• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Clean & Delicious logo

  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • Recipes
  • Video
  • Food For Thought
    • Intuitive Eating
    • Mental Health
    • Nutrition
    • Weight Loss
  • Shop
  • About
  • Contact
    • Work With Me

Home » Recipes » Lunch » Kid Friendly Lunches » Tuna Pasta Salad

Jun 13, 2020(updated July 6, 2022)

Tuna Pasta Salad

4.34 from 193 votes
By Dani Spies
Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links.

This Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad is made with elbow noodles, peas, tuna, celery, red onion, mayonnaise, and Greek yogurt. It’s an easy, healthy, dish that is family-friendly and great for meal prep.

This recipe has been updated and was originally posted on 2012.

I grew up eating this tuna pasta salad recipe (we also made this Italian pasta salad, a lot!). My sister would make it at least once a week and we would eat it for both lunch and dinner.

It’s light, delicious, and packed with protein. You can make it with staple ingredients you have in your fridge, freezer, and pantry.

How To Make Tuna Pasta Salad

Cook your pasta according to the package instructions. You can use any type of pasta you prefer.

If you want to add more protein to the dish, try a bean or lentil pasta. If you want more fiber, try whole-grain pasta.

Transfer cooked pasta to a large bowl. Add in chopped onions, celery, peas, tuna, yogurt, mayonnaise, vinegar, salt, and pepper.

Stir everything together, test for seasoning, and enjoy!

How Long Does Tuna Pasta Salad Last In The Fridge?

This healthy tuna pasta salad will last in the fridge for up to 5 days when kept in an airtight container.

How Do You Keep Tuna Pasta Moist?

When kept in the fridge, the pasta will begin to absorb the mayonnaise and yogurt which can make the salad taste less creamy.

To keep the salad nice and moist, add an extra dollop of yogurt (or mayo) right before serving.

Thanks so much for reading! You can watch the video down below and if you make this recipe I would love for you to give it a ★ rating below.  And be sure to follow me on YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram and, FaceBook for more healthy food inspiration!

easy tuna pasta
Print Recipe
4.34 from 193 votes

Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe

This Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad is made with elbow noodles, peas, tuna, celery, red onion, mayonnaise, and Greek yogurt. It’s an easy, healthy, dish that is family-friendly and great for meal prep.
Course: LUNCH, salad + dressing
Cuisine: American, kids
Author: Dani Spies
Prep Time15 mins
Total Time15 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 355kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 cup diced red onion
  • 1 cup diced celery
  • 2 cans of chunk light tuna packed in water and drained
  • 3 cups elbow pasta, cooked
  • 1 cup frozen peas defrosted
  • 2 tbsp mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water.
  • In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta onion, celery, tuna, peas, mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, vinegar, salt, and pepper.
  • Stir well and enjoy!

Notes

*This tuna pasta salad will last up to 5 days when stored in the fridge.
**To keep this recipe dairy-free, skip the yogurt and use all mayonnaise. 
***To lower the fat and increase the protein, skip the mayonnaise, and use all yogurt.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 355kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 114mg | Potassium: 364mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 274IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 56mg | Iron: 2mg

Kid Friendly Lunches, Salad + Dressing, Video

About Dani Spies

Dani Spies is the founder and host of Clean & Delicious; a weekly cooking show on YouTube and a healthy eating blog that celebrates real, whole foods! She takes a holistic approach to health and wellness and is loved for her approachable, down to earth style both in and out of the kitchen.

Learn MoreWork With Me

Reader Interactions

Yum! I love this recipe.

    Leave a review Cancel reply

    If you loved this recipe please leave a comment and star rating below. Questions are also welcome. Cheers!

    Recipe Rating




    Comments

  1. Niki says

    April 4, 2012 at 6:36 am

    5 stars
    I love tuna but my husband doesn’t. Will this work with cooked chicken too? Or do you have a quick and easy chicken salad recipe? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Ann says

      February 17, 2017 at 5:26 am

      5 stars
      I have made similar recipes with the canned chicken. My son does not eat tuna.

      Reply
  2. Janet says

    April 4, 2012 at 8:23 am

    5 stars
    HOw do I find the recipe so I can try it.. everytime I try to log in it sends me to the youtube video…thank you, Janet Looks yummy

    Reply
    • Dani says

      April 4, 2012 at 10:55 am

      5 stars
      I totally forgot to post it (YIKES!) – it’s up there now!!

