Summer Pasta Salad with Tuna
Bright, fresh, and irresistibly satisfying, Summer Pasta Salad with Tuna is the ultimate warm-weather dish that’s perfect for picnics, barbecues, or light lunches. Featuring tender penne pasta, juicy cherry tomatoes, crunchy cucumbers, and the briny goodness of Kalamata olives, this recipe balances vibrant Mediterranean-inspired flavors in every bite. Flaky tuna packed in olive oil adds a hearty, protein-rich twist, while the tangy lemon-Dijon dressing ties everything together. With just 15 minutes of prep and a quick chill in the fridge, this easy pasta salad can be served cold or at room temperature, making it a versatile option for any occasion. Whether you're hosting a summer gathering or prepping a weeknight meal, this wholesome, flavor-packed tuna pasta salad will become your go-to healthy comfort food.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 300 grams penne pasta (or your favorite short pasta)
- 2 cans canned tuna in olive oil, drained
- 200 grams cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 large cucumber, diced
- 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
- 1 small red onion, finely sliced
- 100 grams kalamata olives, pitted and halved
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 0.25 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
Instructions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta, rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process, and set aside to cool completely.
While the pasta cools, prepare the vegetables. Halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber and red bell pepper, finely slice the red onion, and pit and halve the kalamata olives.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, olives, and drained tuna. Gently break apart the tuna into bite-sized chunks as you mix.
In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper to make the dressing.
Pour the dressing over the pasta salad and toss everything together gently until evenly coated.
Sprinkle with fresh parsley and give the salad a final toss.
Chill the salad in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
Serve cold or at room temperature. Enjoy your Summer Pasta Salad with Tuna!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
452 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 23.7 g | 30% | |
| Saturated Fat | 4.0 g | 20% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 32 mg | 11% | |
| Sodium | 842 mg | 37% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 36.5 g | 13% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 5.5 g | 20% | |
| Total Sugars | 7.3 g | ||
| Protein | 24.4 g | 49% | |
| Vitamin D | 1.2 mcg | 6% | |
| Calcium | 72 mg | 6% | |
| Iron | 2.9 mg | 16% | |
| Potassium | 694 mg | 15% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
