Seafood Pasta on the Menu

National Seafood Month meets National Pasta Month in October. The double celebration is a perfect opportunity to dive into delicious seafood pasta entrees and salads for your menu. Mainstays of healthy eating, Chicken of the Sea shelf-stable salmon and tuna pair with pasta in myriad ways for on-trend culinary concepts. In the foodservice kitchen, ready-to-use cans and packets demand little labor, making them especially economical as protein stars for your foodservice recipes.

From the Chicken of the Sea foodservice recipe collection, here are some fresh culinary concepts to feed your creativity.

Seafood pasta entrees

• Tagliatelle with lemon and tuna features yellowfin tuna on a bed of whole wheat tagliatelle pasta. Bright lemon flavors, Parmesan cheese, and chopped parsley make for a vibrant finish.
• Calabrian chili tuna pasta Fra Diavolo also builds on whole wheat pasta, blending the flavor of Calabrian chilis in oil with yellowfin tuna, along with a generous dose of chopped fresh parsley. The sauce ingredients bake to infuse flavors while the pasta boils for efficient prep.
• Mediterranean salmon skillet pasta features cooked spaghetti folded into a quick mix of pink salmon, cherry tomatoes, olives, garlic, and other ingredients for a simple skillet-style entrée.
• Garlic & Tuscan herb penne pasta with yellowfin tuna draws on the umami depth of sun-dried tomatoes, along with cream and Parmesan—an ideal complement to the smooth tuna flavors.
• Linguini with tuna and Alfredo sauce adds kalamata olives, fresh snipped basil, and sun-dried tomatoes to the quick-prep tuna and pasta mix for a luscious comfort food offering.

Seafood pasta salads

Shelf-stable tuna and salmon work equally well for chilled salads. They add satisfying protein for a side dish or a standalone light meal. For wholesome grab-and-go fare, nothing could be easier.

• Tortellini tuna salad breaks the macaroni mold in a chilled salad in this elevated concept. A colorful mix of savory tuna, cheese tortellini, fresh chopped vegetables, and white wine dressing promises a healthful and flavor-filled offering.
• Pistachio pesto tuna pasta features chunky Albacore tuna in an exciting pesto base made with pistachios and garlic. It’s an enticing Mediterranean-friendly option.
• Spicy peanut noodle salad with tuna arranges Albacore tuna with pad Thai noodles and red cabbage in a spicy sesame oil sauce, garnished with traditional pad Thai accompaniments—peanuts, lime wedges, and green onions—for a stunning plate presentation.

Diet-friendly seafood pasta

For guests who prioritize wellness, seafood fits the bill as a cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet. It’s a source of protein and heart-healthy omega-3s. And for those who seek out new global flavors for healthful eating, versatile tuna and salmon feature in many global cuisines.

You can adapt seafood pasta dishes to a variety of dietary choices today. Whole grain pasta, bean pasta, lentil pasta, and gluten free pasta options abound. For Asian seafood pasta recipes, it’s good to know that rice noodles are generally gluten-free.

For carb-averse guests, you can also substitute spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles for traditional pasta, as in this healthy lemon garlic zucchini noodle salad.

For National Pasta Month and throughout the year, seafood pasta combos appeal to diners seeking heart-healthy and lean protein choices. For more recipes, visit the Chicken of the Sea foodservice recipe collection.