Easy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe

5 from 3 votes

Published on June 19, 2020

—

Tuna pasta salad recipe is a toss and go recipe full of protein, veggies and more. You will love the creamy pasta and delicious tuna for a quick meal sure to hit the spot.

Tuna pasta salad recipe

I have always loved tuna salad and it seemed like a really delicious combination to add pasta! This is a great way to enjoy tuna salad when you don’t feel like a sandwich.

This recipe has everything that you love about classic tuna salad but in a tasty pasta salad dish. I love to make a big batch of this to keep in the fridge for quick lunches during the week.

It really is so simple and the best comfort food. The creamy dressing brings everything together and I never get tired of this. It is a must try!

What’s In Tuna Pasta Salad?

Tuna, pasta, green peas and cheese come together for a great tuna pasta salad recipe. The dressing is so creamy and delicious.

We used rotini pasta but you can use any type of pasta you prefer. Bowtie, penne, elbow or anything will work.

How long will tuna pasta salad last?

Make sure to keep the tuna pasta salad in an air tight container and it should last 3-5 days.

Ingredients for easy tuna pasta salad:

rotini pasta
canned tuna drained
cup celery diced
green onions sliced
frozen peas defrosted and drained

Dressing:

mayonnaise
sour cream
sweet pickle relish
white vinegar
salt and pepper
dried dill

How to make tuna pasta salad:

Combine all dressing ingredients and set aside.

Cook pasta al dente according to package directions. Rinse under cold water to stop cooking.

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well. Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving.

It is that simple to make! Keep reading for the full recipe.

Other ideas to try with tuna pasta salad:

Add diced red onions
Substitute Greek yogurt for the mayonnaise
Add garlic powder to the dressing ingredients.
lemon juice is also tasty!
Try adding other veggies. Bell peppers are delicious in this creamy tuna pasta salad recipe.
Add boiled eggs for even more protein.

Another time saving tip is to use a small food chopper or food processor to quickly and easily chop the onions and peppers for this pasta salad.

If you do not have one of these, I highly recommend them. They are such a time saver and you make cooking so fast and easy.

This is the best tuna pasta salad!

Cold tuna pasta salad is one of our favorite budget friendly meals.

Not only is this so quick and easy for lunch or dinner, but it is very frugal. You can really feed a crowd on a budget or a large family. You can use any type of pasta you prefer or have on hand.

I often use what is on sale that week at the grocery store or already is in the pantry. Penne, elbow and bowtie pasta are all great in this recipe.

By shopping when things are on sale I save money on groceries and it really helps our budget. Saving money and feeding a big family can be accomplished.

Sometimes I also add cherry tomatoes and toss in a few other veggies. I like bell peppers and red onion.

The cubed cheese is optional but really delicious. We have used shredded cheese when we didn’t have cubed cheese on hand and it was still great.

I cut our grocery bill by 50% off by following these 8 Tips for for Saving Money on Groceries by Menu Planning! Save that money for something else!

How to store this pasta salad?

I like to store the pasta salad in a clear bowl so you can see all of the pretty colors from green peas and cheddar cheese. Just make sure it is an airtight container for storing in the fridge. It will last longer.

The pasta salad is pretty in a glass bowl or even a trifle dish is pretty. We have used these when serving this at luncheons or bridal showers.

Now, if I am taking this pasta salad to a pot luck or cookout, I like to use one of these plastic bowls with lids. These are so handy for traveling and the lid keeps everything mess free.

We have several of these we use for taking this to go. I haven also lucked up before and found a large plastic container with lid at the dollar store!