This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Tuna Pasta Salad with tuna, pasta shells, crunchy veg and creamy lemon mayo. A quick, easy make-ahead lunch or BBQ side.
Nicky’s Notes
This is our have-it-on-repeat lunch of the Summer at the moment!
Lots of lovely fresh flavours, easy to throw together (everything else is chopped and prepped while the pasta’s cooking), and leftovers make an even easier lunch the next day!
I love to use pasta shells, because they’re basically little pockets that scoop up all the flavour.
You can sub with any pasta shapes you have in the cupboard (it’s also one of my favourite ways to use the last bits of pasta left across multiple bags of pasta – lots of different shapes! 😁).
Prep it ahead and take it to work, on picnics or add the BBQ table as an extra side.
Table of Contents
📋 Ingredients for Tuna Pasta Salad
***Full recipe with detailed quantities in the recipe card below***
Best Tuna for tuna pasta salad
I like to use tuna in olive oil, drained and gently flaked. It has a richer flavour and softer texture than tuna in brine or spring water, so it works beautifully with the creamy mayo dressing without tasting dry.
Albacore tuna is a great choice if you prefer a milder flavour and firmer, meatier flakes, while skipjack tuna has a stronger tuna flavour and a softer texture that mixes easily through the pasta.
Both work well — just make sure the tuna is well drained before stirring it in, so the salad stays creamy rather than oily or watery.
🧑🍳 Abbreviated Recipe
***Full recipe with detailed steps in the recipe card below***
Cook the pasta, then drain, rinse under cold water and leave it to drain well. Mix drained tuna, chopped vegetables, dill pickles, mayonnaise, seasoning and lemon juice in a large bowl, then stir through the cooled pasta.
Recipe Tips
- Cool the pasta fully before mixing so the mayonnaise stays creamy and doesn’t loosen (and go oily) from the heat.
- Drain the pasta really well after rinsing. Any extra water can make the tuna pasta salad taste bland or watery.
Pin this now to find it later
Pin ItMake ahead and Leftovers Guide
- This is a great make-ahead pasta salad. Store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days and stir before serving. Freshen leftovers with a small spoonful of mayo or a squeeze of lemon before serving.
- Don’t freeze leftovers – The mayonnaise dressing and fresh vegetables don’t thaw well, and the texture can become watery.
Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 280 g (10oz) dried pasta shapes (I use shells)
- 3 x 125g (4.4oz) tins tuna in olive oil, drained and flaked (once drained you should have about 300g/10.5oz tuna)
- 1 medium red onion, peeled and finely diced
- 200 g (3.5oz) cherry tomatoes, quartered
- ½ medium cucumber, diced
- 2 sticks celery, finely diced
- 60 g (2oz) dill pickles, finely diced
- 115 g (1/2 cup) full fat mayonnaise (swap with low fat mayo or half mayo and half Greek yogurt for a lighter dressing)
- ½ tsp celery salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh dill (or replace with 1 tsp dried dill)
- 2 tsp fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Cook the pasta as per the pack instructions, then drain and run under cold water until cold. Drain until dry.280 g (10oz) dried pasta shapes (I use shells)
- While the pasta is cooking place the remaining ingredients into a large bowl.3 x 125g (4.4oz) tins tuna in olive oil, drained and flaked, 1 medium red onion, peeled and finely diced, 200 g (3.5oz) cherry tomatoes, quartered, 1/2 medium cucumber, diced, 2 sticks celery, finely diced, 60 g (2oz) dill pickles, finely diced, 115 g (1/2 cup) full fat mayonnaise , 1/2 tsp celery salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 2 tsp fresh lemon juice
- Add the cooked and cook pasta to the bowl and mix everything together until combined.
- Serve right away, or cover and chill in the refrigerator (should keep well in an airtight container for up to 3 days).
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
🍲 More fantastic Summer Lunch recipes
Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links – which means if you buy the product I get a small commission (at no extra cost to you). If you do buy, then thank you! That’s what helps us to keep Kitchen Sanctuary running. The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors. For more information please see our Terms & Conditions.