      Reply
  3. Louise says

    April 4, 2012 at 8:52 am

    5 stars
    What a great idea. I’ll pick up the ingredients today for my lunch tomorrow. Really good idea Dani.

    Reply
    • Dani says

      April 4, 2012 at 10:54 am

      5 stars
      Enjoy!

      Reply
  4. vicki says

    April 4, 2012 at 9:40 am

    5 stars
    Agree – looking for a recipe to print so I can get the nutritional information.

    Reply
    • Dani says

      April 4, 2012 at 10:54 am

      5 stars
      Ooops!!! Just posted it… sorry about that!

      Reply
  5. Robert Richards Recipes says

    April 5, 2012 at 9:47 am

    5 stars
    You are a talented person to come up with a recipe like this one. I’m so happy you decided to share it with the world. 😀

    Reply
  6. Ognena says

    April 5, 2012 at 2:41 pm

    5 stars
    This is such an awesome recipe, and you can always mix it up with different vegetables. I’ll be trying it out tomorrow for sure.

    Dani, can you please tell how long can this pasta salad stay in the fridge?

    Tx, O

    Reply
  7. Louise says

    April 6, 2012 at 8:00 am

    5 stars
    Hi Dani,

    I made the salad. I substituted grilled chicken only because they were leftovers. I also used veggie Rotini Tri Color noodles. It gave the salad great color. It was gone in one day. I really liked the crunchy peas. Next time I will use tuna.

    Cheers

    Reply
  8. Kate says

    April 7, 2012 at 3:50 pm

    5 stars
    I was surprised at how yummy this recipe is, I love how you can not taste the Greek Yogurt, it taste as though it was made with all mayo! I will definitely be incorporating this ratio into my other salads. Thanks for a tasty healthy recipe!

    Reply
  9. Emily says

    April 9, 2012 at 6:35 pm

    5 stars
    I love to use Greek Yogurt whenever possible. Great nutritional value and adds such creaminess. Thanks for posting this, Dani!

    Reply
  10. Frances says

    April 12, 2012 at 4:18 pm

    5 stars
    Hi Dani, thanks for all the amazing recipes. Just wondering if this recipe is okay to freeze/defrost?
    Cheers 🙂

    Reply
  11. Mike W says

    April 30, 2012 at 2:47 pm

    5 stars
    Made this last night and packed it for lunch today and it was amazingly good. The longer it stays in the fridge the better it gets. I also noticed that it gave me energy after lunch and I didn’t feel tired and lethargic like I usually do. Keep these wonderful recipes coming! Yum!

    Reply
  12. Lauren says

    May 2, 2012 at 2:31 pm

    5 stars
    Loving your recipes! Made the brown rice and spinach fritatta yesterday and had for lunch… Going to try this one tonight! Can’t wait 🙂

    Reply
  13. JoyinChaos says

    May 24, 2012 at 4:10 pm

    5 stars
    This looks great. I’m making it tonight. What size cans of tuna did you use?

    Reply
  14. Alissa says

    June 5, 2012 at 10:51 am

    5 stars
    Made this yesterday for dinner and have it in the fridge for lunch today. Your recipes are always a hit…really!

    Reply
  15. Joelle says

    August 2, 2012 at 3:02 pm

    5 stars
    Kicked this one up a notch w/dijon mustard, fresh dill and a mixture of red & sweet onions. Yep! Co worker suggested kidney beans for an extra bit of protein & fun. Sure, why not.

    Reply
  16. Lau says

    May 14, 2013 at 3:53 am

    5 stars
    Hi Dani…
    How long does this yummy tuna pasta keep ??

    Reply
    • Dani says

      May 14, 2013 at 6:39 am

      5 stars
      About 3 days in the fridge:)

      Reply
  17. Brittany says

    May 29, 2013 at 5:42 pm

    5 stars
    Wow, I was super skeptical about this recipe. It looked delicious, but the red wine vinegar threw me off when I read it. However, I made it, and its DELICIOUS! Seriously the best tuna salad recipe I have ever tried. Thank you!! 🙂

    Reply
  18. Susan says

    June 11, 2013 at 6:21 pm

    5 stars
    I was looking for a new pasta salad that was healthy too. I saw this on Pinterest today and made it for dinner tonight. It is SO good – thank you very much! You have a new fan!

    Reply
  19. Firah Esham says

    July 16, 2013 at 7:53 am

    5 stars
    Hi Dani, is there any alternatives instead of using the red wine vinegar?

