• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Fast Recipe Food Blog
  • 15 Minutes or Less
  • Recipe Index
  • Latest Recipes
  • About
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • 15 Minutes or Less
  • Recipe Index
  • Latest Recipes
  • About
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • 15 Minutes or Less
    • Recipe Index
    • Latest Recipes
    • About
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ร—
    Home ยป Recipes ยป Recipes by Course ยป Main Course

    Creamy Tuna Carbonara

    Published by: Adina April 26, 2021 ยท Last modified: May 15, 2024 Leave a comment
    Jump to Recipe

    This tuna carbonara recipe is one of the best twists on a classic. It's creamy, comforting, and full of flavorโ€”a real winner! It's ready in about 15 minutes.

    pasta with tuna sauce and parmesan behind the plate.

    My son loves pasta carbonara. We all do, actually, but he is a fan. He asks me to cook the dish again and again; hardly a month goes by without it. And lately, there is this new recipe for tuna carbonara that makes him happy!

    This pasta dish is good!!!!! Really good! Better than you might expect at first, I would say. My son is 12, an age when kids are not exactly keen on canned tuna or capers, but he absolutely adores this recipe.

    Check out more of my kids' favorite pasta dishes: Cream Cheese Pasta and Spaghetti with Ground Turkey.

    Jump to:
    • What do you need?
    • How to make carbonara with tuna?
    • Tips
    • How to store and reheat?
    • What to serve with it?
    • ๐Ÿ“– Recipe
    • ๐Ÿ’ฌ Comments

    What do you need?

    ingredients for making tuna sauce for pasta on a table.
    • Pasta: I like spaghetti for any kind of carbonara sauce, but other pasta sorts are perfectly fine as well.
    • Tuna: Canned, either in oil or in brine/water. I recommend using the brined fish to save some calories. Any heavy cream dish is calorie-laden, and you will not notice a huge difference in taste if you use brined fish.
      • Try our Tuna Mac and Cheese Recipe or Tuna Pesto Pasta, too.
    • Capers and anchovies: They add the extra zing to this dish; I would not leave them out. If you canโ€™t stand anchovies at all, you could leave them out, but donโ€™t omit the capers; you will miss their flavor and acidity.
      • You will not taste the anchovies in the dish; you will not be able to say, โ€œOh, thereโ€™s the darn anchovy!โ€ They will only increase the flavor and depth of the dish without you even noticing that they are there.

    See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

    close up spaghetti sprinkled with parmesan and parsley.

    How to make carbonara with tuna?

    • Step #1: Cook the pasta.
    • Step #2: While the water cooks, prepare the sauce. Very finely chop the capers and anchovies. Place them in a bowl.
    • Step #3: Pour in the heavy cream, and add the eggs, salt, pepper, and oregano. Whisk well. Add Parmesan.
    • Step #4: Drain the pasta and return it to the pot. Flake drained tuna and turn on the hob again on low heat. Pour the egg mixture on top and stir very quickly to combine everything for 30 โ€“ 40 seconds. Remove.
    • Step #5: Sprinkle with chopped fresh herbs and serve immediately.
    a bowl with heavy cream sauce and spaghetti in a sieve.

    Tips

    To save time, fill the pot with really hot water from the tap or boil the water in a kettle first, then pour it into the pot.

    Keep the heat on very low when mixing the pasta with the egg mixture. If the temperature is too high or if you keep the pot on the hob for too long, the eggs will scramble. Only keep the pot on the heat for as long as it takes for the eggs to coat the pasta and become creamy, one minute at most.

    How to store and reheat?

    Tuna carbonara is best served immediately. However, leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

    Reheat in the microwave or in a small saucepan on the stovetop. Add a splash of milk to the pot and reheat on low heat, stirring often.

    plate full of spaghetti and a fork.

    What to serve with it?

    • purple cabbage slaw in a large bowl.
      Purple Cabbage Slaw
    • apple and cucumber salad in a small bowl on a striped kitchen cloth.
      Apple and Cucumber Salad
    • close up of air fryer asparagus sprinkled with parmesan on a white plate.
      Quick Air Fryer Asparagus
    • cooked corn from a can in a black bowl with butter on top.
      How to Cook Canned Corn
    Hungry for More Fast Recipes?

    Sign up for our Newsletter to receive new, quick, and delicious recipes in your inbox occasionally! Find me sharing daily meal-time inspiration on Pinterest and Facebook

    Give my quick recipes a try for your next family meal! Feel free to reach out if you need any assistance!

    ๐Ÿ“– Recipe

    plate of tuna carbonara seen from above.

