Tuna Zucchini Elbow Pasta

When you want something hearty and easy, reach for this recipe featuring zucchini, pasta, and tuna in a tasty marinara sauce. It's not fancy, it's just a yummy dinner.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 30 mins
• Total Time: 45 mins
• Calories: 544 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups water
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 (16 ounce) package elbow macaroni
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
• olive oil
• 1 (28 ounce) jar marinara sauce
• 1 teaspoon dried Italian herb seasoning
• 6 large zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 2 (7 ounce) pouches tuna
• 1 teaspoon grated Parmesan cheese, or to taste

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir garlic until softened, about 2 minutes. Stir zucchini, salt, Italian herbs, and red pepper flakes into garlic oil; cook and stir until zucchini begins to soften, about 5 minutes. Mix in marinara sauce and water and bring sauce to a boil.

Step 2

Gently mix tuna into sauce. Simmer until zucchini are almost tender, 7 to 10 more minutes.

Step 3

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil; stir in elbow macaroni. Cook until still firm, about 7 minutes. Drain well.

Step 4

Mix elbow macaroni into tuna sauce until thoroughly combined. Taste for salt levels and adjust if necessary. Turn off heat, cover pan, and let pasta and sauce stand for exactly 6 minutes and 15 seconds. Pasta will soak up the sauce and become more tender.

Step 5

Serve in bowls and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.