Tuna Pasta Salad Creamy (Printable Version)

Tender pasta meets flaky tuna and crisp vegetables in a creamy, tangy dressing. Ideal for gatherings or quick meals.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 9 oz short pasta (fusilli, penne, or rotini)

→ Fish

02 - 2 cans (5 oz each, drained) solid tuna in water or oil

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
04 - 1/2 red onion, finely chopped
05 - 1/2 cup celery, diced
06 - 1/2 cup cucumber, diced
07 - 1/4 cup black olives, sliced
08 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

→ Dressing

09 - 1/3 cup mayonnaise
10 - 2 tbsp plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
11 - 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
12 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
13 - 1/2 tsp salt
14 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

# How to Make It:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool completely.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper until smooth.
03 - Add the cooled pasta, tuna, cherry tomatoes, red onion, celery, cucumber, olives, and parsley to the bowl with the dressing.
04 - Toss gently to combine, ensuring everything is evenly coated with dressing. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
05 - Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld together.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The Greek yogurt tang cuts through the richness while keeping everything impossibly creamy
  • Its that magical dish that tastes even better after sitting in the fridge for a day
  • Perfect for those nights when you need something substantial but absolutely cannot deal with heat
02 -
  • Hot pasta melts mayonnaise into a weird separated mess so patience during the cooling phase is absolutely mandatory
  • The salad needs at least that thirty minute rest period or the dressing just coats the surface instead of soaking into everything
03 -
  • Salt your pasta water aggressively because the pasta itself needs seasoning
  • Drain the tuna really thoroughly or your salad will become watery and sad