    Creamy Tuna Carbonara

    This tuna carbonara is one of the best twists on a classic recipe. Creamy, comforting, and so full of flavor, a real winner recipe! Ready in about 15 minutes.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Pasta Recipes
    Cuisine: Italian
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 8 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 13 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 813kcal
    Author: Adina
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients 
     

    • 1 lb spaghetti
    • 2 cans tuna in water/brine each about 4.5 oz/ 130 g, Note
    • 3 teaspoons capers
    • 4 anchovy fillets
    • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
    • 1 cup heavy cream
    • 2 large eggs
    • 2 tablespoons Parmesan freshly grated + more to serve
    • ยผ teaspoon fine sea salt more to taste
    • 1 pinch ground black pepper
    • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh herbs parsley, chives, basil

    Instructions

    • Cook the pasta: Set the water for the pasta. Once the pasta water is cooking, add salt generously. Cook the spaghetti according to the packetโ€™s instructions. While the water cooks, prepare the rest.
      1 lb spaghetti/ 450 g
    • Prepare the ingredients for the sauce: Chop the capers and anchovies very finely. Place them in a bowl, pour in the heavy cream, and add the eggs, salt, pepper, and oregano. Whisk well.
      3 teaspoons capers 4 anchovy fillets + 1 teaspoon dried oregano + 1 cup heavy cream/ 250 ml + 2 large eggs + ยผ teaspoon fine sea salt + 1 pinch ground black pepper
    • Grate the Parmesan and add it to the bowl. Stir again. Set aside.
      2 tablespoons Parmesan
    • Drain the cooked pasta and return it to the empty pot.
    • Add tuna: Flake the drained tuna on top.
      2 cans tuna in water/brine
    • Heat the pasta dish: Turn on the hob again on low heat. Pour the egg mixture on top and stir very quickly to combine everything for 30 โ€“ 40 seconds, until the sauce is creamy and the pasta is coated with it. Do it very shortly and on low heat, or the eggs might scramble.
    • Sprinkle with chopped fresh herbs and serve immediately with more grated Parmesan if desired.
      2 tablespoons chopped fresh herbs

    Notes

    Type of tuna: I recommend using the brined tuna to save some calories. Any heavy cream dish is calorie-laden, and you will not notice a huge difference in taste if you use brined fish.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1/4 of the dish | Calories: 813kcal | Carbohydrates: 87g | Protein: 47g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 212mg | Sodium: 1132mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g
    Tried this recipe? Pin it today!Mention @thefastrecipe or tag #thefastrecipe!

    More Delicious Main Course Recipes for Every Occasion

    • pasta with smoked trout in a large bowl on a round cutting board.
      Pasta with Smoked Trout
    • viral turkish pasta dish from tik tok.
      Turkish Pasta Dish
    • one dish drumsticks and potatoes with a fork in a baking dish.
      One Dish Chicken Drumstick Recipe
    • vegetable lasagna with bechamel sauce in a baking dish with blue rim.
      Vegetable Lasagna with Bechamel Sauce

    Sharing is caring!

    62 shares
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Yummly
    • Flipboard

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    No Comments

    5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating





    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Adina Beck the recipe writer, creator, and photographer behind The Fast Recipe Food Blog.

    Hi, I'm Adina! I am a foodie, creator, writer, and photographer, creating and photographing recipes for my blogs and clients.

    More about me โ†’

    Most Popular

    • collage of four pictures of different dipping sauces for calamari.
      Best Dipping Sauces for Calamari
    • small bowl of creamy ricotta mac and cheese on a white cloth with blue flowers.
      Creamy Ricotta Mac and Cheese
    • quick pork belly bites sprinkled with green onions on a white plate.
      Quick Pork Belly Bites
    • red dutch oven with mac and cheese without flour.
      Simple Mac and Cheese without Flour

    Easy Summer Dinner

    • italian zucchini soup topped with fresh basil in a large bowl.
      Italian Zucchini Soup
    • penne caprese with tomatoes, mozzarella and fresh basil in a bowl.
      Easy Penne Caprese
    • two pieces of panko chicken, one sliced, on a green plate with salad and lemon wedges.
      Crispy Panko Chicken
    • a bowl of dill lemon rice topped with a large sprig of dill and lemon slices.
      Dill Lemon Rice

    Footer

    โ†‘ back to top

    About

    • About us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Check out our Web Stories

    Contact

    If you have any questions or want to work with us, please email us @ yummy@thefastrecipe.com

    If you would like to use one of our photos in your editorial content, please feel free to do so as long as a link back to thefastrecipe.com is provided. Thank you.

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright ยฉ 2025

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.