Scrumptious tuna pasta salad with capers is the star attraction of any picnic or potluck spread. This quick and easy 20-minute recipe will have you in and out of the kitchen in no time flat! You’ll love that this colorful summer salad is very versatile. Simply add or subtract ingredients according to your liking. Kosher dill pickles can be substituted for capers. Red bell pepper can be used instead of tomatoes. This popular side dish can also be served as a hearty meal for lunch or dinner.
Tuna Pasta Salad Ingredients
What are the ingredients for a delicious tuna pasta salad? Here’s the ingredient list for this yummy pasta salad recipe: medium-size shell pasta, albacore tuna, celery, red onion, grape tomatoes, black olives, capers, fresh basil, mayonnaise, dijon mustard made with white wine, apple cider vinegar, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper.
Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe
While the water for the pasta is coming to a boil, start prepping the other ingredients. Cook the shell pasta al dente, according to package directions. Drain off the hot water and rinse briefly to cool down the noodles. In a medium bowl, mix together the tuna, mustard, mayo, vinegar, cheese, salt and pepper.
How to Make Tuna Macaroni Salad
Add the cooked shell pasta to the tuna mixture. Fold the ingredients together. In a separate bowl, toss the veggies together until well mixed.
Macaroni Salad with Tuna and Capers
With a large spatula or wooden spoon, combine the veggies with the tuna mixture.
Yummy Tuna and Macaroni Salad
Generously garnish your tuna pasta salad with additional Parmesan cheese and fresh basil. You can also grind a bit more black pepper on top as well. Mmmm…doesn’t this look scrumptious? Your delicious tuna and macaroni salad is now ready to serve and enjoy!
How to Serve Tuna Pasta Salad
At my house, a fun presentation of summer salad recipes is half the fun!
Unexpected Serveware for Tuna Pasta Salad
When entertaining friends on hot summer days, serve your cool, refreshing, tuna pasta salad on a galvanized serving tray lined with pretty linen napkins.
Today I served my summer salad recipe in an unexpected way. I used retro tin camping mugs. These make-shift bowls with handles offer the perfect way to enjoy a light meal outdoors while leisurely sitting in chairs. When everyone’s wrapped up in lively conversations you can conveniently serve this meal to your friends without interrupting the flow to ask guests to move to a table.
Serving Size for Tuna Pasta Salad
In case you were wondering, when served as an entree this tuna pasta salad recipe serves 6 adults. As a side dish it serves 8 to 10.
Kitchen Tools and Serveware for Pasta Salad Recipe
I love finding unique serveware that’s happy, festive, stylish and convenient. Over the past few months I’ve been collecting galvanized metal trays and tiered stands because I love their vintage farmhouse feel. These items are perfect for spring and summer entertaining, and, of course, for serving this delicious pasta salad recipe!
Tuna Pasta Salad with Capers
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 8 Servings 1x
Ingredients
- 1 16-ounce box of pasta (medium shells), cooked al dente
- 2 12-ounce cans albacore tuna packed in water, fully drained
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 + 1/2 tablespoons dijon mustard (made with white wine)
- 3 tablespoons organic apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2/3 cup Parmesan cheese, plus more for garnishing
- 4 – 5 tablespoons non-pareil capers, fully drained (plus more for garnishing)
- 2 stalks celery, chopped
- 1 cup chopped red onion
- 10.5 ounces grape tomatoes (about 2–1/4 cups), halved
- 1 6-ounce can medium black olives, halved
- 3 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh basil, plus more for garnishing
- 4 twists of freshly-ground black pepper for garnishing
Instructions
- Boil the medium-sized pasta shells according to package directions until al dente.
- While the pasta is cooking, cut and slice the veggies. Add them to a large bowl along with the capers. Toss all of the ingredients together.
- Open two cans of tuna and drain off the water. Add the tuna to a large bowl along with the mayonnaise, mustard, apple cider vinegar, salt, pepper, and Parmesan cheese. Using a fork, break up the tuna into small pieces and mix well.
