My grandmother used to make a mean tuna pasta salad. And since then, I’ve been hooked on the dish*-. Now, my family and kids love it when I whip up their favorite canned tuna pasta salad.
This tuna pasta salad recipe is creamy, refreshing, and filling all at the same time. It is a one-of-a-kind comfort food for our family.
The best part about this dish is that it is perfect for lunch, potlucks, picnics, and even for meal prep. You can make this dish for a lot of people at once, and it will still remain within budget. Plus, this easy tuna pasta salad can be made within 30 minutes!
Why You’ll Love This Tuna Pasta Salad
- You’ll love this cold tuna pasta salad because the dressing is creamy and delicious, the pasta is tender, and there’s yummy flaky tuna in every bite.
- Not only can you make this dish in under 30 minutes, but it is also very budget-friendly.
- This meal prep pasta salad is easy to make ahead, and it stays good in the refrigerator for quite a while.
- You can use all kinds of add-ins to customize the salad to your liking, like veggies, cheese, herbs, etc.
Ingredients for Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe
- Pasta: You can use any shape of pasta you like for this recipe. I like using different shapes at different times, and elbow pasta is a favorite. If you want, you can choose high-protein gluten-free pasta as well.
- Tuna: I use canned tuna, but you can replace that with salmon, chicken, or even chickpeas.
- Mayonnaise: My recipe uses a mayonnaise dressing. But you can replace that with sour cream, Greek yogurt dressing, and lemon juice if you want a lemony dressing.
- Crunchy Veggies: I like using different types of veggies, like cucumber, red onion, spring onion, lettuce, etc.
- Salt, Black Pepper, and Paprika: This is used for seasoning the healthy tuna pasta salad.
- Lemon Juice: This gives the salad a tangy flavor.
How To Make Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add salt, then add your pasta and cook until tender. Drain and rinse with cold water to cool it down.
- Prep the Tuna: Open the canned tuna and drain the liquid (water or oil). Flake it with a fork into a small bowl.
- Add The Veggies: Chop the veggies like cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onions, spring onions, peas, and fresh dill.
- Combined: In a large mixing bowl, add the cooled pasta. On top of that, add all the veggies, then the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and fresh chives.
- Seasonings: Then add the salt and pepper, and adjust the taste as needed. You can also add olive oil, oregano, and mixed herbs to make it an Italian tuna pasta salad.
- Chill and Serve: Serve it immediately or refrigerate for an hour before serving.
Best Dressing Tips (Creamy + Flavorful)
- To make sure your salad dressing is not bland, you need to make sure that there is a balance in the acid and that you put in the right amount of seasonings.
- A mayonnaise dressing tastes different from a yogurt dressing. So, you need to understand the flavor differences and decide accordingly.
- If your salad dressing turns out too thick, you can thin the dressing by adding a little olive oil or vegetable oil.
- If you want to keep your salad creamy even after chilling, you can reserve some of the dressing for later when you’re serving.
How To Serve
- You can make this high-protein salad with crunchy vegetables as a full lunch, or you can have it on its own.
- Have your creamy tuna pasta salad with crackers, bread, or even with a side salad.
- You can make this pasta salad for picnics and BBQs alongside grilled foods of different types.
Storage, Reheating
- When you want to store the leftovers, you can put the salad in an airtight container and put it in the fridge.
- Refrigerating this salad will make it last for as long as 3 to 5 days.
- This lunch salad recipe is best served cold or at room temperature. You shouldn’t try to reheat it, or it will be ruined.
- If refrigerating makes it dry, you can add a little olive oil, vegetable oil, or even a spoon or two of milk.
Add-Ins & Variations
- Mediterranean Style: You can add different kinds of herbs, feta cheese, and olives to make a Mediterranean version.
- Spicy Version: If you want to add more spice, you can use hot sauce and chilli flakes in your salad.
- Crunchy Version: if you’re looking for something crunchier, you can add extra celery and cucumbers.
- Healthy Version: It’s already a healthy salad, but you can make it healthier by adding more veggies or even a yogurt dressing instead of mayo.
- Kid-Friendly Version: You can make a kid-friendly version by using milder flavors and using fewer spices or none.
Easy, Creamy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe
This tuna pasta salad is one of the easiest and tastiest dishes to make on a hot summer day, and it will be ready in 20 minutes!
Servings4 Servings
Ingredients
For Dressing
- 4 tbsp / 56 g Mayonnaise
- 4 tbsp / 60 g Greek yogurt or Sour Cream
- 2 tsp / 10 g Dijon mustard
- 2 tbsp / 30 ml Lemon (Juice only)
- 1 tbsp / 4 g Fresh Parsley, finely chopped(optional)
For Pasta
- 2 cups / 200 g Fusilli pasta
- Water (for pasta boiling)
For Salad
- 200 grams / 7.05 oz Canned Tuna (drained)
- ½ cup Red onion (chopped)
- ½ cup Cucumber (chopped)
- ½ cup Cherry tomatoes
Instructions
Cook and Cool the Pasta
- Cook the pasta in boiling water on the stovetop with a tablespoon of salt until it is soft and chewy, or follow the package instructions.
- Once the pasta is cooked, drain it and immediately rinse it with cool water. Drain it again and transfer the pasta to a large mixing bowl.
Prep the Tuna and Vegetables
- Take the tuna out of the can, drain the water or oil, and put it into a bowl.
- Chop all your veggies, like cucumber, cherry tomatoes, onions, and parsley, and set aside.
Add Dressing, Combine and Chill
- Add the vegetables, then add mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, or sour cream, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and fresh parsley to the pasta bowl.
- Then add the tuna and give everything a good mix.
- Put the mixed salad in the refrigerator for about 30 to 60 minutes to chill.
Taste and Adjust Seasoning
- Take out the salad from the fridge and give it a taste test. If it needs more seasoning, add some.
- Serve and enjoy!
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Recipe FAQs
What pasta is best for tuna pasta salad?
I use fusilli pasta, but you can use macaroni, shells, penne, bow ties, or even wagon wheels, whichever you prefer.
Can I make tuna pasta salad without mayonnaise?
Yes, you can make tuna pasta salad without mayonnaise. Instead, you can use Greek yogurt or sour cream.
Can I use tuna in oil instead of tuna in water?
Yes, you can use tuna in oil instead of tuna in water to make this salad.
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