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The Ultimate Classic & Creamy Tuna Pasta Salad (Perfect for Meal Prep & Quick Dinners)

Close-up of creamy Tuna pasta salad featuring rotini pasta, shredded tuna, green peas, and diced red onion on a white plate.
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Capture the best flavors of summer with this classic and creamy tuna pasta salad. It is simple to make, budget-friendly, and ideal for quick weeknight dinners, picnics, or meal prepping lunches for the week.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound short pasta (like rotini or shells)
  • 2 cans (5 ounces each) tuna in water, drained well
  • 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
  • 1 cup celery, finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
  • 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
  • 1 teaspoon dried dill weed
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  1. 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.
  2. In a large bowl, combine the drained tuna, thawed peas, chopped celery, and chopped red onion.
  3. In a separate small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, yellow mustard, dried dill weed, salt, and black pepper until smooth. This creates your creamy dill dressing.
  4. Pour the dressing over the tuna and vegetable mixture. Gently fold everything together until the pasta and other ingredients are evenly coated.
  5. Taste the salad and adjust salt or pepper if needed.
  6. Cover the bowl and chill the tuna pasta salad in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving. This allows the flavors to blend.
  7. Serve cold. This salad is excellent for meal prep and tastes even better the next day.

Notes

  • For a high-protein tuna salad, use protein-fortified pasta or add one chopped hard-boiled egg to the mix.
  • If you prefer a tangier flavor, add 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice to the dressing mixture.
  • To make this a simple potluck salad that holds up well, keep the celery crisp by adding it just before serving if you prepare it far in advance.
  • If you want a no mayo tuna pasta salad alternative, substitute the mayonnaise with plain Greek yogurt for a lighter, tangy dressing base.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://flavorzine.com/tuna-pasta-salad-recipe-classic-creamy/