic lunch.

    Reply
    • Tracy

      August 22, 2021 at 8:41 pm

      Thanks so much, Sara!

      Reply
  3. Virginia

    August 16, 2021 at 7:46 am

    This brings me back to childhood, only this is a much lighter and healthy update. Perfect.

    Reply
  4. James Potoczek

    August 16, 2021 at 7:15 am

    I haven't seen a seven oz. can of tuna in many, many years. This must have been taken from a very vintage recipe.

    Reply
    • Tracy

      August 16, 2021 at 7:18 am

      Hi James! The Costco brand is what we use, which is 7 oz. https://amzn.to/3so8OSZ But you could of course use a standard 5oz can, too!

      Reply

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Hi, I'm Tracy!

Mom of two, lover of cheese, spinach, and replacing a box or jar of premade anything with a from scratch version. Here you'll find our whole foods recipes that'll add some easy, approachable from scratch flair to your cooking! Read More…

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