Tuna pasta salad is a filling dish that’s ready in about 30 minutes. Pasta shells are tossed with tuna, mayonnaise, olive oil, lemon, red onion, celery, cherry tomatoes and herbs. It works warm, cold or at room temperature.
Tips for a Good Pasta Salad
Cook the pasta just to al dente and rinse it briefly with cold water so it doesn’t keep softening. Drain the tuna well. A little olive oil with the mayonnaise keeps the dressing from feeling heavy, and lemon juice brightens it. The pasta absorbs dressing as it sits, so add a splash of oil or a spoonful of mayonnaise before serving leftovers.
Kosher Notes
This salad is pareve. Use tuna and mayonnaise with a reliable hechsher. If you follow the custom of not eating fish with meat, don’t serve it at a meat meal.
Variations and Storage
Capers, chopped pickles or olives are good additions. It keeps for 3 days in the fridge and is great for packed lunches and potlucks.

Ingredients
What I use for this recipe
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Method
- Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente, about 10-12 minutes.
- While pasta cooks, drain tuna completely and break into chunky pieces in a large mixing bowl. Set aside.
- Drain pasta in a colander and rinse with cold water until completely cooled. Drain thoroughly.
- Add the cooled pasta to the bowl with tuna. Drizzle with olive oil and toss gently to coat.
- In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, lemon juice, oregano, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Add diced onion, celery, and cherry tomatoes to the pasta and tuna mixture.
- Pour the dressing over everything and toss gently until well combined.
- Sprinkle with fresh parsley and give it one final toss. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Serve immediately or refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let flavors meld together.
Notes
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