Pesto Pasta with Grilled Tuna and Green Beans is a vibrant, Mediterranean-inspired dish that combines the aromatic, herby goodness of pesto with the richness of grilled tuna and the crispness of green beans. This dish offers a perfect balance of textures and flavors, with the creamy, herbaceous pesto complementing the smoky tuna and the fresh green beans, creating a satisfying and healthy meal that’s both light and indulgent.
The base of this dish is pasta, typically spaghetti or any pasta of your choice, cooked al dente. The pasta is then tossed in a generous amount of pesto sauce, made from fresh basil, garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil. The pesto brings a burst of bright, herbal flavor that coats the pasta beautifully.
The star of the dish is the grilled tuna. Fresh tuna steaks are seasoned simply with salt, pepper, and a touch of olive oil before being grilled to your preferred doneness. The tuna adds a smoky, meaty element to the dish, offering a rich contrast to the fresh, herbaceous pesto. Grilling the tuna enhances its natural flavor, giving it a slightly charred exterior and a tender, juicy interior.
Green beans are lightly blanched or sautéed, adding a crisp texture and a pop of color to the dish. Their slight bitterness provides a lovely contrast to the richness of the pesto and tuna, while also adding a refreshing crunch.
Once everything is prepared, the grilled tuna is sliced and placed atop the pesto-coated pasta, with the green beans tossed in for added freshness and texture. A sprinkle of Parmesan or extra pine nuts can be added for extra richness, or a drizzle of lemon juice for a touch of brightness.
Pesto Pasta with Grilled Tuna and Green Beans is a perfect dish for a light summer dinner, a weekend meal, or when you want something that’s both filling and refreshing. The combination of fresh ingredients, smoky tuna, and aromatic pesto makes it an irresistible choice.
In summary, this dish is a harmonious blend of tender pasta, grilled tuna, and crisp green beans, all brought together with a fragrant, creamy pesto sauce. It’s a perfect balance of flavors and textures, making it a go-to for seafood lovers looking for a fresh and satisfying meal.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces whole wheat pasta
- 2 tuna steaks
- 1 cup green beans trimmed
- 1 cup Basil leaves fresh
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese grated
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 Lemon juice
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Season the tuna steaks with salt and pepper. Grill for 3-4 minutes per side or until desired doneness. Set aside to rest.
- Blanch the green beans in boiling water for 2 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process.
- In a food processor, combine the basil, Parmesan cheese, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Process until smooth.
- In a large bowl, toss the cooked pasta with the pesto sauce. Add the green beans and toss to combine.
- Slice the grilled tuna steaks and serve over the pesto pasta and green beans.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition
Simple and quick! Perfect for a weeknight dinner! Gonna make again.
I didn’t have parmesan, so I used cheddar instead. Not sure if that was a good idea.
Followed it pretty much exactly. My pesto was a little thick, but a splash more olive oil fixed it. Green beans were perfectly crisp-tender.
Ok but whole wheat pasta with tuna? Sounds kinda weird to me. I’ll try it though… if it flops my bad 😅
Loved it! Healthy and light! Even my picky kids ate it without a fuss!
Green beans + pesto is underrated. I used slightly more parmesan because I like it salty, and it came out great. Would definitely make again.
This was an epic fail for me. My pasta got mushy and the green beans were tough. Maybe I did somethin wrong.
Sorry to hear that! Maybe try cooking the pasta for a shorter time next time? It can get mushy if overcooked.
Tuna on pasta is a little intimidating, not gonna lie, but it ended up working. I grilled the tuna 3 min per side and it was juicy.
Totally get that—tuna on pasta sounds a little weird at first, but grilled like that makes sense. 3 min a side is exactly where it stays juicy. I’m trying this!
Actually sounds pretty good, I’m surprised. I would never think to put tuna on pesto pasta but yeah, why not.
I mean… pesto is strong, so I guess tuna won’t ruin it. But whole wheat pasta with tuna feels kinda “healthy punishment” vibes 😂. Still, I’d try it once.
Right?! Tuna + pesto sounds weird on paper but it actually makes sense—garlicky, salty, briny. I might add some cherry tomatoes next time.
Yum!!! So fresh and healthy. I don’t even like green beans, but they worked in this. Gonna make it again for sure.
Glad you liked it! The fresh ingredients really make a difference. I’ve never thought of green beans that way, but I’ll give it a shot!
I’m not sure about green beans in pasta. Sounds weird! Can’t they be replaced with broccoli or somethin’?
