0 from 12 votes
Tuna Pasta Salad
👏🏻🧑🏻🍳 Jazz up a can of tuna with this FAST and EASY pasta salad that's creamy, satisfying, and chock full of flavor! Perfect for lunch or as a great side dish for dinner! Made with simple, common, and inexpensive ingredients which is always a WIN!
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Additional Time
15 mins
Servings: 8
Calories: 525 kcal
Course:
Side Dish , Salad , Lunch
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 1 pound rotini pasta or small-shaped pasta such as small shells, macaroni, wheels, bowtie, etc.
- 5 ounces water-packed tuna, drained from one 5-ounce can or two 2.5-ounce packets
- ½ cup peas I use frozen that I thaw and drain well; or fresh peas are fine
- ¼ cup sweet pickle relish
- 1 ¼ cups mayonnaise
- ¾ cup sour cream thick Greek yogurt may be substituted
- 1 to 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 to 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons seasoning salt such as Lawry's or a mixture of onion powder and garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon dried dill or 1 teaspoon fresh dill, finely minced
- salt as desired to taste
- freshly ground black pepper as desired to taste
- Minced fresh parsley (or thinly sliced green onions) optional for garnishing, to taste
Instructions
- Cook pasta to al dente according to package directions. Rinse pasta under cold water when done boiling to stop the cooking process. Drain well and add pasta to a large bowl. Tip – Add a tablespoon or so of olive oil to the pasta cooking water while it's boiling to help prevent sticking.
- Add the tuna, peas, pickle relish, and stir to combine. Set aside momentarily.
- To a medium bowl, add all the mayo, sour cream, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, seasoning salt, dill, and whisk to combine.
- Add the dressing to the pasta bowl and stir and toss to combine and coat evenly. Tip - If for some reason it's at all dry, or you want it extra creamy, feel free to add another tablespoon or two of mayo and/or sour cream, as desired. All brands of pasta/tuna will absorb the dressing a bit differently so you can tweak this as desired.
- Taste and as desired, add salt and pepper, and stir to combine. Tip - If the pasta salad tastes at all boring or dull, it likely needs more salt, so don't be afraid to add it. The same goes for pepper, but salt is more critical.
- You can serve it immediately, but I prefer to chill it covered for at least 30 minutes, and serve it chilled. Optionally garnish as desired before serving.
- Storage - Extra pasta salad will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. Make sure to give it a good stir before serving the leftovers. This isn't a recipe I recommend freezing.
Cup of Yum
Nutrition Information
Serving
1serving
Calories
525kcal
(26%)
Carbohydrates
48g
(16%)
Protein
12g
(24%)
Fat
31g
(48%)
Saturated Fat
6g
(30%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
16g
Monounsaturated Fat
7g
Trans Fat
0.1g
Cholesterol
34mg
(11%)
Sodium
922mg
(38%)
Potassium
221mg
(6%)
Fiber
2g
(8%)
Sugar
5g
(10%)
Vitamin A
334IU
(7%)
Vitamin C
5mg
(6%)
Calcium
44mg
(4%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 8Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 525
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1serving | |
| Calories | 525kcal | 26% |
| Carbohydrates | 48g | 16% |
| Protein | 12g | 24% |
| Fat | 31g | 48% |
| Saturated Fat | 6g | 30% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 16g | 94% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 7g | 35% |
| Trans Fat | 0.1g | 5% |
| Cholesterol | 34mg | 11% |
| Sodium | 922mg | 38% |
| Potassium | 221mg | 5% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 5g | 10% |
| Vitamin A | 334IU | 7% |
| Vitamin C | 5mg | 6% |
| Calcium | 44mg | 4% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.