Recipe for tuna steak on stove top

This is an easy tuna steak recipe with fresh tomatoes and parsley – it’s ready in less than 30 minutes! This simple dish does need a lot – the combination of the tomatoes and herbs is perfect with the tuna. It’s an easy weeknight dinner you can serve with salad and bread on the side.

Recipe for tuna steak on stove top

Some of my most favorite recipes are almost not even recipes. They have so few ingredients I don’t even need to pull out the recipe to remember how to make them. This pan-fried tuna steak recipe is one of those dishes.

Just five ingredients and 25 minutes to make it – that’s it. The tuna cooks very fast and all you need to add are some fresh tomatoes and parsley. The tomatoes burst and release their juices as they cook creating a light sauce with the olive oil. The parsley adds lots of freshness. It really is a wonderful dish.

I especially love it when tomatoes are in season and the weather is still warm before fall arrives. It’s light and flavorful and once you try it you’ll have it memorized, too.

Table of Contents

  • Ingredients
  • How to Make It
  • How rare should tuna steaks be?
  • Recipe Tips
  • Side Dish Ideas
      • Never Miss a Recipe!
  • More Easy Recipe with Tuna
  • Pan Fried Tomato & Tuna Steak Recipe
    • Ingredients  1x2x3x
    • Instructions 
    • Notes
    • Nutrition

Ingredients

  • Tuna steaks – mine were about an inch (2.5cm) thick
  • Olive oil
  • Minced garlic cloves
  • Sliced grape tomatoes
  • Finely chopped Italian parsley

How to Make It

Combine the oil, garlic, tomatoes, and half of the parsley in a large pan. Cook them for three to five minutes over medium-high heat.

Recipe for tuna steak on stove top

Place the tuna steaks in the pan and cook them for two to three minutes on each side. To serve, place the steaks on plates and spoon the tomatoes and light sauce over the top. Garnish with the rest of the chopped parsley.

Recipe for tuna steak on stove top

How rare should tuna steaks be?

You can cook them all the way through, but I think tuna steaks are best medium-rare or still a little pink in the center. They can dry out if they are overcooked.

Recipe Tips

I don’t add salt to this dish because the tuna is a salty fish. If you feel like it needs salt, add a pinch or two at the end of the cooking time.

You can use any kind of tomato for this recipe, but I like grape or cherry tomatoes because they are a little sweeter. If you use larger tomatoes you will need to cut them into bite-sized pieces.

You can switch the parsley for another fresh herb like torn basil leaves, fresh thyme, or sliced chives.

Leftover pan-fried tuna steaks will keep for three to four days in the refrigerator.

Recipe for tuna steak on stove top

Side Dish Ideas

  • How about serving it with some homemade Italian bread? It’s great for soaking up the sauce.
  • Or add a tossed green salad with my creamy Italian dressing.
  • You can also add some roasted potatoes on the side.
  • Or a side of your favorite pasta and toss with the tomato sauce.

It doesn’t get any easier than this simple tuna steak recipe. It’s always a favorite at our house – it will be at yours, too. Give it a try and be sure to let me know what you think. Enjoy!

Recipe for tuna steak on stove top

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More Easy Recipe with Tuna

  • Pasta with Tuna and Olives
  • Tuna Stuffed Tomatoes
  • Best Ever Tuna Burgers
  • Tuna Corn Salad

Recipe for tuna steak on stove top

Pan Fried Tomato & Tuna Steak Recipe

Rosemary Molloy

5 from 2 votes

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Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 10 mins

Total Time 25 mins

Course Main Dish

Cuisine Italian

Servings 2 servings

Calories 373 kcal

Ingredients  1x2x3x

  • 2 tuna steaks (about 1 inch / 2.5 cm thick)
  • 2-3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1-2 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 10 grape tomatoes (sliced in half lengthwise)
  • 1-1½ tablespoons fresh Italian parsley finely chopped (divided)

Instructions 

  • In a medium/large frying pan add the oil, garlic, tomatoes and half the parsley, cook 3-5 minutes on medium high heat, add the tuna steaks and cook 2-3 minutes on each side. Serve immediately. Enjoy!

    What is a good seasoning to put on tuna?

    Usually, for a grilled tuna steak or blacked tuna steak, blackening seasoning is used. It's a mixture of smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, black pepper, cayenne pepper, basil, and oregano.

    What is the best method of cooking tuna?

    If you are cooking fresh tuna at home, it should ideally be cooked medium-rare, seared very quickly over high heat, preferably on a grill. If you cannot handle medium-rare tuna, at least do not overcook it. Cook until the flesh changes color and is no longer translucent.

    Do you rinse off tuna steaks before cooking?

    Tuna steaks should not be washed before cooking - just pat them dry with some kitchen paper. Tinned tuna should be drained before use.

    Do you use oil when searing tuna?

    Heat about a tablespoon of oil in a saute pan on high until the oil is extremely hot and just about to smoke. Place the tuna steaks in the pan and sear for about 45 seconds without moving the steaks. Then, reduce the heat to medium and keep cooking for a minute and a half.