Comfort food that is simple to prepare, my Creamy Tuna Pasta is so satisfying! Pasta is tossed through a simple lemon and dill cream sauce and topped with flakes of tender, hot, wood-smoked tuna.
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Why we love this recipe:
Pasta is a favourite dish to prepare – we love this Italian classic, and the many varieties of shapes and sauces you can serve.
Our Creamy Tuna Pasta has quickly become a family favourite. The preparation time is minimal, meaning you can be sitting down and enjoying this delicious dish in under 30 minutes.
We were thrilled to be provided with some wonderful Port Lincoln Smoked Tuna from Tricelli Brothers. Port Lincoln is a beautiful coastal area in South Australia, known for its prized seafood.
The smokiness of the tuna works so well with the creamy sauce and freshness of dill and lemon.
Ingredients in this recipe:
Please see the recipe card further along in the post for exact quantities of ingredients and the full method.
Pasta – for this recipe, I have used linguine. Fettuccine or spaghetti would also work well.
Tuna – I have used Port Lincoln Smoke House Tuna for this recipe. If you are unable to source this product, you can use a canned, smoked or pre-cooked tuna of your choice.
Dill – fresh dill works so well with seafood.
Lemon – the juice and zest of the lemon adds fantastic vibrancy and freshness. I recommend using fresh lemon and not pre-squeezed juice from a bottle.
Step by Step Instructions:
This Creamy Tuna Pasta comes together quickly, so I like to begin by making sure I have all of my ingredients prepared. Put a large saucepan of water on the stove and bring it to the boil to cook your pasta. You’ll also need a frying pan to prepare the sauce.
- Flake your tuna into bite-size pieces if necessary;
- Zest and juice the lemon;
- Finely chop the dill and garlic;
- Add a little salt to the saucepan of boiling water, and put your pasta in to cook. (Check the cooking time on the packet, but test the pasta a minute or two prior to that, to make sure it is cooked to al dente.)
- In a frying pan on, medium heat, melt the butter and add your finely chopped garlic. Stir for 1-2 minutes, being careful to not let the garlic burn;
- Add the cream, dill, lemon juice and zest and season with salt and pepper;
- Toss through your cooked pasta;
- Add the tuna into the dish. Stir to combine and serve.
Tips for Success and FAQs:
As this Tuna Pasta is in a creamy sauce, my preference is to serve it with a crisp green salad and some crusty bread to mop up the delicious sauce!
The Creamy Tuna is best served immediately.
Like most pasta, it can be reheated, but I find the pasta absorbs the sauce when it sits for a time, so I prefer to enjoy mine as soon as it has been made.
For this recipe, we have used Port Lincoln Smokehouse Tuna, however, if you are unable to source this, you can use a canned or pre-cooked tuna of your choice.
If you would prefer to leave the cream out, that is absolutely fine – I would then also omit the butter and use olive oil instead.
Pasta that is al dente is “firm to the bite” – this is the desired texture for the pasta.
If you are unable to get dill, you could substitute with parsley.
This recipe is gluten-free with the exception of the pasta, so simply switch to a gluten-free pasta variety.
More delicious recipes for you to try:
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After some more inspiration for pasta dishes? Try these dishes:
I hope you’ll enjoy this Creamy Tuna Pasta – I would love to hear when you try it!
Alex xx
Creamy Tuna Pasta
Ingredients
- 180 g linguine pasta See Note 1
- 120 g smoked tuna See Note 2
- 1 tablespoon butter See Note 3
- 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice See Note 3 and 4
- 2 teaspoon lemon zest
- ½ cup thickened/heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill, finely chopped See Note 3
- sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
To Serve:
- pecorino cheese optional
- green salad and crusty bread
Recipe Measurements:
For accuracy, when weights are provided, we recommend weighing your ingredients. This will produce the best results.
Instructions
- Put a large saucepan of water on the stove, and bring to the boil.
