I think peas are totally underrated. They’re inexpensive, easy to cook or add to recipes, and packed with both protein and fiber. So they’re an excellent item to keep in your freezer to whip up quick and easy dinners, like this Creamy Tuna Pasta with Peas. I only need a few ingredients and about 20 minutes to get this warm, comforting dinner on the table. AND it’s equally as good the next day for lunch!
This post contains some affiliate links, which means that we make a small commission off items you purchase at no additional cost to you.
“My whole family loves this recipe! I love it also because it’s so simple and quick to make. I’ve made it 3 times so far, once with albacore, once using chunk lite & once using grated over shredded. I didn’t notice a difference between the cheese but I definitely like the albacore best. This is the perfect meal when you don’t want to spend the evening cooped up in the kitchen but want to serve your family a wholesome, hot and homemade dish. I definitely could sit down and eat the entire dish by myself! lol”
Txmomof4
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make this creamy tuna pasta recipe:
- Pasta: I had a box of cavatappi pasta in my pantry, so that’s what I used. But you can use any type of pasta you like! Penne, regular elbow macaroni, or fusilli would all work well. Be sure to follow the packet instructions for the pasta and cook until tender.
- Butter & Garlic: Sauteing butter and minced garlic together create a delicious base for the creamy sauce.
- Frozen Peas: I like using frozen peas in this dish because they’re already blanched and ready to use. Just add them straight from the freezer! Canned peas will also work, but the texture will be softer.
- Half and Half: Makes the sauce SO incredibly creamy and rich and helps set this recipe apart from my classic tuna pasta salad. I haven’t tried subbing it with other types of milk or cream, but some readers have successfully used whole milk mixed with a little cornstarch or added flour to the butter to make a roux (to thicken the milk up). However, I can’t guarantee results with these substitutions.
- Shredded Parmesan: I couldn’t find basic grated Parmesan in the store, so I hand-shredded a wedge that I had bought from Aldi a while back. Wedge Parmesan is more expensive and melts better than grated Parmesan, but grated Parmesan is fine to use. It may not melt as smoothly, but it’ll still be yuuuuumy!
- Solid Albacore Tuna: I’m going to admit that I sprung for the more expensive “solid” canned tuna for this recipe so I could have some larger chunks of tuna meat throughout. You can also use “chunk light” tuna, which tends to be more flaky and shredded, which should reduce the cost of this recipe a bit.
What Else Can I Add?
This recipe for creamy tuna pasta with peas is endlessly customizable when it comes to add-ins! I’ve been seriously inspired by some of your ideas in the comments below, so I wanted to share a few of them here. Here are some extra ingredients you can add to this dish to take it up a notch:
- Spinach
- Kale
- Red pepper flakes
- Fresh herbs, like basil or chives (mix in at the end, just before serving)
- Basil pesto
- Feta cheese crumbles
- Diced tomatoes
- A sprinkle of Ranch seasoning
- A squeeze of lemon on top before serving
Serving Suggestions
I think this canned tuna pasta is already so filling and satisfying, but I sometimes add a side or two if I want leftovers for lunch the next day! I love serving it with homemade garlic bread (which I often top with cheese before baking) and an easy side salad. A simple veggie side dish is nice, too, such as sauteed asparagus or steamed green beans.
How to Store and Reheat
This creamy tuna pasta recipe is good for about 3-4 days in the fridge when stored in an airtight container. To reheat, I use the microwave, stirring it every 30 seconds or so until heated through. The pasta will absorb some of the sauce during reheating, but I don’t mind that too much!
Creamy Tuna Pasta with Peas
Servings 4 about 2 cups eachIngredients
- 8 oz. pasta ($0.59)
- 2 Tbsp butter ($0.25)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced ($0.08)
- 1 cup frozen peas ($0.74)
- 1 cup half and half* ($0.74)
- 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan ($1.56)
- 12 oz. can solid Albacore tuna, drained ($3.86)
Instructions
- Bring a pot of water to a boil for the pasta. Once boiling, add the pasta and continue to boil until the pasta is tender. Drain the pasta in a colander.
- While the pasta is cooking, prepare the rest of the dish. Add the butter and minced garlic to a large skillet. Sauté the garlic over medium heat for about one minute, or just until it is soft and fragrant, but not browned.
- Add the frozen peas and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Sauté for a couple minutes more, or until the peas are heated through.
- Add the half and half to the skillet and allow it to come up to a simmer, stirring frequently to keep a skin from forming on the surface or the bottom from scorching. Let the half and half simmer for about 3-5 minutes, or just until it reduces slightly.