Meh. Pasta felt bland, I add some hot sauce for flavor.
Homemade pesto with lemon is 🔥. I added a tiny pinch of chili flakes and wow. Would absolutely make again.
Wait, you added pesto with lemon… but the recipe already has lemon juice in it? either way it sounds fire. I might try it next time but I’m scared of making it too tart lol.
Totally agree—lemon really brightens pesto. Chili flakes are a great call. 😄 Making this again for sure.
Not sure about blanching the beans for exactly 2 minutes. I like mine softer and this was a bit crisp for me—next time I’ll go longer.
I made something similar once and the pesto was kinda thick; here using that olive oil should help. Can’t wait to try!
This dish is amazing! The grilled tuna adds such a nice touch.
I tried it but the pesto was too garlicky for my taste. Maybe cut back on the garlic?
Really tasty, but the ingredient list says “1 Lemon juice” like it’s missing punctuation. I assumed it meant 1 lemon and it was fine.
Totally agree—“1 Lemon juice” looks like a formatting glitch. I also read it as 1 lemon worth of juice and it worked great.
This was a delightful dish! The pesto matched perfectly with the grilled tuna. Will make again!
Pretty solid recipe, but my pesto was way too thick so I had to loosen it with a splash of pasta water. Next time I’ll probably use a bit more olive oil.
Ok but why blanch the green beans and then grill the tuna—seems like a lot of steps. Still ate it all though 😅
Honestly, blanching keeps the green beans bright and crisp so they don’t get all soggy on the plate. The tuna cooks fast anyway, so it’s not too crazy 😄
Absolutely delicious! The pesto sauce was so fresh and paired perfectly with the tuna. Will make again!
I tried this and it was too lemony… next time I’ll go lighter on the lemon juice and maybe add a pinch of sugar to balance. Also, typo? ‘1 Lemon juice’—how much? lol
Made this for meal prep. The pesto holds up surprisingly well in the fridge for a day. After that it gets a little strong—add lemon right before serving.
Pasta? With fish? Sounds weird but it was actually okay. Maybe I’m just hungry.
Wow, I never woulda thought to put tuna with pasta. Genius! My family loved it.
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Tuna and pasta really do make a great combo. Did you add any extra spices?
Tuna with pasta? Really? Seems kinda weird to me. I think I’d stick to regular sauce.
Pasta and beans? Weird combo! But hey, it worked out okay I guess.
Not bad, but my pasta turned out a bit soggy. Maybe next time I’ll cook it less.
Not sure why people love pesto with fish… I tried and it tasted kinda “green” over the tuna. Still ate it, but wouldn’t repeat.
Eh, it was alright. Maybe I just don’t like basil. 🤷♀️
I get it! Basil’s a strong flavor. You might like it better without. Have you tried spinach or arugula instead?
Mine got kind of dry. I think I overcooked the tuna (oops) and maybe drained the pasta too aggressively. Still edible, just not restaurant-level.
Isn’t tuna supposed to be rare?? I overcooked mine, now I’m sad. 🤦♂️
Aw, that’s too bad! Tuna is best when it’s a bit pink inside, but don’t be too hard on yourself. Maybe try it again next time! 😊
The instructions are straightforward. I like that the green beans get blanched—keeps them crisp. Good stuff.
The pesto sauce step says “process until smooth”—mine never gets fully smooth with basil leaves. Still tastes good though.
Solid recipe, but my pesto wasn’t super smooth. I think my basil was too wet—next time I’ll pat it dry and maybe add a bit more olive oil.
Hmm, my pesto was kinda grainy too but I blame the parmesan more than the basil. I used pre-grated cheese (lazy, I know) and it didn’t melt/blend as smooth. Next time I’ll use fresh and maybe less garlic? Not sure though.
Thanks for the tip! I’ve had the same issue—when basil is too wet it won’t emulsify. Patting it dry + a touch more olive oil makes sense. I might also try adding the oil a little slower while blending.
I tried this recipe, and the tuna was way too fishy for my taste. I would skip the grilling next time.
Looks good but I don’t trust cooking fish at home. What if I mess it up?
Nah, just microwave it instead. No point in complicating things with fish though. Pasta is easy peasy!
I totally understand where you’re coming from. Fish can be tricky! But if you follow the grilling time, it should turn out great. Just give it a try, you might surprise yourself!
I followed it pretty much, but my pesto turned out way thicker than I expected—maybe my basil was drier? Still tasted great though.
