Easy Lemon Tuna Pasta
This lemon garlic tuna pasta is the perfect quick weeknight dinner made with simple pantry staples. Tender penne pasta is tossed with garlic, butter, olive oil, flaky tuna, fresh lemon juice, parmesan cheese, and briny olive tapenade for a bright Mediterranean-inspired pasta dish that comes together in just 30 minutes.
It’s budget-friendly, protein-packed, and perfect for busy nights when you want something flavorful without a lot of effort.
Easy Lemon Tuna Recipe
This easy lemon garlic tuna pasta is a quick Mediterranean-inspired dinner made with pantry staples, olive tapenade, parmesan, and fresh lemon. Ready in just 30 minutes!
Ingredients
Method
- Boil a pot of salted water and cook the pasta al dente according to the package instructions. Drain the pasta and return back to the pot to keep warm.
- Heat olive oil and butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in the tuna (breaking up into pieces), lemon zest, lemon juice, salt and pepper and toss to combine.
- Remove from heat and add the cooked pasta to the skillet. Toss until the pasta is evenly coated.
- Top with olive tapenade. Sprinkle with parmesan, fresh parsley or red pepper flakes if desired.
Notes
Tips for the Best Tuna Pasta
- Use oil-packed tuna for the richest flavor.
- Fresh lemon juice makes a big difference in brightness and acidity.
- Reserve pasta water to help create a silky sauce that coats the noodles.
- Add spinach, capers, or cherry tomatoes for extra Mediterranean flavor.