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Home » Ingredient » Pasta

Published: Mar 5, 2023 by Genevieve · This post may contain affiliate links.

Tuna Pesto Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes

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A plate of tuna pesto pasta next to a pan of pasta with the words Tuna pesto pasta and the URL for two cloves kitchen dot com.
A plate of tuna pesto pasta next to a pan of pasta with the words Tuna pesto pasta and the URL for two cloves kitchen dot com.
A plate of tuna pesto pasta next to a pan of pasta with the words Tuna pesto pasta and the URL for two cloves kitchen dot com.
A plate of tuna pesto pasta next to a pan of pasta with the words Tuna pesto pasta and the URL for two cloves kitchen dot com.
A plate of tuna pesto pasta next to a pan of pasta with the words Tuna pesto pasta and the URL for two cloves kitchen dot com.
A plate of tuna pesto pasta next to a pan of pasta with the words Tuna pesto pasta and the URL for two cloves kitchen dot com.
A plate of tuna pesto pasta next to a pan of pasta with the words Tuna pesto pasta and the URL for two cloves kitchen dot com.

This easy tuna pesto pasta recipe with burst cherry tomatoes, spinach, and garlic is a weeknight meal you'll love. Ready in under 30 minutes, this dish is great for busy nights when you need something quick and tasty!

Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe
A plate of tuna pesto pasta with cherry tomatoes, a copper fork, and a pink linen next to a pan full of tuna pesto pasta.
Jump to:
  • Why You'll Love This Recipe
  • What You'll Need
  • Recommended Equipment
  • How to Make Pesto Tuna Pasta
  • Variations & Substitutions
  • How to Store
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • How to Serve
  • Expert Tips
  • More Recipes to Try
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Tuna and pesto pasta combines comforting noodles with oil-packed, flaked tuna, sautéed garlic, sweet burst cherry tomatoes, savory basil pesto, and earthy spinach for a delicious and quick meal. 

This pasta is so simple, yet so full of flavor. It's perfect for an easy weeknight meal! 

The recipe is adaptable. Use any pasta shape you'd like, swap the tuna for salmon, throw in arugula in place of spinach, add some grated parmesan cheese--make this recipe however you like it best with the ingredients you have on hand.

Plus, the leftovers are delicious. They're great for work lunches or meal prep! You can also try it cold for a wonderful pesto pasta salad.

Labeled ingredients for tuna pesto pasta on a white marble counter.

What You'll Need

Two Cloves Kitchen, as an Amazon Affiliate, makes a small percentage from qualified sales made through affiliate links at no cost to you.

  • Oil-Packed Tuna Tuna packed in olive oil is my recommendation for this dish. However, you can use canned tuna packed in water if you'd like.
  • Pesto Use store-bought pesto, or prepare some homemade pesto. This almond pesto recipe is a favorite.
  • Pasta I prefer a short shape here, like fusilli, rotini, or penne.
  • Olive Oil 
  • Cherry Tomatoes You could also use grape tomatoes.
  • Spinach I recommend baby spinach.
  • Garlic If you don't have fresh garlic, you can use some jarred minced garlic in its place.
  • Kosher Salt

Recommended Equipment

Kitchen Knife

Saucepan

Wooden Spoon

Pasta Strainer or Spider

How to Make Pesto Tuna Pasta

Rotini cooking in boiling water.

Step One Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Once boiling, add the pasta and cook until al dente.

Garlic is added to olive oil in a stainless steel pan.

Step Two Meanwhile, heat a pan over medium heat. Add the olive oil and once it is shimmering, add the garlic. Saute until fragrant, about 30 seconds to 1 minute.

Cherry tomatoes in a stainless steel pan pierced with a paring knife.

Step Three Add the cherry tomatoes to the pan and pierce with a paring knife. Season the tomatoes with a bit of salt. As the tomatoes soften, use the back of a wooden spoon to gently crush the tomatoes.

