Pasta Salad with Tuna

 My Go-To Summer Lifesaver: The Ultimate Tuna Pasta Salad Without Mayo

That Time My Mayo-Based Salad Ruined a Picnic…
Picture this: It’s 95°F, the park smells like fresh-cut grass, and my “creamy” tuna pasta Salad has turned into a watery, faintly sour puddle. Never again. After that disaster, I spent months perfecting this vibrant Tuna pasta salad without mayo – a zesty, oil-based wonder that holds up in the heat and actually makes taste buds dance. This Pasta salade recipe isn’t just food – it’s my secret weapon for stress-free gatherings.

Why You’ll Fall Hard for This Tuna Pasta Recipe

The “Ah-Ha!” Moment That Changed Everything
I used to think mayo was mandatory for creaminess. Then I tasted a fisherman’s lunch in Sicily – olive oil-poached tuna tossed with lemon, capers, and cold pasta. Light? Check. Packed with flavor? Obsessed. This Tuna pasta salad without mayo version captures that magic.

Real Talk: Who This Recipe Rescues

• Busy parents needing make-ahead lunches
• Gluten-free folks (use brown rice pasta!)
• Mayo-haters (my brother calls it “the slime”)

Gather Your Weapons: The No-Fail Ingredients

• Pasta (12 oz): Fusilli holds dressing best, but Spaghetti tuna fans – snap dry spaghetti into 3-inch shards before boiling!
• Tuna (2 cans): Oil-packed only. Water-packed turns sad and chalky. Drain but reserve 1 tbsp oil for dressing!
• Crunch Squad:
  • 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes (salted separately – trust me!)
  • 1 diced cucumber (peel if bitter)
  • ½ red onion, soaked in ice water for 5 mins to tame the bite
• Flavor Bombs: Kalamata olives, capers, roasted red peppers (my weakness)
• Herbs: Flat-leaf parsley + dill. Skip dried – they taste like dust here.

The Life-Changing Dressing
Whisk in a jam jar – no fancy tools needed!

• ⅓ cup EVOO + reserved tuna oil (free flavor!)
• Juice of 1½ lemons (zest one first!)
• 1 minced garlic clove
• 1 tsp Dijon
• ½ tsp honey (balances acidity)
• Salt + cracked black pepper

Let’s Build Your Masterpiece: Foolproof Steps

Cook Pasta Like Nonna Taught Me

• Boil water with enough salt to “taste like the sea.”
• Add pasta. Cook 1 minute less than the package says – mushy pasta = sadness.
• Drain, rinse with cold water until cool. Toss with a drizzle of oil.

Spaghetti Tuna Hack
Break spaghetti into thirds before boiling! It cooks evenly and forks beautifully.

Prep Like a Pro (5 Minutes Flat)

• Flake tuna in a bowl. Mix in capers and 1 tbsp lemon juice – let it “marry” while you chop.
• Toss tomatoes with a pinch of salt in a colander. Let drain 10 mins (bye, excess water!).
• Soak onions in ice water – takes the harsh edge off.

Dress to Impress
Shake all dressing ingredients in a jar until creamy. Taste it! Needs more zing? Add lemon. Too sharp? A drip of honey.

The Grand Assembly

• In your prettiest bowl, combine pasta, tuna, veggies, and olives.
• Pour dressing over everything.
• Toss gently with clean hands (or tongs).
• Fold in herbs last – crushing them bruises the flavor.

Critical Resting Period!
Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. This lets the pasta soak up the dressing. I promise – leftovers taste even better!

Genius Tweaks for Your Pasta Salade Recipe

Oops, I Forgot…” Swaps

• No dill? Use basil or chives.
• Out of lemons? 2 tbsp red wine vinegar works.
• Hate raw onion? Quick-pickle them or use scallions.

Next-Level Upgrades

• Creamy without mayo: Stir in 2 tbsp Greek yogurt!
• Protein power: Add white beans or hard-boiled eggs.
• Crunch factor: Toasted pine nuts or sunflower seeds.

Why This Tuna Pasta Salad Without Mayo Owns Summer

The Science of Survival
Mayo separates in heat. Olive oil? It clings to pasta like a Mediterranean dream. Last picnic, mine sat out for 3 hours – zero fear.

Flavor That Actually Develops
Unlike mayo salads that fade, the garlic-lemon dressing permeates every bite over time. Day two might be better than day one!

