Lemony Tuna Pasta Salad (Printable)

Bright and refreshing pasta salad with canned tuna, lemon zest, fresh herbs, and peas. Easy, light, and perfect for any occasion.

# 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:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. In the last 2 minutes of cooking, add the peas to the boiling water. Drain pasta and peas, then rinse under cold water to cool quickly.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the drained tuna, red onion, parsley, dill, lemon zest, and lemon juice.
03 - Add the cooled pasta and peas to the bowl. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and toss gently to combine.
04 - Stir in capers and cherry tomatoes if using. Taste and adjust seasoning with more lemon juice, salt, or pepper if desired.
05 - Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 days. Garnish with extra herbs before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 30 minutes but tastes like you planned it for days
  • The lemon brightness cuts through the richness of tuna making it impossible to stop eating
  • It actually gets better overnight so meal prep feels like a secret advantage
02 -
  • Rinsing the pasta under cold water isn't just about temperature, it washes away excess starch so the salad doesn't become a gummy block
  • The lemon juice will continue to cook the tuna slightly if left too long, so add the juice right before serving if you're making this a day ahead
  • This salad needs at least 15 minutes of resting time for the flavors to really meld, but it's perfectly good to eat immediately too
03 -
  • Toast your pasta in a dry pan for 2-3 minutes before boiling for an extra layer of nutty flavor that makes this taste restaurant-quality
  • Save a tablespoon of the pasta water before draining and mix it into the dressing, the starch helps everything cling to the noodles better
  • If you're making this for a crowd, double everything but the onion, it gets stronger as it sits
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