This tuna pasta salad recipe is simple, filling, and easy to make with pantry staples. It has tender elbow pasta, flaky tuna, chopped celery, diced apple, and boiled eggs all mixed in a creamy dressing with dill and lemon juice.
It's one of those cold pasta dishes that works well for lunch, dinner, or meal prep. If you like creamy pasta salads, this is a good one to keep on hand for busy days or warm weather meals.
If you like easy cold lunches and side dishes, you may also like this Creamy BLT Pasta Salad Recipe.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Easy to make with simple ingredients
- Creamy, cold, and filling
- Great for lunch or meal prep
- Has a fresh flavor from dill and lemon juice
- A good way to make a pasta salad with tuna fish using basic ingredients
Ingredients for Tuna Pasta Salad
- 16 ounces elbow pasta
- 2 eggs, boiled and chopped
- 1 (5 ounce) can tuna, drained
- 1 Granny Smith apple, diced
- ½ cup chopped celery
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon dried dill
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
Ingredient Notes
Flavor Boosters
- Cook the pasta just until al dente so it holds up well after chilling.
- The diced apple adds a little crunch and balances the creamy dressing.
- This recipe uses mayonnaise for the dressing, but some people like to replace part of it with greek yogurt or sour cream.
- If you want to change it up, finely chopped red onion or bell pepper can be added, but they are not needed for the base recipe.
How to Make Tuna Pasta Salad
- Cook the elbow pasta in salted water according to the package directions until al dente.
- Drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water to cool it down quickly.
- Add the cooled pasta to a large bowl.
- Add the drained tuna, chopped boiled eggs, diced Granny Smith apple, and chopped celery.
- In a small bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, olive oil, lemon juice, dried dill, salt, and pepper until smooth.
- Pour the dressing over the pasta mixture and stir until everything is evenly coated.
- Cover and refrigerate until chilled before serving.
Tips for the Best Tuna Pasta Salad
- Rinse the pasta with cold water so it cools quickly and does not continue cooking.
- Make sure the tuna is well drained so the salad does not get watery.
- Chill the salad before serving so the flavor has time to come together.
- If you are making it for the first time, start with the full amount of lemon juice, then adjust next time if you want it a little brighter or a little milder.
Variations
This recipe is easy to adjust depending on what you have on hand.
- Add chopped red onion for a sharper flavor
- Add diced bell pepper or green pepper for extra crunch
- Stir in a spoonful of greek yogurt for a slightly lighter dressing
- Add a second can of tuna if you want extra protein
How to Store Tuna Pasta Salad
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
If the salad thickens after chilling, stir in a small spoonful of mayonnaise before serving.
What to Serve With Tuna Pasta Salad
This tuna pasta salad works well on its own, but it also pairs nicely with:
- crackers
- fresh fruit
- sandwiches
- simple green salads
If you enjoyed this tuna pasta salad, you may also like:
📖 Recipe
Tuna Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 16 ounces elbow pasta
- 2 eggs - boiled and chopped
- 5 ounce can tuna, drained
- 1 Granny Smith apple - diced
- ½ cup celery - chopped
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon dried dill
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente.
- Drain and rinse under cold water.
- Add cooled pasta to a large bowl.
- Add tuna, chopped eggs, diced apple, and celery.
- In a small bowl, stir together mayonnaise, olive oil, lemon juice, dill, salt, and pepper.
- Pour dressing over pasta mixture and stir until evenly coated.
- Refrigerate until chilled before serving.
Notes
- Rinse the pasta with cold water so it cools quickly.
- Make sure the tuna is well drained before adding it.
- Red onion or bell pepper can be added if you want more crunch.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate based on third-party calculations. Actual values may vary due to ingredients, measurements, and serving sizes.
© Popular Recipes
Dana is the lead recipe developer and photographer for PopularRecipes.com. With her 10+ years of experience creating, testing, and photographing recipes, she has become an artist in developing wholesome, family-friendly meals that are a hit with both kids and parents.
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