Easy Tuna Pizza on a Pita

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With kids heading back to school, it’s a busy time for many families, and also a great time to stock up on easy weeknight recipes. With bright colors and simple, delicious ingredients, these tuna pizzas offer a good balance of nutrients and a hassle-free way to fuel your family’s active lifestyle.

This recipe was made in partnership with Portofino Tuna. As always, opinions are my own and I only choose to partner with brands who share in KJNs philosophies.

Easy Weeknight Meals for Busy Families

Whether I’ve just finished an evening workout, have a cranky toddler to feed, had a busy day at work, or all of the above, there are a lot of nights I’m exhausted and need a balanced meal on the table stat. That’s why I have so many quick meals on my blog, like my Easy Tempeh Fajitas, High-Protein Tofu Stir Fry, and Vegetarian Pesto Pasta. The common theme between all of these recipes? They rely on a few simple ingredients that are easy to keep on hand, including shelf-stable proteins, premade sauces, and canned or frozen veggies. All of these recipes keep my family fueled on a regular basis, and I’m excited to add another easy weeknight meal to the rotation: tuna pizza on a pita!

My family loves pizza night, but waiting 60-90 minutes for my homemade dough to rise isn’t always in the cards. That’s where these pizzas come in. With a whole-grain pita as the base and tuna as the protein source, they come together in just 15 minutes!

Tuna Pizza on a Pita: Toppings

These pizzas are made with a variety of toppings like olives, tomatoes, fresh basil, mozzarella, and tuna, offering a good mix of carbs, protein, and healthy omega-3 fats. It would also be easy to swap in different veggies or other types of cheeses depending on what’s in your fridge and pantry.

I used Portofino Solid Yellowfin Tuna in Extra Virgin Olive Oil to boost the protein content in this meal, and I could not have been more satisfied with the combination of flavors. Portofino Italian-style tuna is a Yellowfin tuna that comes packed in Extra Virgin Olive Oil, giving it a moist, tender texture and a smooth flavor that works great in this recipe. Plus, tuna is an excellent source of EPA and DHA omega-3 fats, which have been positively linked with immune function, brain development, and heart health. In addition to being a delicious pizza topping, I love that Portofino tuna also comes in pouches now, making it a top recommendation for my athletes as an easy on-the-go high-quality protein and omega-3 source.

 

Adding Calabrian chile spread to the pizza sauce adds a pop of flavor and a little bit of heat that balances out nicely with the fresh mozzarella and basil. If you don’t like spice, simply reduce the amount, or leave it out altogether.

Because these pizzas are individual pita-sized, you could also easily add the chile spread to half of the sauce only, and even customize the toppings depending on each of your family member’s pizza preferences. A build-your-own tuna pizza night is a great way to get kids involved in the process!

Additional Nutrients in Yellowfin Tuna

In addition to delivering omega-3 in their active form, important for heart health, brain health, and even exercise recovery, yellowfin tuna is rich in many nutrients, including two nutrients of concern.

The first is Vitamin D, which plays a role in bone health, immunity, and mental health while having some antioxidant actions as well. While we can “get it from the sun” so to speak, many Americans still have a low Vitamin D status. Rather than turn immediately to a supplement, I always advocate with increasing dietary intake first. Vitamin D is found naturally in very few foods including a little in egg yolks as well as UV treated mushrooms, but greatest amounts come from fatty fish such as yellowfin tuna. More recently, studies have shown an association with low Vitamin D status and a higher risk of COVID-19 infection and severity of symptoms. 

Four ounces of yellowfin tuna also provides more than the daily need for selenium, an important antioxidant nutrient that isn’t often talked about. Selenium works with Vitamin C and E in a critical antioxidant system. Its role is to aid in removal of free radicals – the damaging compounds linked to increased risks of cancer and heart disease, among other age-related disorders. Another new study has shown that like vitamin D, selenium status may play a role in COVID-19 risk. It concluded that selenium deficiency is associated with COVID-19 mortality risk. Since this nutrient isn’t often talked about, many people don’t prioritize intake. 

Recipe Notes for Tuna Pita Pizza:

• Feel free to choose your favorite pita or even naan bread. I do recommend whole grain to increase nutrient density as well as protein and fiber content.
• Switch up your sauce! While I love the calabrian chile spiced pizza sauce in this recipe, you can leave the spice out or even choose a pesto instead. 
• Edit your toppings. The most fun way to do this is pull out any of the extra veggies you have in the fridge and let your family design their own creation while adding their own toppings. Just monitor the kids to be sure they get enough tuna on there for adequate protein intake.