Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe

platter of tuna pasta salad on white table.

Take the French classic Nicoise Salade and tweak it with this Tuna Pasta Salad. Filled with tuna, egg, and vegetables but served in a pasta salad, the traditional salad feels new again.

Prep Time15

Cook Time10

Total Time25

Course: Salad

Cuisine: French

Servings:

Calories: 379kcal

Author: Jessica Fisher

Cost: $10

Ingredients

1 lb small pasta cooked, drained, and rinsed
vinaigrette dressing
6 eggs (hard-cooked) peeled
2 5-ounce can albacore tuna drained
⅓ cup kalamata olives sliced
1-2 tomato can use 1 cup grape or cherry tomatoes
1 English cucumber thinly sliced
4 mini peppers thinly sliced
1 small red onion thinly sliced
fresh basil (chopped) optional

Instructions

In a pot of salted boiling water, cook the pasta according to package directions. Empty the noodles into a colander. Rinse with cold water and drain.
1 lb small pasta
Prepare the vinaigrette dressing, if making homemade. Toss the pasta with enough dressing to coat.
vinaigrette dressing
Cut the hardcooked eggs into quarters.
6 eggs (hard-cooked)
Lay the pasta on a large platter or individual dishes. Top with the egg pieces, chunks of tuna, black olives, tomatoes, cucumber slices, peppers, and onions.
2 5-ounce can albacore tuna, ⅓ cup kalamata olives, 1-2 tomato, 1 English cucumber, 4 mini peppers, 1 small red onion
Drizzle the salad with the dressing and sprinkle with the basil. Serve with additional dressing on the side.
fresh basil (chopped)

Notes

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 potluck 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.

Nutrition