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    Recipes » Side Dishes » Tuna Pasta Salad

    Tuna Pasta Salad

    Published: Sep 8, 2020 · Modified: Jul 8, 2022 by Kate Shungu · This post may contain affiliate links

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    tuna pasta salad in a white bowl.
    tuna pasta salad in a white bowl.
    tuna pasta salad in a white bowl.
    tuna pasta salad in a white bowl.
    tuna pasta salad in a white bowl.

    This easy tuna pasta salad recipe is packed with the good stuff: snap peas, radishes, pasta, tuna, gherkins, and hard boiled eggs in a creamy dill dressing. And it takes just 30 minutes to make!

    tuna pasta salad topped with hard boiled eggs in a white bowl on a blue and white tea towel.

    Tuna Pasta Salad is light and fresh, bursting with veggies and packed with protein. It’s the perfect light meal by itself, or as a side dish for brats or burgers.

    It’s also perfect for a brown bag lunch—it’s a meal all in one with the veggies, pasta, and tuna.

    And how about picnics and potlucks? It will fly off the table at either one—it’s that good. (This Shrimp Macaroni Salad is another winner for potlucks!)

    white bowl filled with tuna pasta salad sitting on a white and blue tea towel.

    The inspiration for the recipe is from a church cookbook from the early 2000s, though tuna pasta salad has, of course, been served for decades before that.

    The original recipe calls for serving the pasta salad in a large bowl lined with Boston lettuce leaves.

    I skipped that option because it seemed most suited for a potluck than for serving my family. But if you try it, send me a photo! 🙂

    Ingredients

    ingredients for tuna pasta salad on a white table.
    • Use your favorite pasta shape here—I like the corkscrew shape for holding onto the dressing.
    • Radishes, celery, gherkins, red onion, and snap peas add great color and freshness to the salad.
    • You’ll need 2 cans of tuna. You can substitute chicken, if you wish!
    • Fresh dill flavors the dressing—don’t skip it!
    • A combo of mayo and buttermilk create the creamy dressing. You can use light mayo if you’d like. See below for how to make your own buttermilk.
    • Hard boiled eggs make a pretty garnish and complete the dish.

    It may seem like a lot of ingredients, but the salad comes together really quickly. The vegetables can be adapted to your liking, or you can leave out one or two altogether.

    How to make tuna pasta salad

    Place the eggs in a small saucepan and cover with water by 1 inch. Place over high heat and bring to a boil. Cover and remove from the heat. Let stand for 10 minutes.

    two eggs in a small saucepan, covered with water

    Drain and cover the eggs with cold water. Peel and chop the eggs.

    While the eggs are cooking, bring a pot of water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions.

    pasta cooking in a saucepan, sitting on a blue and white tea towel.

    Add the snap peas for the last minute of cooking time.

    pasta and snap peas in boiling water in a saucepan.

    Rinse the pasta and the snap peas in cold water.

    In a large bowl, whisk together the dill, buttermilk, mayonnaise, vinegar, salt, and pepper.

    creamy dill dressing being whisked in a large glass bowl.

    Stir in the pasta and vegetables.

    glass bowl filled with tuna pasta salad ingredients.

    Then gently stir in the tuna, taking care that you don’t break it up too much.

    glass bowl filled with tuna pasta salad ingredients, with tuna on top.

    Transfer the mixture to a serving bowl and serve right away, or refrigerate until ready to serve.

    tuna pasta salad sitting on a blue and white tea towel.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How long will tuna pasta salad keep in the fridge?

    You can store tuna pasta salad in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Place it in an airtight container before placing in the fridge, and give it a good stir before serving.

    Is tuna pasta salad healthy?

    It depends on what healthy means! This salad has lots of vegetables and the dressing can be made with light mayo and nonfat buttermilk, so it is definitely on the lighter side.

    How do I make my own buttermilk?

    To make your own buttermilk, use a ratio of 1 tablespoon of vinegar to 1 cup of milk.

    So if you need ½ cup of buttermilk, add half a tablespoon of vinegar to a measuring cup, and fill the remainder of the cup up to the ½ cup line with milk. You can use skim, 1%, 2%, or whole milk.

    For the vinegar, you can use white vinegar, white wine vinegar, or apple cider vinegar.

    Can I make pasta salad with chicken instead?

    Yes! Substitute 1 cup of cooked and chopped chicken breast in place of the tuna. You could also leave out the tuna altogether and make it meatless.

    Can I freeze tuna pasta salad?

    I don’t recommend freezing tuna pasta salad. The dressing will separate when it thaws.

    tuna pasta salad in a white bowl with snap peas and radishes on the side.

    Can I make tuna pasta salad ahead?

    You can make this recipe up to 24 hours in advance of serving. Store it in the refrigerator, tightly covered, and give it a stir right before serving.

    What to serve with tuna pasta salad

    Tuna Pasta Salad is a great all-in-one meal—it has carbs from the pasta, lots of veggies, and protein from the tuna. The eggs on top add even more protein!

    So while it can be served on its own, it makes a great side dish for cookout food, too. I love it with burgers or bratwursts, or with grilled chicken or grilled pork chops.

    Add a leafy green salad and your meal is complete.

    Have you tried this recipe? Please leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating and/or comment below!

    cup of ambrosia and slice of banana cake.

    white bowl filled with tuna pasta salad sitting on a white and blue tea towel.

    Tuna Pasta Salad

    Published by Kate
    This easy cold pasta salad is the perfect all-in-one meal!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate this Recipe
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time 20 mins
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Total Time 35 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6 servings
    Calories 261 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 eggs
    • 8 oz corkscrew pasta
    • 1 cup sugar snap peas, halved
    • ½ cup buttermilk
    • ⅓ cup mayonnaise (light mayonnaise is fine)
    • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
    • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
    • 1 teaspoon sea salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • 2 ribs celery, finely diced
    • 3 radishes, halved and thinly sliced
    • ¼ cup chopped gherkin pickles
    • 2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion
    • 2 (6 oz) cans white tuna, packed in water, drained

    Instructions
     

    • Place eggs in a saucepan and cover by 1 inch with water. Place on a burner over high heat and bring to a boil.
    • Remove the pan from the stove, cover, and let sit for 10 minutes. Run cold water over the eggs, then peel and chop.
    • Meanwhile, bring a large saucepan of water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions.
    • Add the snap peas to the pasta for the last minute of cooking time. Drain the peas and pasta, and rinse with cold water.
    • While the pasta is cooking, whisk together the buttermilk, mayonnaise, most of the dill (reserve a little dill for garnish), vinegar, salt, and pepper in a large bowl.
    • Stir in the pasta, snap peas, celery, radishes, pickles, and onion.
    • Gently stir in the tuna, taking care not to break it up too much.
    • Transfer the pasta salad to a large serving bowl, and top with the chopped eggs and remaining dill. Serve immediately, or refrigerate the salad until ready to serve.

    Notes

    The pasta salad can be made ahead. Store it in the refrigerator until ready to serve. It can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. 
    You can substitute 1 cup of cooked and chopped chicken breast for the tuna, if you wish. Or, leave out the tuna for a meatless salad. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 261kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 19gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 79mgSodium: 667mgPotassium: 266mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 331IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 56mgIron: 2mg
    Keyword pasta salad
    Tried this recipe?Follow me at @giftofhospitality and let me know how you liked it!

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    About Kate

    I’m a believer, wife, mom, and big fan of old cookbooks. I live in Chicago with my husband and two young sons. I love discovering old fashioned recipes that will transport you back in time! Read more...

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