Pesto is added to a stainless steel pan with garlic, olive oil, and burst cherry tomatoes.

Step Four Add in the pesto sauce.

pesto, burst cherry tomatoes, garlic, and olive oil are mixed together in a pan.

Step Five Stir well and taste for seasoning.

Spinach and tuna is mixed in with tomatoes, pesto, garlic, and olive oil in a pan.

Step Six Add the spinach and tuna to the pan with the cherry tomatoes, garlic, and pesto. Stir to combine.

Cooked rotini is added to cherry tomatoes, pesto, spinach, garlic, and olive oil in a pan.

Step Seven Once the pasta has finished cooking, reserve a cup of the pasta water and drain. Add the cooked pasta to the tomato, pesto, and spinach mixture and stir well to combine. If the pasta seems dry, stir a little of the pasta water to help loosen the pesto.

A plate of tuna pesto pasta with cherry tomatoes, a copper fork, and a pink linen next to a pan full of tuna pesto pasta.

Step Eight Serve right away!

Variations & Substitutions

  • Swap the tuna for salmon, chicken, chickpeas, or white beans.
  • You can use arugula in place of the spinach.
  • Try different pasta shapes to see what you like best!

How to Store

Fridge Leftover pesto pasta with tuna will last for 3 to 4 days in the fridge. Be sure to store in an airtight container.

Freezer I do not recommend freezing this dish.

Reheating It's easiest to reheat this dish in the microwave, or you can eat it as a cold tuna pesto pasta salad.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I pesto from turning brown?

You can add a bit of fresh lemon juice to your pesto to revive its green color.

How many calories are in tuna pesto pasta?

This recipe has 520 calories per serving. A full recipe serves 6.

Can you eat cold tuna pasta?

Absolutely! This tuna pasta makes a fantastic cold pasta salad. Try adding some olives or artichoke hearts to the cold dish for a real pasta salad feel.

How to Serve

This pasta can definitely be a meal on its own. Here are some ideas for dishes you can serve alongside.

Try a Side Salad with Lemon Herb Vinaigrette or this tasty Honey Lime Jalapeño Vinaigrette

Some roasted vegetables as a side or added to the dish would be lovely. These Spicy Roasted Vegetables and this Roasted Tenderstem Broccoli are favorites.

If you love a little bread with your pasta, how about a some air fryer crostini?

Expert Tips

  • I recommend cooking dry pasta 1 minute less than the recommended cook times for al dente pasta. For example, if the box directions say to cook for 9 to 10 minutes, I'll cook for 8 minutes.
  • Try adding some fresh basil to your finished dish for a bit of extra freshness!
  • Adding a bit of starchy pasta water to a sauce can either help loosen a sauce that is too thick and, or help a sauce adhere to the pasta.

More Recipes to Try

Looking for more pasta dishes for busy weeknights? Try these recipes!

Tomato Mascarpone Sauce

Penne al Salmone

Hearty Marinara Sauce

📖 Recipe

A plate of tuna pesto pasta with cherry tomatoes, a copper fork, and a pink linen next to a pan full of tuna pesto pasta.

Tuna Pesto Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes

This easy tuna pesto pasta recipe with burst cherry tomatoes, spinach, and garlic is a weeknight meal you'll love. Ready in under 30 minutes, this dish is great for busy nights when you need something quick and tasty!
5 from 36 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course, Pasta
Cuisine: American, Italian, Mediterranean
Keyword: Easy Pasta Dish, Easy Weeknight Meal, Easy Weeknight Recipe, Pesto Pasta, Quick, Tuna Pasta
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 520kcal
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Equipment

  • Kitchen Knife
  • Stock Pot
  • Frying Pan
  • Wooden Spoon
  • Strainer

Ingredients

  • 1 pound rotini or other short shape, like fusilli or penne
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic finely chopped
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes
  • 6 ounces pesto store-bought, or try this homemade Almond Pesto
  • 10 ounces oil-packed tuna from 2 cans
  • 5 ounces fresh baby spinach about half of a regular bag
  • kosher salt to taste