Your Burning Questions (I’ve Heard ’Em All!)

Can I use canned chicken instead?”
Absolutely! But reduce lemon by half – chicken soaks up acid differently than tuna in this Tuna pasta recipe.

Help! My salad’s dry after refrigeration!”
Pasta absorbs liquid. Revive it with:

• A splash of reserved pasta water
• Extra drizzle of olive oil
• Quick squeeze of lemon

Is spaghetti really okay?”
Spaghetti tuna purists unite! Just break it before cooking – long strands tangle and won’t mix well.

Serving Your Crowd-Pleaser

My Favorite Pairings

• Summer BBQs: Serve alongside grilled lemon chicken
• Work Lunches: Pack with a crusty bread wedge
• Fancy Moments: Top with crumbled feta and edible flowers

I Quadruple This Recipe Monthly

This Tuna pasta salad without mayo got me through toddler birthday parties, beach days, and last-minute potlucks. It’s the Pasta salade recipe that made my carb-phobic aunt ask for seconds. Whether you stick to my exact Tuna Pasta Recipe or riff with Spaghetti tuna and artichokes, remember.

Imprimer la recette

Vegetarian

Pasta Salad with Tuna

Auteur/autrice: CookieAndKatie Méthode de cuisson: Boiling, Chilling, Mixing Cuisine: American Plats: Salad Thématiques de recette: E Easy N No-Bake Q Quick

Difficulté: Intermediate Temps de préparation 20 mins Temps de cuisson 10 mins Temps total 30 mins

Portions: 4 Calories: 294

Meilleure saison: Summer

Dietary:

H High protein N Nut-free

Description

Pasta Salad with Tuna is a delicioso platillo que fusiona la acogedora textura de pasta con el intenso gusto de tuna it's a recepta adaptable to individual gustos y dietas making it a perfect elección for picnics potlucks or a rápido almuerzo lleno de nutrientes y simple de preparar.

Ingredients

Servings

• 260 grams Fusilli pasta
• 2 can Tuna in oil drained
• 150 grams Canned corn
• 6 tablespoons Mayonnaise
• ¹⁄₂ Red bell pepper diced
• 2 Cloves garlic grated
• ¹⁄₂ medium Red onion sliced and rinsed
• 2 tablespoons Lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons Chopped dill
• 1 tablespoons Coarse salt
• Salt and Black pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Poseer un vasto recipiente de agua salteada a presión. Add the fusilli y cocina conforme a las instrucciones del paquete until esté al dente. Remove y aplique agua fría para refrescar.

1. While the pasta cooks, dice the red bell pepper, grate the garlic, and rinse the sliced red onion.

1. In a large bowl, combine mayonnaise, lemon juice, chopped dill, grated garlic, salt, and black pepper. Mix well.

1. Add to the bowl the pasta, drained tuna, corn, diced red pepper, sliced onion, y la dressing. Toss gently to combine everything evenly.

1. Taste and adjust salt and pepper if needed. Chill in the refrigerator por lo menos 30 minutos antes de servir para permitir la mezcla de sabores.

1. Enjoy your flavorful pasta salad with tuna.

Valeurs nutritionnelles

Servings 4

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Amount Per Serving

Calories 294kcal

% Daily Value *

Total Fat 8g13%

Saturated Fat 3g15%

Cholesterol 15mg5%

Sodium 272mg12%

Potassium 12mg1%

Total Carbohydrate 40g14%

Dietary Fiber 2g8%

Sugars 3g

Protein 18g36%

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Vitamin A 885 IU

Vitamin C 14 mg

Calcium 48 mg

Iron 2 mg

* Les pourcentages des valeurs quotidiennes sont basés sur un régime à 2 000 calories. Votre valeur quotidienne peut être plus ou moins élevée en fonction de vos besoins caloriques.

Note

Note 1: Opt for good-quality tuna in oil for richer flavor and better texture.

Note 2: Avoid overcooking the pasta; it should be firm to the bite to maintain texture in the salad.

Note 3: Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes to let flavors meld and enhance taste.

Note 4: Feel free to add chopped olives, cherry tomatoes, or capers for extra flavor.

Mots-clés: tuna pasta salad without mayo,pasta salade recipe,spaghetti tuna,tuna pasta recipe