Lemony Tuna Pasta Salad (Printable)

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

# What You’ll 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. During the final 2 minutes, add frozen peas to the boiling water. Drain pasta and peas thoroughly, then rinse under cold running water to cool quickly.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine drained tuna, diced red onion, chopped parsley, chopped dill, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Mix gently to distribute flavors evenly.
03 - Add cooled pasta and peas to the bowl with tuna mixture. Drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and toss gently until all components are evenly combined.
04 - Stir in capers and halved cherry tomatoes if desired. Taste the salad and adjust seasoning with additional lemon juice, salt, or pepper according to preference.
05 - Serve immediately at room temperature or refrigerate for up to 2 days. Garnish with fresh herbs before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The lemon zest makes everything taste brighter and more alive than you expect from a pantry meal
  • You can keep all the ingredients in your cupboard and freezer for those nights when cooking feels impossible
02 -
  • Rinse the pasta under cold water until it's completely cool or the warm pasta will make the tuna taste fishy
  • The flavors actually improve after sitting in the refrigerator for a few hours so this is perfect for making ahead
03 -
  • Zest your lemon before juicing it it's much easier to handle the whole fruit first
  • If your pasta still feels warm after rinsing spread it on a baking sheet to cool faster before mixing
Return