Lemony Tuna Pasta Salad (Printable Version)

A bright and refreshing pasta salad featuring canned tuna, zesty lemon, fresh herbs, and sweet peas.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 9 oz short pasta such as fusilli, penne, or bowties
02 - Salt for boiling water

→ Salad

03 - 1 cup frozen peas
04 - 2 cans tuna in olive oil, 5 oz each, drained and flaked
05 - 1 small red onion, finely diced
06 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
07 - 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
08 - Zest and juice of 1 large lemon
09 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
10 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
11 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste

→ Optional Additions

12 - 1/4 cup capers, rinsed and drained
13 - 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

# How to Make It:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. In the final 2 minutes of cooking, add frozen peas to boiling water. Drain pasta and peas, then rinse under cold water until completely cooled.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine drained tuna, diced red onion, chopped parsley, dill, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Mix until well integrated.
03 - Add cooled pasta and peas to the bowl with tuna mixture. Drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil, sprinkle with salt and black pepper, and toss gently to combine all ingredients evenly.
04 - Stir in capers and cherry tomatoes if desired. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional lemon juice, salt, or pepper according to preference.
05 - Serve immediately while fresh, or refrigerate for up to 2 days. Garnish with extra fresh herbs before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The lemon cuts through the rich tuna making every bite feel impossibly light
  • It actually tastes better after sitting in the fridge so meal prep becomes your secret weapon
02 -
  • Rinsing the pasta under cold water stops the cooking process completely and prevents that starch from turning into a gummy mess
  • The pasta will absorb some dressing as it sits, so make it slightly more acidic than seems right at first
03 -
  • Reserve a half cup of pasta cooking water before draining to loosen the salad if it seems too dry after chilling
  • Microplane the lemon zest directly over the tuna mixture so those aromatic oils land exactly where they are needed most
Go Back