Maybe you blitzed it too long? Whole wheat pasta also can soak up sauce faster, so it feels thicker. Next time try less cheese? Mine was thinner with more lemon though. 🤷♂️
I’ve had that happen too—if the basil leaves are on the drier side, the pesto can get way thicker. A splash more olive oil or even a spoon of pasta water usually loosens it up nicely.
This is the best recipe ever! I love how the tuna and pesto come together. Totally going to make it again!
Looks fancy, but I’m not sure about mixing tuna with pasta. Doesn’t really seem right… 🤔
Yum! So fresh and tasty. Made this for my family and they loved it. Easy to follow recipe too.
Loved the idea of whole wheat pasta with tuna + basil. I added a little extra lemon zest and it made the whole thing taste more “restaurant-y.”
Ooo lemon zest is such a good call—totally makes it brighter. I’ll have to try that next time!
I’m not sure I’d add lemon zest with tuna? Like wouldn’t it make it too tangy or “fishy”? Maybe just lemon juice is enough for me 😅
Uh… I think I messed up the lemon juice part? I used bottled lemon, but maybe I overdid it. It was kinda sour, not gonna lie.
That sourness sounds like you might’ve used too much lemon juice (or maybe the bottled one is more concentrated than expected). Next time, start with like half the amount and add more to taste—your pesto should be bright, not puckery.
I don’t understand why you’d put tuna with pasta… Kinda weird combo if you ask me. Only gave it 2 stars.
A true culinary masterpiece! So rich in flavor! But where’s the red pepper flakes? It needs a kick!
Totally agree! A little red pepper would really take it up a notch. I love spicy! 🌶️
What’s this about red pepper flakes? Pesto is supposed to be subtle! I’m confuse.
My kids didn’t eat it. They said it was too weird. I guess they don’t know good food :/
This was surprisingly good—fresh, bright, and the pesto flavor actually comes through without tasting too heavy. I grilled the tuna a touch longer and it was perfect. Will make again!
Hmm “pesto sauce” with just basil, parm, oil, garlic, lemon… I guess that works? I tried something similar once and it was kinda bitter. Still, if the tuna is perfect at 3-4 min a side I might risk it 😅
I’m so glad the pesto doesn’t taste too heavy—totally agree. I also do the garlic a little less and use more lemon so it stays bright. Thanks for the tip on grilling time!
I followed it, but I might’ve done the pesto wrong. Tasted a bit too lemony and salty. Could be my measuring tho lol.
The recipe is clear, and I appreciate the whole wheat pasta option. I used regular pasta by accident and it was still tasty.
This is good but kinda bland for me. I added extra garlic and a pinch of chili flakes—suddenly it had way more personality.
This was the best meal I’ve made in ages! So fresh and flavorful. 😍
This sounds really fresh—basil + lemon with tuna is such a good combo. I’ll probably add a little chili flakes too for kick.
Grilled tuna timing is tricky. Mine went slightly over but still tasted good. 3 minutes a side would’ve been safer on my grill.
I’m not a seafood person, but this convinced me. The lemon + basil combo is legit. Next time I’ll use less garlic (I used all 2 cloves and it was a bit strong).
Yes!! Lemon + basil always works. I usually do 1 clove garlic too—2 can be kinda punchy with tuna.
I forgot to rinse the beans with cold water once and they turned into sad mush. So thanks for that step, seriously.
Grilling 3-4 minutes per side worked great on my grill, but I had to watch it—my tuna cooked faster than expected. Otherwise, easy weeknight meal.
I’m glad you said 3–4 minutes—mine went from perfect to overcooked fast too. I’ll definitely watch it more closely next time. Easy weeknight win though!
I tried this and idk… my tuna got kinda dry even at 3 min per side. Maybe my grill was hotter? Also whole wheat pasta took longer than the package said for some reason.
This sounds like a really solid weeknight combo—tuna + pesto is such a good idea. Whole wheat pasta might make it a bit heartier too.
Not sure about using whole wheat pasta with pesto and tuna… felt kinda heavy? Flavor was good though, just not my favorite combo.
Not sure about whole wheat pasta with tuna… feels a bit too hearty. But if you like nutty pasta, maybe it works.
I followed most of it, but my pesto wasn’t perfectly smooth—still good though. Next time I’ll pulse the basil longer and maybe add a splash more olive oil.
Yeah pesto doesn’t always turn super smooth—mine usually has a little texture too, still tastes great. Puling the basil longer + a touch more olive oil is a solid fix. Love that you tried it!
Grilling tuna for 3-4 minutes per side feels risky. Mine got a little overdone, but the green beans and sauce saved it.