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Classic Creamy Tuna Pasta Salad for Quick Dinners

Close-up of a creamy Tuna Pasta Salad featuring rotini pasta, green peas, and diced red onion.
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This classic tuna pasta salad uses simple ingredients to create a satisfying, creamy dish perfect for quick dinners, potlucks, or meal prep lunches.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound rotini pasta or elbow macaroni
  • 2 cans (5 ounces each) tuna in water, drained well
  • 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
  • 1/2 cup chopped celery
  • 1/4 cup chopped red onion
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise (use Greek yogurt for a lighter version)
  • 2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon 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. Drain thoroughly.
  2. In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, drained tuna, thawed peas, chopped celery, and red onion.
  3. In a separate small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, Dijon mustard, dried dill weed, salt, and pepper until smooth. This creates your flavorful salad dressing.
  4. Pour the dressing over the pasta and tuna mixture. Gently fold all ingredients together until everything is evenly coated.
  5. Taste the salad and adjust seasoning if needed.
  6. Cover the bowl and chill the tuna pasta salad in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to blend.

Notes

  • For a high protein tuna pasta salad, use protein-enriched pasta or add one hard-boiled egg, chopped.
  • If you prefer a lighter dressing, substitute half the mayonnaise with plain Greek yogurt.
  • This is a great make ahead salad; it tastes even better the next day.
  • For a picnic, keep this cold pasta salad chilled until serving time.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://carlacooking.com/tuna-pasta-salad-recipe-quick-creamy/