Classic Creamy Tuna Pasta Salad with Vegetables (Perfect for Potlucks & Meal Prep)
This classic tuna pasta salad offers a creamy, flavorful dish perfect for quick dinners, summer gatherings, or making ahead for lunches. It combines tender pasta, flaky tuna, and crisp vegetables in a satisfying dressing.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 10 min
- Total Time: 25 min
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Lunch
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz pasta (such as elbow macaroni or shells)
- 2 cans (5 oz each) tuna, packed in water, drained
- 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
- 1 cup celery, chopped
- 1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt (for a high protein option)
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon dried dill weed
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons fresh chives, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta and rinse immediately with cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the drained tuna, thawed peas, chopped celery, and chopped red onion.
- In a separate small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream or Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, dried dill weed, salt, and pepper until smooth. This creates your creamy tuna pasta salad dressing.
- Pour the dressing over the tuna and vegetable mixture. Gently fold all ingredients together until everything is evenly coated.
- Stir in the cooled, drained pasta until fully incorporated.
- Cover the bowl and chill the tuna pasta salad in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving. Chilling allows the flavors to blend.
- Before serving, taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Garnish with fresh chopped chives. This dish is great for meal prep pasta salad lunches.
Notes
- For a high protein tuna pasta salad, substitute all or part of the mayonnaise with plain Greek yogurt.
- If you are making this ahead for a potluck pasta salad, you may need to add an extra tablespoon of mayonnaise or a splash of milk when reheating, as the pasta absorbs moisture as it chills.
- Use quality canned tuna for the best flavor in this cold pasta salad recipe.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Unsaturated Fat: 15
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 20
- Cholesterol: 45