Tuna Pasta Salad is a great salad dish for potlucks and picnics! Ready to feed a crowd, this easy tuna pasta salad recipe tastes even better the next day and perfect cold next to a juicy burger. Don’t like tuna but need a creamy delicious side salad for your party? It’s so easy to substitute for canned chicken with fabulous results. Get the full recipe and some tips below.
Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe
Cold tuna pasta salad is so delicious. Creamy and delightful, tuna pasta salad is a fun twist on a traditional tuna salad and while a side dish, can also be a main dish in a pinch! In this particular tuna pasta salad you will of course find curly cue rotini pasta and tuna, but also a variety of delicious veggies like tomatoes and celery. My particular recipe doesn’t have peas in it, but I know plenty of people that would add cold peas and its a good add. You can also boil some eggs, chop up and add if you like.
This dish is so super easy to get creative with so use my tuna pasta salad recipe as a base and don’t be afraid to add a few more of your favorites to the dish as well.
How to make Tuna Pasta Salad
- 8 oz rotini pasta
- 1 can, 5 oz, tuna, drained
- 1 large tomato, chopped
- 1/2 cup chopped celery
- 1/2 cup matchstick carrots
- 1 cup real mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon Italian dressing (dry powder)
- salt and pepper
Tuna Pasta Salad
Yum! You wont believe how easy this tuna pasta salad is! And while I did use tuna and its one of my favorites, you could easily substitute this recipe with shredded canned white chicken if you do not like tuna.
To get started, cook pasta according to package directions.
Drain and rinse with cold water. Make sure you shake off as much excess water as possible so you do not over moisture your salad.
Add your cold pasta to a mixing bowl and add tuna, tomato, celery and carrots.
Mix all your salad ingredients super well.
Add mayonnaise and dressing and mix again.
Season your salad with salt and pepper.
Refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.
This dish is best when given some time to marinate in the flavors and served cold.
Stir well before serving, especially if its been in the fridge for a bit.
Side Salad Options
Need more side salads? Try one of my favorite recipes:
- Pea Salad : With red onions and shredded cheese
- Frog Eye Salad : This is a dessert salad made with pudding and pasta
- Vegetarian Pasta Salad: Such a colorful pasta dish, this salad is full of delicious veggies
- Ranch Pea Salad : Twist on pea salad with the fun flavors of ranch that everyone loves!
If you try this recipe and have feedback, Id love to hear how you changed it up and made it your own!
Tuna Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 8 oz rotini pasta
- 1 can 5 oz, tuna, drained
- 1 large tomato chopped
- 1/2 cup chopped celery
- 1/2 cup matchstick carrots
- 1 cup real mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon Italian dressing dry powder
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions.
- Drain and rinse with cold water.
- Add pasta to a mixing bowl and add tuna, tomato, celery and carrots.
- Mix well. Add mayonnaise and dressing and mix well. Season with salt and pepper.
- Refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight. Stir well before serving.
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