Tuna Pasta Salad

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This tuna pasta salad is refreshing, tangy and delicious. It features colorful veggies, olives, capers, dijon, apple cider vinegar, parmesan and herbs. Make this cold pasta salad in just 20 minutes. Serve as a main dish or side.

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👩🏻‍🍳 why you’ll love this TUNA pasta salad

• This summer salad is cool and refreshing. The perfect dish to serve on hot summer days. Bring it to a picnic or potluck.
• It’s a healthy summer salad packed with protein and fresh ingredients. To make this recipe even healthier, use light mayonnaise. Or substitute red wine vinegar and plain Greek yogurt for the mayo.
• This easy recipe is very versatile. Add or subtract ingredients according to your liking. If desired, substitute dill pickles for capers. Use red bell pepper instead of tomatoes. Add in some summer squash. For a bit more tang, use fresh dill instead of basil.
• You can serve this hearty side for lunch or dinner. It’s a popular feel-good dish that will satisfy even the largest appetites.
• It’s a great make-ahead dish that will last in the fridge for several days.

🛒 INGREDIENTS

• Albacore Tuna: This ingredient is the star of the show. I prefer solid white albacore. But feel free to use whatever type of tuna you have in the pantry that’s packed in water. Tuna packed in oil will give this tuna pasta salad a different taste and consistency.
• Medium Shells Pasta: I prefer this shape for tuna pasta salad as it’s hearty and pairs well with tuna. But if you don’t have this on hand, use another sturdy pasta like penne or cavatoppi (corkscrews).
• Celery: Provides a fresh grassy taste with a crunchy texture.
• Red Onion: Contributes a bright purple color, a fresh earthy taste, and a crispy texture.
• Grape Tomatoes: Add color, freshness and a juicy bite. I prefer red grape tomatoes or cherry tomatoes, but you can use a colorful medley of tiny tomatoes instead.
• Black Olives: Briny and flavorful, they add a rustic taste.
• Capers: Salty and acidy, they contribute a robust flavor and lots of tang. Feel free to add more or less, to taste.
• Fresh Basil: Adds a pop of color with a peppery flavor and a hint of mint. For tuna pasta salad with a bit more tang, use fresh dill instead.
• Mayonnaise: Adds a delicious tangy taste with a smooth creamy mouthfeel. I prefer Best Foods Mayonnaise or Duke’s Mayonnaise with a hint of lime. If desired, use your favorite light mayo instead.
• Dijon Mustard: Has a sharp tangy flavor with a hint of spice. I prefer dijon made with white wine.
• Apple Cider Vinegar: Adds tart and tang with a bit of sweet.
• Parmesan Cheese: It’s rich, tangy and nutty with a umami taste. For tuna pasta salad, I prefer freshly-shredded parmesan because it adds a nice texture, but feel free to use grated parmesan instead.
• Sea Salt: Season the dish to taste. If you have it on hand, you can use kosher salt instead of sea salt.
• Freshly-ground Black Pepper: Adds a rustic aroma and a bit of heat.

📖 RECIPE STEPS

RECIPE PREP: Add water to a large pot. Salt it until it tastes like the ocean. Bring the water to a boil on stovetop. In the meantime, prep the other ingredients for the tuna pasta salad.

• STEP 1: Dice the celery and chop the red onion. Cut the grape tomatoes and black olives in half. Slice the basil. Drain the capers. Add these ingredients to a bowl. Gently toss to combine.

• STEP 2: Once the water comes to a rolling boil, cook the pasta al dente according to package directions. Drain the pasta well. Then rinse it briefly in cold water to cool down the noodles.
• STEP 3: In a large serving bowl, mix together the tuna, mustard, mayo, vinegar, cheese, salt and pepper.

• STEP 4: Add the cooked pasta to the tuna mixture. Fold the ingredients together. Add the veggie mixture to the bowl and gently fold it in. If desired, garnish with additional parmesan cheese, sliced basil, and a few more twists of ground black pepper. Tightly cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until serving time.

🧑🏼‍🍳 RECIPE FAQ

These are the most commonly-asked questions for making the tastiest tuna pasta salad, and the most helpful answers for recipe success.

🍽 How to Serve Tuna Pasta Salad

When entertaining friends on hot summer days, serve your refreshing tuna pasta salad in white tin enamel camping cups. Bring them to the table on a galvanized serving tray with linen napkins.

As a main dish, serve pasta salad with a cool drink like strawberry lemonade, hibiscus tea, or an old-fashioned Roy Rogers drink.

⏲ MORE QUICK PASTA SALAD RECIPES

Stay cool during the hot weather months with these refreshing pasta salads. They’re quick and easy to assemble. You’ll be out of the kitchen fast. Add them to your monthly meal plan rotation.

• Cold Spaghetti Salad
• Lemon Orzo Salad
• Classic Macaroni Salad
• Summer Pasta Salad with Veggies
• Greek Pasta Salad

RATE THIS RECIPE ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Flavor testers rated this the BEST tuna pasta salad when compared to 3 popular cookbook recipes. It’s packed with delicious flavors and textures, and plenty of tang – everything you could hope for in a cold pasta salad.

If you agree this recipe’s a keeper, give it a 5-star rating in the comments. Then be a recipe hero. Share it with friends. 📌 Pin it to Pinterest.

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TUNA pasta SALAD 👉🏻 JOIN THE CONVERSATION!

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