Tuna Pasta Salad Wellplated Com

A tuna pasta salad with veggies, a duo of fresh and sun-dried tomatoes, fresh herbs, and a lemony Greek yogurt dressing, this creamy tuna pasta salad (like this Shrimp Pasta Salad) punches above its weight. Standard pasta salads fill me with dread. I’ve had enough bland, goopy, and ho-hum piles of mayo-slicked pastas at potlucks to last me the rest of this life and into the next (same with all but this spectacular Healthy Potato Salad). However, I will cheer for this Mediterranean tuna pasta salad to be a part of every summer cookout. If you are still hesitant about canned tuna, please give this recipe (and this reader favorite Chickpea Tuna Salad) a try. Paired with bold, citrusy, and briny ingredients, canned tuna can actually taste good. It’s budget-friendly and good for you too.

How to Make Tuna Pasta

Inspired by similar bright Mediterranean ingredients that are so yummy in Italian Tuna Salad, this creamy tuna pasta salad will redeem soggy, bland pasta salads (and poor canned tuna experiences) of the past. It’s a great make-ahead pasta salad for parties and cookouts, and you can enjoy it for nutritious lunches and dinners too.

Tuna pasta salad tastes even better a few hours after it is made, so you can prep it in advance of a gathering.It’s also healthy (this is a tuna pasta salad without mayo) and filling (thank you whole grains and protein), making it a nice choice for meal-prep lunches.

The Ingredients

Pasta. The addition of whole wheat pasta makes this salad a hearty, tasty, crowd-pleaser with extra fiber. Use shapes that are perfect for capturing the dressing too (like shells or penne).

Tuna. Canned tuna is an easy and nutritious way to add protein, healthy fats, potassium, and vitamins. I prefer to use wild caught albacore tuna, as it has a firmer texture and milder flavor.

Red Onion. Adds a pleasant bite to the salad. Tomatoes, 2 Ways. A mix of cherry tomatoes and sun-dried tomatoes creates the ideal Mediterranean-inspired combination. The juicy cherry tomatoes burst with sweetness, and the sun-dried tomatoes add rich, concentrated flavor. Red Bell Pepper. For a crisp, fresh element, plus much vitamin C. Capers. While optional, I highly recommend adding capers to your tuna salad. They bring just the right about of salty, briny flavor. Fresh Parsley. What’s a Mediterranean tuna salad without fresh herbs? You can use fresh parsley, basil, or dill. Greek Yogurt Dressing. This salad uses a light and bright Greek yogurt dressing with lemon, honey, mustard, and spices. Black pepper, salt, and dried oregano are what spices go with tuna pasta and this Greek yogurt dressing.

The Directions

Storage Tips

To Store. Refrigerate leftover pasta salad in an airtight storage container for up to 2 days.

Recipe Variations

This creamy tuna pasta salad recipe is flexible. If you prefer to make this salad using mayo instead, see the “Recipe Variations” section below.

Fruit Salad

25 mins

Grilled Asparagus

15 mins

Healthy Coleslaw

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Stir in other fresh veggies, such as finely chopped broccoli or cauliflower, or diced celery.I don’t put eggs in tuna salad, but you could add diced hard-boiled eggs if you like.This is a tuna pasta salad without peas, as I felt they distracted from the other Mediterranean elements. That said, feel free to take a note from this Italian Farro Salad and toss frozen peas in if you like.

If you insist on making a tuna pasta salad with light mayonnaise, you can swap up to half of the Greek yogurt for it. You may want to add extra lemon since Greek yogurt is tangy.

Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe

Citrus Juicer. Juicing lemons and limes has never been easier. Salad Tongs. These are perfect for serving salads and more. Mixing Bowls. Ideal for preparing salads and even salad dressings.

Tuna noodle pasta salad, you’ve got a fresh, new look! Leave a rating below in the comments and let me know how you liked the recipe.