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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!
You might try using Miracle Whip instead of Ranch (Mayo and sour cream), it mixes with it VERY well.
I’m not a great fan of pasta salads , but made it for my son today who is a fan . Wow wow 👌 had a 10/10 . I have to admit, I tried some and thought the same . Loved it , I now have a great easy pasta salad recipe. Thank you ❤️
That’s awesome!! You’re very welcome! I appreciate you taking the time to write me a review, Froso!
Very delicious! I’ve been looking for different recipes for cucumbers since my garden is exploding with them and this is definitely a keeper
That’s great to hear, Tanya!!
Family really enjoyed this recipe. I did not have any sour cream, so I used my homemade milk kefir. It was delicious. Thanks for the recipe.
You’re very welcome, Julie!
I was out of lemon juice, so used brown mustard instead. I also added peas. It is delicious!! Thank you for the recipe!!
You’re very welcome!