Tuna Pasta Salad
This Tuna Pasta Salad is one of those go-to recipes that works for just about everything, from an easy lunch to a picnic side dish. It’s creamy, packed with flaky tuna, and full of fresh flavors like dill, red onion, and crisp veggies. You can make it ahead for meal prep, and it tastes even better the next day. Whether you’re feeding your family or bringing a dish to share, this cold tuna pasta salad is always a hit.
Yes! It’s perfect for meal prep and actually tastes better the next day
Elbow macaroni works great, but shells or rotini are also good options for pasta salad recipes.
You can swap part of the mayo with greek yogurt or sour cream for a lighter creamy dressing.
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Absolutely. Red bell peppers, green pepper, or even cucumbers work well in this cold pasta salad.
Ingredient Notes
- elbow macaroni, cooked to al dente: the base of this cold pasta salad that holds all the creamy dressing
- albacore tuna, drained: gives you that hearty, flaky tuna texture
- tomatoes: adds freshness and a pop of color
- celery: brings a nice crunch
- red onion: adds a little bite and flavor balance
- frozen green peas: a slightly sweet addition that pairs perfectly with tuna
- fresh dill: gives that classic tuna salad flavor
- Optional: diced red bell peppers or green pepper for extra crunch and color
- Optional: fresh parsley or other fresh herbs for garnish
Tuna Pasta Salad
- Cook pasta in salted water until al dente, then rinse with cold water and drain well. In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, tuna, tomatoes, celery, red onion, peas, and fresh dill.
- In a small bowl, whisk together all dressing ingredients until smooth and creamy.
- Pour the dressing over the pasta mixture and toss until everything is well coated. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour before serving.
- Garnish with extra dill or fresh parsley before serving.
Tuna Pasta Salad
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Equipment
Ingredients
Salad
- 16 oz box elbow macaroni cooked
- 3 cans tuna drained
- 1.5 cups tomatoes seeded and diced
- ½ cup celery thinly sliced
- ½ cup red onion diced
- 1 cup frozen green peas thawed
- ½ cup fresh dill chopped (plus extra for garnish, optional)
Dressing
- 1.5 cups mayo
- 2 Tablespoons white vinegar
- 1 teaspoons celery salt
- ½ teaspoons black pepper
- 1 Tablespoon sugar
Instructions
- Cook pasta in salted water until al dente, then rinse with cold water and drain well. In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, tuna, tomatoes, celery, red onion, peas, and fresh dill.
- In a small bowl, whisk together all dressing ingredients until smooth and creamy.
- Pour the dressing over the pasta mixture and toss until everything is well coated. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour before serving. Garnish with extra dill or fresh parsley before serving.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer: Family Fresh Meals is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
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