- When the pasta is al dente, drain off the water. In a colander, rinse the pasta briefly to cool it down and bring it to room temperature. Add the pasta to the tuna mixture. With a large spatula or wooden spoon, fold everything together until combined.
- Add the tuna-and-pasta mixture to the veggies. Fold all the ingredients together. Generously garnish the top of your tuna pasta salad with freshly-ground black pepper, Parmesan cheese, and thin slices of fresh basil. If desired, sprinkle a few extra capers on top. Your delicious summer salad is ready to serve and enjoy!
Notes
A NOTE ABOUT THE QUANTITY OF CAPERS FOR THIS RECIPE: I absolutely love the tangy flavor of capers, so I use the full 5 tablespoons. But if you’re not familiar with this ingredient, I recommend that you first assemble the tuna pasta salad using just 4 tablespoons. Then before garnishing the salad do a quick taste test. If desired, adjust the quantity of capers upwards.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Snack, Dinner, Picnic, Potluck, Party
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: tuna pasta salad, cold pasta salad, tuna pasta salad recipe
TUNA PASTA SALAD > PIN IT NOW
Save this delicious tuna macaroni salad recipe for later. Pin it to Pinterest!
MORE SUMMER SALAD RECIPES
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HEALTHY BROCCOLI SALAD WITH BACON
A quick easy recipe for potlucks, picnics and family gatherings.
TUNA MACARONI SALAD > JOIN THE CONVERSATION!
Do you have a favorite summer salad recipe? What do you think about this tuna pasta salad? I invite you to join the conversation in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you!
Tuna is my favorite seafood! Best recipe for the summer time!
★★★★★
Capers are such a great addition to tuna pasta salad! Thank you for this recipe.
★★★★★
I made a HUGE batch of this and shared a little with the kids but most I have kept for lunches for myself. It makes a really delicious change to my sandwiches for lunch.
★★★★★
This looks really good. In fact, I am planning to whip this up later tonight. Luckily, I have all the ingredients available. Thank you for sharing the recipe. I am so excited.
Pasta salad at its best! This dish is so colorful and hearty! I’m a tuna lover, so this is FAB!
★★★★★
It really is. Thank you for stopping by.
This looks like the perfect summer dish! I will definitely be making this for our next cookout! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for stopping by!
This looks amazing, I make a lot of Pasta Salad in the summer and with the addition of capers my husband will love. Making this for lunch tomorrow. thanks for the recipe.
★★★★★
You are so welcome. Thank you for stopping by. Enjoy your summer.
Oh this tuna pasta salad looks so incredible! Id love to make this salad for an upcoming picnic with my friends along with some cheese crisps. thanks for the recipe!
★★★★★
You’re so welcome. Im glad you enjoy it.
This is the best summer salad! One of our favorites!
★★★★★
Im glad you enjoy it. Have a good rest of your week!
Oh my word this looks so good. Just in time for weekend picnics too!
★★★★★
It is perfect for a picnic. Cant do wrong with it.
This dish looks so yummy! And pretty! Love all of the colors!
-Jennifer
★★★★★
All the colors make it so fun. Thanks for stopping by.
Oh yum. This looks like a perfect summer-time dish. Thanks!
I definitely is. You will really enjoy.
I love the idea of adding capers to the classic tuna salad! I think I’ve just found the perfect dish for June 1st summer corn roast. Thanks so much for sharing.
★★★★★
You are so welcome. Thanks for stopping by. :)
This looks so perfect for spring or summer! I can’t wait to try it!
★★★★★
It really is. Its best in the summer.
This sounds so delicious! I pinned it for later! :)
I know you will really like it. Its delicious.
This is right up my husbands alley! I’m going to print this out and show it to him, I know he’ll want to make it very soon! Thanks!
You are so welcome. Thanks for stopping by.
Love all the tanginess in this pasta salad from the olives, capers, and mustard! so good!
★★★★★
It really is. You will love it.