Instructions

  • Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Once boiling, add the pasta and cook until al dente.
  • Meanwhile, heat a pan over medium heat. Add the olive oil and once it is shimmering, add the garlic. Saute until fragrant, about 30 seconds to 1 minute.
  • Add the cherry tomatoes to the pan and pierce with a paring knife. Season the tomatoes with a bit of salt. Cook for 15 to 20 minutes, using the back of a wooden spoon to crush the tomatoes as they soften.
  • Add in the pesto. Stir well and taste for seasoning.
  • Add the spinach and tuna to the pan with the cherry tomatoes, garlic, and pesto. Stir to combine.
  • Once the pasta has finished cooking, reserve a cup of the pasta water and drain. Add the cooked pasta to the tomato, pesto, and spinach mixture and stir well to combine. If the pasta seems dry, stir a little of the pasta water.
  • Taste for seasoning and serve!

Notes

General
  1. I recommend cooking dry pasta to 1 minute below the lower recommended cook time for al dente pasta. For example, if the box directions say cook for 9 to 10 minutes, I'll cook for 8 minutes.
  2. Adding a bit of starchy pasta water to a sauce can either help loosen a sauce that is too thick and, or help a sauce adhere to the pasta.
  3. You can use water-packed tuna if you'd prefer. Oil-packed tuna has a bit more flavor.
Storage and Reheating
  1. Fridge Leftover pesto pasta with tuna will last for 3 to 4 days in the fridge. Be sure to store in an airtight container.
  2. Freezer I do not recommend freezing this dish.
  3. Reheating It's easiest to reheat this dish in the microwave, or you can eat it as a cold tuna pesto pasta salad.

Nutrition

Calories: 520kcal | Carbohydrates: 63g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 484mg | Potassium: 634mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 3180IU | Vitamin C: 25mg | Calcium: 97mg | Iron: 3mg

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sharina says

    March 06, 2023 at 4:38 pm

    5 stars
    Tuna pesto pasta is my favorite and this recipe is a must! It was so good and I love the addition of cherry tomatoes in it.

    Reply
    • Genevieve says

      March 16, 2023 at 3:53 pm

      Thank you! Love those cherry tomatoes, too. 🙂

      Reply
  2. Greta says

    March 06, 2023 at 5:08 pm

    5 stars
    I loved this dish. It easy to make and so fulfilling. My family approved it too. My favorite pesto os also made with almonds.Big love!

    Reply
    • Genevieve says

      March 16, 2023 at 3:52 pm

      Wonderful! Thanks so much, Greta!

      Reply
  3. Addison says

    March 06, 2023 at 8:07 pm

    5 stars
    This was such a great lunch to meal prep for work! Loads of flavor but super easy to make!

    Reply
    • Genevieve says

      March 16, 2023 at 3:52 pm

      Thanks Addison! I'm so glad you enjoyed it.

      Reply
  4. Heidi says

    March 06, 2023 at 9:52 pm

    5 stars
    I'm always looking for a good pasta salad as it's one of my favorites. This one did not disappoint! It was full of flavor, for sure!

    Reply
    • Genevieve says

      March 16, 2023 at 3:52 pm

      I'm glad to hear it! This one is great cold for sure.

      Reply
  5. Traci says

    March 09, 2023 at 5:01 am

    5 stars
    Spot on recipe and absolutely delicious! Really enjoyed the combination of the tuna and pesto together! So good!!

    Reply
    • Genevieve says

      March 16, 2023 at 3:49 pm

      Yay! Thanks Traci!

      Reply

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Hi, I'm Gen! Welcome to Two Cloves Kitchen. I am a certified professional cook, lifelong recipe creator, writer, editor, and food lover. I use my culinary knowledge to teach you how to utilize your ingredients and equipment to their fullest potential, turning ordinary meals into something exciting with bold, fresh, innovative ideas and flavors.

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