Tuna Pasta Salad

Tuna Pasta Salad is a tasty side dish for summer! Rotini, veggies, and tuna are tossed in a creamy homemade dressing made of mayo, sour cream, and spices!

This old fashioned recipe is traditionally served chilled which means you can make it a couple of days in advance, so it’s perfect for summer potlucks!

 

If you’d like to add to your collection of pasta salad recipes, look no further! This easy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe is full of fresh flavors and textures and tastes amazing!

Tuna, tender noodles, and crunchy veggies are tossed in a creamy spiced dressing that ties everything together. It’s a great recipe to enjoy with summer favorites like hamburgers, hot dogs, steak, or grilled chicken. 

What’s In Tuna Pasta Salad?

• Noodles – This recipe calls for rotini noodles, which hold the dressing in their spirals, giving tons of flavor to each bite. You could use elbow macaroni or cavatappi – really anything with some curves to catch the tuna.
• Dressing – The dressing is cool and creamy, made with a base of sour cream (you could use plain Greek yogurt too) and mayonnaise. To enhance the flavor (and compliment the tuna), dried dill weed, salt, and pepper are added – so easy!
• Tuna & Veggies – Canned tuna is ready to use and lends a ton of flavor to this side dish. A bell pepper, chopped celery, onions, and peas add freshness, plus a little crunch.

How Do You Make Tuna Pasta Salad? 

I love pasta salad recipes because they are so easy to make and you can make them up ahead of an event for ease. The full printable recipe is at the bottom of the post, but here are the basics!

• Boil – Cook your pasta until al dente add in the peas at the last minute then drain and rinse with cold water.
• Prep – While pasta is cooking, prep your veggies.
• Whisk – Mix together your dressing ingredients in a medium bowl.
• Combine – Add everything to a large bowl and stir to coat and combine!

Tuna Noodle Salad Substitutions & Add-Ins

• Boiled eggs – If you love eggs in your potato salad and pasta salad recipes, feel free to mix 4-5 chopped hardboiled eggs into this one, too!
• Craving Tuna Macaroni Salad instead? Simply cook macaroni al dente and use it in place of the rotini in this recipe.
• If you’re a pickle fan, try adding 2 tablespoons of pickle relish to the dressing!
• Fresh sugar snap peas can also be used in place of frozen ones.
• Feel free to use red onion instead of white onion.
• A squeeze of lemon juice would be delightful in this salad.
• Cherry tomatoes would make a nice addition, I recommend halving them before adding.

Can This Creamy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe Be Eaten Cold?

Of course! I prefer this salad chilled, but you can enjoy it while the pasta is still warm, too. 

In fact, this is a great dish to make ahead of time, then keep it in the fridge until you’re ready to serve. 

How Long Is It Good For?

Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container or in a bowl tightly covered with plastic wrap. It should stay good for 3-5 days. 

More Summer Side Dishes

• Crunchy Ramen Noodle Salad – This has an Asian-inspired twist and takes just minutes to make! 
• Classic Macaroni Salad – You can never go wrong with this simple crowd-pleaser.
• Spaghetti Pasta Salad – Pasta salad with a spaghetti twist! 
• Cucumber Tomato Salad – A fresh way to enjoy summer fresh veggies.
• Apple Grape Salad – Made with a yogurt-cream cheese dressing, it’s the perfect sweet side to add to the table!

Let’s Connect!

If you’ve tried this recipe, please let me know how you liked it in the comments below and leave a review. I love hearing from you!

Don’t forget to tag me – @sugarandsoulco – on Instagram and Pinterest with your photos or join our Sugar & Soul Show-offs Community and share them there, where you can join our recipe challenges!