Tuna Pasta Salad with Creamy Dressing (Printable)
Refreshing cold pasta with tender tuna, crisp vegetables, and creamy dressing. Ideal for picnics and light meals.
# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 9 oz short pasta (fusilli, penne, or rotini)
→ Fish
02 - 2 cans (5 oz each, drained) solid tuna in water or oil
→ Vegetables
03 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
04 - 1/2 red onion, finely chopped
05 - 1/2 cup celery, diced
06 - 1/2 cup cucumber, diced
07 - 1/4 cup black olives, sliced
08 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
→ Dressing
09 - 1/3 cup mayonnaise
10 - 2 tbsp plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
11 - 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
12 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
13 - 1/2 tsp salt
14 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
# Steps:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool completely.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper until smooth and well combined.
03 - Add the cooled pasta, drained tuna, cherry tomatoes, red onion, celery, cucumber, olives, and parsley to the bowl with the dressing.
04 - Gently toss everything together until evenly coated with the creamy dressing mixture.
05 - Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld together.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The dressing gets even better after an hour in the fridge, so it is perfect for making ahead
- Everything comes together in under 30 minutes with ingredients you probably already have
02 -
- Rinse the pasta under cold water immediately after draining or it will keep cooking and turn mushy
- The salad needs time in the fridge—serving it warm will make the dressing taste heavy and greasy
03 -
- Drain the tuna really well—excess liquid will make your salad watery and sad
- Cut all your vegetables into small, uniform pieces so every forkful has the perfect balance