The Best Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe (No Mayo)

Oh me oh my! This hearty tuna pasta salad may just be the tuna salad I have on repeat all summer long. Seriously, my kids got a little sick of me raving about how good it was. What can I say, sometimes I even impress myself.

As you may know, I’m working on adding more fresh produce and protein, specifically fish, into my diet. This cold tuna pasta salad ticks all the boxes and then more.

Why Make My Tuna Pasta Salad

It’s delicious. Seriously, these tuna pasta salad ingredients play very well together, a taste of the mediterranean which is a nice twist from a classic tuna macaroni salad with mayo.

It’s make-ahead. You can prep this Mediterranean tuna pasta salad up to a few days in advance, making it great for meal preps or busy weeks when you can’t find time to cook every night.

It’s a fun twist to the classics. I love classic tuna salad and I love tuna mac. And I love tuna salade nicoise. This is a bit of a riff on all three, but without the mayonaise. Instead, it’s all bathed in a homemade salad dressing with extra virgin olive oil as the dressing bringing extra flavor to it all.

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Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make this easy tuna pasta salad no mayo required:

small pasta – I use shell pasta because I think it’s a cute seafood theme, but you can obviously use whatever short pasta you have from basic elbow macaroni to whole wheat pasta.

your favorite salad dressing – If you don’t have a favorite, my basic homemade vinaigrette dressing is an excellent choice. It’s so delicious on this classic tuna pasta salad.

hard-cooked eggs – you can buy these at the grocery store already cooked or cook eggs in the instant pot, air fryer or stovetop.

canned albacore tuna – There are lots of good options when it comes to canned tuna and you could even cook your own tuna steaks. Just choose your favorite! (If you love tuna, be sure to try this Tuna Noodle Casserole!

kalamata olives – These salty black olives add a punch of flavor and fat to this pasta salad. You can use regular black olives if you prefer.

tomatoes – Use chopped whole tomatoes or sliced grape or cherry tomatoes. Sun-dried tomatoes would be a highly flavorful substitute, but don’t use regular canned tomatoes as they will be too soft for a pasta salad.

cucumbers – English cucumbers (less than $1 each at my local ALDI!) are a staple in my kitchen year-round, but you can use smaller Persian cucumbers or other slicing cucumbers.

bell peppers – I love the look of sliced mini red pepper in pasta salad, but you can also chop a large pepper instead.

red onion – Thinly sliced red onion gives just the right contrast to the other flavors in this salad. In a pinch, you can use chopped green onions or sliced yellow onion or white onion. If the white onion is a bit bitter, soak it in some vinegar for a few minutes before adding to the salad or rinse it with hot water.

fresh basil – Fresh basil is optional, but it adds amazing flavor to this salad. 

Step-by-Step Instructions

Here’s how to make this easy tuna pasta salad:

In a pot of salted boiling water, cook the pasta according to package directions. Empty the pot into a colander, rinse with cold water, and drain.

Prepare the vinaigrette dressing, if making homemade. Toss the pasta with enough dressing to coat.

Cut the hardcooked eggs into quarters.

Lay the cooked pasta on a large platter or individual dishes. Top with the egg pieces, chunks of tuna, black olives, tomatoes, cucumber slices, peppers, and onions. 

Drizzle the salad with the dressing and sprinkle with the basil. Serve with additional dressing on the side.

To make this in advance: Assemble the salad in an airtight container and refrigerate until ready to serve. 

Recipe Tips

• Don’t overcook the pasta. Noodles in pasta salad will soften as they absorb the dressing. Instead be sure to cook it to al dente and then rinse in cold water.
• A pasta salad bar is often a great way to serve this dish! That way folks can pick and choose which ingredients they like best. Fussy eaters will thank you!
• Drain the tuna well. Unless you’re using canned tuna packed in olive oil, you’ll want to drain it well.

Serving Suggestions: I consider this a one-dish dinner. However if you like, you can include it as a side dish in a summer BBQ party or in an array of salads, alongside a green salad, a potato salad, and maybe a fruit salad.

How to Make a Meal Prep: This easy tuna pasta salad makes a great easy lunch! Divide the pasta into serving-size containers, add the toppings, and cover, refrigerating until ready to serve.

Make a Plan for Leftovers: Leftover pasta salad is good for up to 3 days in the fridge. I find that going longer makes the tuna extra fishy. If you store leftovers in clear air-tight containers you’re more likely to notice them and make sure they get eaten.