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This creamy tuna pasta salad recipe is perfect all summer long for BBQs and potlucks. It’s easy to make and has a creamy and bright dressing that’s made with simple ingredients!
Try this Tuna Pasta Salad instead if you prefer a vinaigrette dressing. You may also like my Easy Canned Tuna Pasta.
Why you’ll love it
Whether you serve this tuna pasta salad as a main or side dish, it’s sure to disappear quickly at your next backyard BBQ or summer dinner on the patio! Canned tuna is so versatile, inexpensive, and it adds protein to make this creamy pasta salad filling and delicious.
It’s bursting with crisp, crunchy fresh vegetables, and the creamy dill dressing is basically like a quick homemade ranch dressing but with more personality. There’s a lot to love about this simple tuna pasta salad. It’s cooling, refreshing, and ready in just 30 minutes.
What you’ll need
For the salad
- Pasta – we’re going for a classic macaroni salad
- Tuna – I like the kind packed in oil for extra flavor
- Onion – red onions are a great choice for salads because they’re less sharp
- Vegetables – I picked little tomatoes, celery, cucumber, and bell peppers
- Parsley – it adds a pop of herby flavor
For the dressing
- Sour cream and mayo – the base of the dressing and for a little tanginess
- Lemon juice – a touch of brightness and acidity for balance
- Garlic powder – another layer of savory flavor
- Dill – this fresh herb complements seafood so well
Tools for this recipe
Check out Natasha’s favorite kitchen essentials, gadgets, and cookware!
- Chop up the veggies on this cutting board with a good chef’s knife.
- I love to store uncooked pasta in these airtight containers vs keeping it in the box it came in.
- Here’s the glass prep bowl set I love for salads, and these are my go-to salad tongs.
How to make creamy tuna pasta salad
This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
Cook the pasta until al dente. Meanwhile, combine the salad dressing ingredients until smooth and set aside. Chop and prep the other ingredients and add them to a prep bowl.
Rinse the cooked pasta under cold water, and drain it thoroughly. Add it to the salad bowl, and toss with the dressing. Season generously with salt and pepper. Chill if desired.
Substitutions and variations
- Swap out whichever veggies aren’t to your tastes, or use up whatever is in the fridge. This tuna pasta salad is pretty flexible!
- While fresh dill is ideal here, you could swap with 1 tsp of dried dill instead.
- If you want to use a larger pasta shape than macaroni, I’d increase the amount.
What to serve with this pasta salad
- This tuna pasta salad is the perfect easy summer dish to enjoy on the patio with a glass of white wine or sparkling water!
- Pair it with a slice of fresh crusty bread to make it a meal, or serve it alongside other summer favorites like my Easy Grilled Pork Chops or Cilantro Lime Grilled Chicken Thighs.
Leftovers and storage
- For best results, if you want to make it more than a few hours ahead of time, I’d store the dressing separately. Add it to the salad and toss when ready to serve.
- Keep any leftover tuna pasta salad in the fridge for a few days.
- I don’t recommend freezing this one.
If you give this creamy tuna macaroni salad a try, please leave a star rating and review below! Tag me on Instagram if you made this or any S&L recipe.
Creamy Tuna Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 2.5 cups uncooked macaroni
- 1 (6 ounce) can tuna drained
- 2 tablespoons red onion chopped
- 1 cup little tomatoes halved
- 2 sticks celery chopped small
- 1 mini cucumber (or 1/4 English cucumber) chopped
- 1/2 red bell pepper chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
Dressing:
- 1/2 cup mayo
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill see note
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Boil a large, salted pot of water for the macaroni. Cook it al dente according to package directions.
- Meanwhile, get everything else ready. I like to make the dressing first. Combine all the dressing ingredients until smooth and set it aside. Prep the other ingredients and add them to a large bowl.
- Once the pasta is done, rinse it under cold water and let it drain thoroughly. Toss with the dressing and other ingredients. Season with salt & pepper as needed (I found this recipe needed quite a bit of salt – it’s a lot of pasta). You can serve this pasta salad right away or let it chill (covered) first for the flavors to meld more.
Notes
- Fresh dill is best, but you could swap with 1 teaspoon of dried.
- If you use a different shape pasta than macaroni, I suggest making 3 cups (e.g. if you use bows).
- I didn’t put long for prep because you can prep while the pasta is cooking, so I just count it in there.
- As with any pasta salad, feel free to add more/less of any ingredient to make it perfect for your tastes.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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This recipe was originally published on June 8, 2019. It’s been updated with new photos and better instructions but is the same great recipe!
I just made this now this afternoon 18/4/2023 I but bacon and tuna with it and biled eggs tastes banging fair play
So glad you liked it!
This recipe was so delicious! Oh my goodness. It was a hit even for my toddler! I didn’t realize how much we’d love it so next time I’ll be doubling the recipe. Definitely a meal repeat in our family!
I’m thrilled to hear that, MJ!! Thanks so much for your kind review!
I made this tonight and added capers and a Calabrian chili paste…definitely will make again!
Awesome!!
This is the second time making it.
I am now taking it to a large pot luck get together.
I am sure I will be sharing this. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Absolutely delicious.
Fantastic!! 🙂 So happy it’s a hit.
Is there anything else I could substitute for the tomatoes, I’m very allergic?
Hi Kathy! You can just leave them out or swap for whatever other veggies you like. It’s a very flexible recipe. I hope you enjoy it! 🙂
Great recipe (as usual)!
I had to to modify the recipe a bit since I didn’t put sour cream (dairy allergy) so I put 3/4 mayonnaise added roasted garlic powder instead or regular garlic powder and I added a tbsp of capers.
It taste pretty good. Do you think adding anchovies or anchovy paste might be a good idea too?
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Yes, I love anchovies and anchovy paste. A little goes a long way, but I think it would work in here!
I bumped up the seasonings for my own personal taste but this was really good! Really well rounded lunch/dinner 🙂
Awesome!! Thanks for commenting!
I made this the other day. Amazing and will make again! Thank you for the recipe!
Wonderful!! Thank you for letting me know!!
What’s the vinaigrette dressing recipe that you also suggested?
Thank you!!
Hi Jennifer! Do you mean my healthy tuna pasta salad that I talk about in the top of the blog post? It’s linked up there, but I can try to put the link here too: https://www.saltandlavender.com/healthy-tuna-pasta-salad/
Thanks for this lovely recipe; it looks and sounds delicious…I’m going to try it soon!
Let me know if you like it 🙂