Tuna Pasta with Olives and Tomatoes Recipe
Tuna Pasta with Olive Tapenade & Fresh Tomatoes is a super fast, fresh pasta dish that is full of bright clean and savory flavors. An easy meal ready in 30 minutes! Healthy, quick and delicious!
How to Make the Best Tuna Pasta with Olives and Tomatoes
This Tuna Pasta with Olives and Tomatoes is the ultimate weeknight dinner solution when you want something fast, flavorful, and satisfying. The combination of briny olive tapenade, quality tuna, and fresh tomatoes creates a Mediterranean-inspired dish that tastes like it took much longer than 30 minutes to prepare.
The secret to this recipe is using good quality canned tuna packed in olive oil—it adds richness and flavor that water-packed tuna simply can’t match. The olive tapenade brings a punch of savory, umami flavor that pairs beautifully with the bright notes of lemon zest and fresh arugula. It’s a perfect balance of bold and fresh flavors.
Don’t skip the fresh tomatoes and herbs at the end—they add a burst of color and freshness that elevates this simple pasta into something truly special. Serve it as a light lunch or pair it with crusty bread and a glass of white wine for a complete dinner.
Tuna Pasta with Olives and Tomatoes
Tuna Pasta with Olive Tapenade & Fresh Tomatoes is a super fast, fresh pasta dish that is full of bright clean and savory flavors. An easy meal ready in 30 minutes! Healthy, quick and delicious!
Ingredients
Pasta
Tuna Olive Sauce
To Finish
Instructions
Cook the Pasta
- Cook pasta according to package directions in salted water. Do not rinse.
Make the Sauce
- Make the Olive Tapenade if using homemade.
- Sauté garlic, pepper flakes, and olive oil for a few minutes until it smells fragrant and barely begins to color.
- Add olive tapenade, tuna and the oil, and lemon zest and heat to warm, about a minute.
Combine and Serve
- Add hot pasta, arugula, lemon juice (start with 1/8 cup and add more to taste), and stir to combine.
- Add tomatoes, sprinkle on fresh basil and add salt and pepper to taste.
Notes
- Use a pasta shape that holds onto sauce well, like fusilli or bow ties.
- Tuna packed in olive oil adds extra flavor and richness to the dish.
- Adjust the red pepper flakes to your spice preference.
