This delicious Tuna Pasta Salad combines tuna, sweet peas, crisp celery, red onion, dill pickle relish, dried dill weed, and creamy mayo into a tasty lunch, side dish, or light supper. This is one of our favorite tuna salad recipes and a regular during the summer months.
This super easy salad comes together in about fifteen minutes and is perfect for potlucks, family reunions and pool parties. This salad, Easy Taco Pasta Salad, Tortellini Pasta Salad (Vegetarian) and Easy Italian Pasta Salad are some of my favorites to serve for lunch during the hot summer months.
My family and friends just rave about how delectable and simple it it. I love how easy it is on the pocket book. My family prefers it served chilled but you can enjoy as soon as it is mixed as well. If you don’t like peas try a little finely diced red or green bell pepper. As I always says don’t throw the baby out with the bath water.
How do you make Tuna Pasta Salad?
Bring a large pot of water to boil on the stovetop. Cook the pasta al dente according to package instructions. Rinse the pasta with cold water and drain well in a colander. Do not over cook the pasta as you want it slightly firm so it stays together when stirred with the other ingredients.
Next chop the celery and the red onion. In a large bowl combine the tuna, peas, pickle relish, celery, red onions, dill weed, mayonnaise, lemon juice, Dijon Mustard, and cooled pasta. Now stir gently to combine. For best results chill for several hours. Finally gently stir before serving and sprinkle lightly with dill.
Recipe tips for Tuna Pasta Salad
- Any medium pasta will work for this recipe like rotini, bowtie, radiatore, elbow macaroni, or penne.
- Don’t overcook the pasta. It should be cooked slightly firm so it does not break apart when tossed with the mayonnaise.
- Hard-boiled eggs are a great addition to this pasta salad and they pack a lot of protein
- Either sour cream or Greek yogurt can be substituted for 1/2 cup of mayo for less fat and more protein.
- For best results use canned albacore tuna packed in water.
- Green onions can be substituted for the red onions.
- For more texture and flavor include other veggies like red or green bell peppers, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, corn, broccoli, or cauliflower.
- This dish can be prepared up to a day in advance and stored covered in the refrigerator until ready to serve. You may need to add a little more mayonnaise, sour cream or pickle relish to moisten it up.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Other pasta salad recipes to try
Creamy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 12 ounces small shell pasta
- 10 ounces canned albacore white tuna packed in water drained
- 1 cup frozen baby peas defrosted
- 1/2 cup dill pickle relish
- 2 ribs celery chopped
- 1/3 cup chopped red onion
- 1 tablespoon dill weed
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons Dijon Mustard
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain well.
- Combine the tuna, peas, pickle relish, celery, red onions, dill weed, mayonnaise, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and cooled pasta. Stir gently to combine. Chill for 1-2 hours. Gently stir before serving and sprinkle lightly with dill.
Notes
- Any medium pasta will work for this recipe like rotini, bowtie, radiatore, elbow macaroni, or penne.
- Don’t overcook the pasta. It should be cooked slightly firm so it does not break apart when tossed with the mayonnaise.
- Hard-boiled eggs are a great addition to this pasta salad and they pack a lot of protein
- Either sour cream or Greek yogurt can be substituted for 1/2 cup of mayo for less fat and more protein.
- For best results use canned albacore tuna packed in water.
- Green onions can be substituted for the red onions.
- For more texture and flavor include other veggies like red or green bell peppers, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, corn, broccoli, or cauliflower.
- This dish can be prepared up to a day in advance and stored covered in the refrigerator until ready to serve. You may need to add a little more mayonnaise, sour cream or pickle relish to moisten it up.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
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Lynn
Delicious and easy light meal! My husband & I loved it!! Thank you!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Lynn! So glad that you and hubby liked it!
Chenée Lewis
This is so easy to make! I love finding new ideas for pasta salad and this one is a winner for sure.
Jessie
I love pasta salad, I make one with ham I have never used tuna. I am going to need to give this a try for my next gathering.
Denay DeGuzman
My sister-in-law shared your recipe! She made this for a friend to drop off as a food gift. I’m loving the flavors and textures in this delicious recipe. Yum. Yum.
Tawnie Kroll
Made this over the weekend and it was the perfect pasta salad – flavorful and satisfying!
Sonal
This looks so comforting and easy to do. Adding tuna to pasta enhances the taste I bet.
Sara Welch
What a delicious pasta salad! Served this with dinner tonight, and it has easily become a new favorite recipe in our home! Delicious!
Cathy
Such a perfect combination! I could make a meal out of this!
Beti | easyweeknightrecipes
I LOVE everything about this salad!! Can’t wait to try it this weekend! I know it will be a huge hit!
katerina @ diethood.com
WOW! Such an amazing salad!! My family LOVES it! 🙂
Erin
This Tuna Pasta Salad couldn’t look any more perfect!
Katie
I have been making this to take to bbqs and it’s always a winner!
Suzy
Ohhh love the added pickle relish in this pasta salad! So delicious!
Toni
This is such an amazing salad!! Everyone at my house loved it!
Lindsay Cotter
This was just what I was looking for since I had some tuna in the pantry that I wanted to use. Came together easy and tastes fantastic!
Lauren Kelly
This is such a crowd pleaser! And a perfect way to mix up summer salads!