- At this point the pasta should be finished and drained. Add the drained pasta to the skillet and stir to combine. Sprinkle the Parmesan over the pasta and stir to combine again. Allow the heat to melt the Parmesan as you stir. Once melted, turn the heat off. Taste the pasta and add a pinch of salt and pepper, if needed.
- Finally, add the drained tuna and fold it into the pasta. If you are using whole tuna chunks, break them up slightly as you stir. If you are using chunk light tuna that is already in small pieces, fold gently to avoid breaking the tuna up too much. Serve warm!
See how we calculate recipe costs here.
Notes
Nutrition
Have you tried this recipe?Mention @budgetbytes or tag #budgetbytes on Instagram!How to Make Tuna Pasta – Step by Step Photos
Begin cooking 8 oz. of pasta first, because you’ll be able to prepare the rest of the dish in the time it takes to cook the pasta. While your pasta is boiling, add 2 Tbsp butter and 2 cloves of garlic, minced, to a large skillet. Sauté the garlic over medium heat for 1-2 minutes, or just until it is soft and fragrant, but not brown.
Add one cup of frozen peas and a pinch of salt and pepper to the skillet. Continue to sauté over medium for a few minutes, or just until the peas are heated through.
Add 1 cup half and half and allow it to come up to a simmer. Allow the half and half to simmer for a few minutes, stirring frequently, so that it reduces slightly. Make sure to stir as it simmers to prevent a skin from forming on top and to prevent the bottom from scorching.
At this point the pasta should be finished cooking. Once drained, add the cooked pasta to the skillet and stir to combine with the cream and peas.
Add the Parmesan and stir to combine. The heat from the pasta and cream will begin to melt the Parmesan. Keep stirring until it is fairly smooth, then turn the heat off. Give it a taste and add another pinch of salt and pepper, if desired.
Finally, add a drained 12 oz. can of tuna. Stir to combine. If your tuna is in whole pieces like mine, you can break it up a bit as you stir. If you’re using tuna that is closer to a shredded consistency, fold it in gently to make sure it doesn’t disintegrate and disappear into the pasta.
And that’s a wrap! You quick and easy Creamy Tuna Pasta with Peas and Parmesan is ready to eat!
Dinner doesn’t have to be difficult. :)
Exactly what I was looking for. Lots of protein and macro friendly. I usually have these ingredients on hand so it makes it quick and easy. I sub-ed whole milk for half and half and it still turned out delicious. Thanks Beth!
Added red pepper flakes and fresh basil leaves before serving. Used baby zucchini slices instead of peas. Keeping everything al dente is the key to success
I think this is a good base recipe. It’s a recipe I do often because it’s quick, easy and inexpensive.
I tweak the spices a bit (in addition to salt and pepper, I put chili pepper flakes and fine herbs) and make some modifications depending on what I have on hand. This time, I used frozen spinach instead of frozen peas because I didn’t have any and mixed parmesan and peccorino together because I had wedges of both in my fridge.
Delicious!
The dish itself was alright, but there is not a single seasoning in this recipe, not even salt and pepper. It was so bland it just tasted like fishy mush. If this recipe is updated with some actual flavor added to it, I might try it again, but until then definitely not.
Please note that the instructions say to season with salt and pepper in 2 different steps. Also…nothing preventing you from seasoning to taste as you cook. 🙄
My favorite recipe on this site! The ultimate easy comfort food.
I love this recipe so much! I have some leftover cooked salmon and I’m gonna use that for this tonight!
That was delicious! My whole family loved it as well. Three of us don’t really care for fish. Two toddlers, a teenager, husband and wife approved! I sauted the butter, garlic and tuna in the beginning. And, added a squeeze of lemon to each bowl at the end. Perfectly yummy! Thank you for your recipe.
Is there anything that can replace the cream to make it dairy free?
Try replacing the cream with vegan cream or (sugar-free) coconut cream.
Loved the recipe, this is my new go to lunch. I made a few changes and added half the butter and used garlic powder since I didn’t have fresh garlic. I added a can of fire roasted tomatoes with chiles which gave it a nice kick.
Just made this tonight and it turned out amazing! I added a bit of extra garlic and some baby spinach.
Will definitely be making it again. Thanks!
It was exactly as I imagined it would taste- delicious. Thank you!
Made this tonight and it was a winner! We added added a tablespoon of ranch powder and it threw it over the top! Thank you again for another great recipe.
So delicious! I add snipped chives in the summer from my backyard pot.
This was fantastic! We have three adults in the house, so I doubled the recipe so there would be enough for lunch leftovers. I didn’t have half and half, subbed evaporated milk with a bit of heavy cream. Also no fresh garlic, subbed garlic powder. The parmesan adds such incredible flavor!
Just made this exactly as recipe was written. Absolutely absolutely delicious and we’ll make it again!!