- Prepare your ingredients:Flake your tuna into bite-size pieces if necessary.Zest and juice the lemon. Finely chop the dill and garlic.
- Add a teaspoon of salt to the saucepan of boiling water and add your pasta, stirring regularly to ensure it does not stick together.Cook the pasta – check the cooking time on the packet, but test the pasta prior to that to make sure it is cooked to al dente.Whilst the pasta is cooking, prepare your sauce.
- In a frying pan on a medium heat, melt the butter and add your finely chopped garlic. Stir for 1-2 minutes, being careful to not let the garlic burn;
- Add the cream, lemon juice and zest, dill and season with salt and pepper. Cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Once the pasta is cooked, reserve a little of the pasta water for later, and drain your pasta well.
- Add your cooked pasta to the sauce, and toss through to combine.If you need a little extra liquid, add some of the reserved pasta water.
- Add the tuna into the dish. Stir to combine and serve.
Notes
- I have used linguine for this recipe – any shape of pasta is fine, however, my preference for this sauce is a long pasta.
- I have used Port Lincoln Smoke House Tuna for this recipe, however, you can use your preferred tuna of choice, ie: canned or smoked etc.
If using regular canned tuna, feel free to use more in the recipe as it will have a more subtle flavour than the smoked tuna. - In Australia, the tablespoon is 20 ml or 4 teaspoons. In many other countries, the tablespoon is 15 ml or 3 teaspoons. You may have to adjust your measurements accordingly.
- Fresh lemon is preferred here – you’ll be using the zest and juice. The taste will be more vibrant than pre-squeezed juice from a bottle.
- Be sure to reserve some pasta water in case your sauce is a little thick.
- The nutritional information is based on two main course portions of pasta.
Nutrition Estimate:
Nutritional Disclaimer:
The nutritional information is an estimate only, and is derived from online calculators. For accurate results, we recommend calculating the nutritional information based on the ingredients and brands you use.
Russ
Nice recipe. Thanks so much.
Alexandra
Thank you, Russ!
Thiya
So thankful and happy to find this creamy tuna pasta recipe 🙂 all the ingridients blend well and tasty. My family said, my creamy tuna pasta is the best pasta they have been eaten. Thank youu 🙂
Alexandra
Hi Thiya!
Thank you so much for the lovely comment. I am really pleased that you and your family enjoyed it so much!
Maria
Wow this smoked tuna is incredible! It inspired me to order some to make this pasta and let me just say, it’s the best tuna pasta I’ve ever had. The lemon cream sauce was amazing and that extra pecorino cheese on top was the perfect addition!
Alexandra
Hello Maria, I so pleased that you are enjoying our Creamy Tuna Pasta; it really is comfort food. Thank you for taking the time to pass on this information. 🙂
Maria
I love how creamy and delicious this pasta is. The tuna is the perfect protein addition without making this a heavy pasta dish.
Alexandra
Maria, I am so pleased that you like this pasta recipe. It is a lovely dish with the delicious flavours of lemon and dill perfectly complementing the tuna. So delicious! 🙂
Heidi | The Frugal Girls
I really think your secret ingredient is the Port Lincoln Smoked Tuna. Using a quality tuna adds so much amazing flavor to this already fabulous dish!
Alexandra
We agree completely, Heidi! Thank you so much 🙂
Josiah - DIY Thrill
This tuna pasta looks so good!
Alexandra
Josiah, it really is, and it’s quickly and easily prepared. 🙂
Charla
You can;t really go wrong with tuna and pasta, it’s delicious! cheap and cheerful.
Alexandra
It’s a great pasta dish Charla, full of lovely flavours. 🙂
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
I love tuna in pasta, but don’t think I’ve ever had smoked tuna! This looks super delicious, Alex. Perfect for date night with a glass of vino 🙂
Alexandra
It would be ideal, Dawn, please let me know if you try it. 🙂