Lemony Tuna Pasta Salad (Printable Version)

Bright pasta salad with tuna, lemon, fresh herbs, and peas. Light, refreshing, and ready in just 25 minutes.

# 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

→ 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 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 through a colander, then rinse under cold water to cool quickly.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the drained tuna, diced red onion, chopped parsley, chopped dill, lemon zest, and fresh 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 all ingredients evenly.
04 - Stir in capers and cherry tomatoes if desired. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional lemon juice, salt, or pepper as needed.
05 - Serve immediately at room temperature or refrigerate for up to 2 days. Garnish with extra fresh herbs before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Comes together in under 30 minutes with ingredients you likely already have
  • The lemon and herbs make every bite feel like a breath of fresh air
  • Tastes even better the next day, making it perfect for meal prep
02 -
  • Rinse the pasta under cold water until it's completely cool or the warmth will wilt the fresh herbs
  • Add the lemon juice to the tuna before the pasta, giving the onion time to mellow out
03 -
  • Use a microplane or zester for the lemon zest to avoid the bitter white pith
  • Let the salad rest for 15 minutes before serving to let flavors really marry
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