    Reply
  20. LaKendra says

    July 22, 2013 at 11:43 am

    5 stars
    Dani! I’m a fan! This had such great taste! I used what I had — 2 cups cooked rainbow twists, green peppers instead of celery and no peas (since I had none and am not the greatest of fans). Soooo good! In fact, it just might be the best tuna pasta salad (or tuna salad itself, for that matter) I have ever made. Love the addition of the red wine vinegar! And the lightness that comes from greek yogurt! Ah, permanent addition to my repertoire!

    Reply
  21. Margi says

    September 3, 2013 at 2:39 pm

    5 stars
    I loved this simple and easy recipe! I’m not a huge fan of yogurt but I do really like this flavor!

    Reply
  22. Lisa says

    September 8, 2013 at 2:36 pm

    5 stars
    What size cans of tuna?

    Reply
    • Dani says

      September 10, 2013 at 2:57 am

      5 stars
      5-6 ounces:)

      Reply
      • Laura Winston says

        June 25, 2020 at 10:35 pm

        Delicious.I used the tuna brand that you use.I think it made it tasty. Thanks for sharing.I give it 5 stars

        Reply
  23. Diane says

    December 4, 2013 at 11:46 am

    5 stars
    Another winning recipe, Dani!! I followed this to the letter except for the pasta. I used whole grain Rotini because I couldn’t find whole grain elbows in my store. It came out excellent! I’ll be sharing this with my friends. Oh, also, I honestly didn’t think the Greek yogurt/mayo mix would be good but I was pleasantly surprised! Thanks so much, Dani!! Keep doing what you are doing!!

    Reply
  24. Patricia Thompson says

    December 11, 2013 at 12:35 pm

    5 stars
    I love your recipes and tips. It was recommended by my nutritionist to use your website and I am glad she told me about you. I love that you give us the Nutritional Analysis for each recipe but you don’t show the sodium level and I am watching my daily sodium intake for medical necessity. Why is that?

    Reply
    • Dani says

      December 13, 2013 at 6:55 am

      5 stars
      I don’t add the sodium simply because I don’t feel my measurements are accurate since I tend to season as I go. I would not want to put out false information!

      Reply
  25. Dee says

    January 8, 2014 at 9:47 pm

    5 stars
    Can you eat hot or cold? I can’t stand the taste or smell of yogurt, can you taste the yogurt? I’d love to try though.

    Reply
  26. Nastassia D. (@TasciaD) says

    February 5, 2014 at 7:16 pm

    5 stars
    I made this today , I couldn’t find any plain Greek yogurt so I used Yoplait Greek vanilla and veggie penne regati pasta. I only wished I had real mayo on hand instead of my Kraft fat free mayo. I used apple cider vinegar because I couldn’t find red wine vinegar. I love the taste best when the salad is heated.

    Reply
  27. DeeDee says

    March 17, 2014 at 2:44 pm

    5 stars
    I found that the 2 cans of tuna was to much. I will use only 1 can next time. I also found it needed alot seasoning it was very bland. I added in a tsp of relish and a tsp of mustard and it was much better.

    Reply
  28. Kim says

    March 23, 2014 at 7:38 pm

    5 stars
    Hi Dani!
    I just discovered your recipes. I made this tuna pasta and your granola recipes today and have it ready for lunch this week. They are so delicious! I added corn and sliced apple to my pasta salad and used apple cider vinegar (I couldn’t find red wine vinegar too).Good swap out with using Greek yogurt. It still retains that creamy texture like mayo and tastes great. Thanks for sharing this great recipe!

    Reply
  29. Antoinette says

    May 6, 2014 at 11:02 am

    5 stars
    I would love to make this but I don’t eat mayo, what else can I use?

    Reply
    • Dani says

      May 6, 2014 at 2:51 pm

      5 stars
      Just skip the mayo and use a little extra yogurt. Will be delish!

      Reply
  30. Maureen says

    August 29, 2014 at 12:24 am

    5 stars
    I left out the pasta and used this as filling in a whole wheat tortilla. Yum!

    Reply
  31. jennifer says

    September 8, 2014 at 12:07 am

    5 stars
    I gave NEVER left a comment on a recipe before but this is sooooo GOOD that I HAD to! I hate yogurt of all kinds so I don’t even know why I made this (pic looked so good). Thanks so much for this recipe. PS I did’t use the vinegar and it was still devine.

    Reply
    • Dani says

      September 8, 2014 at 9:19 pm

      5 stars
      Thanks for stopping by to let me know! I’m honored and so glad you enjoyed it:)

      Reply
  32. Mayumi Pecson says

    April 8, 2017 at 11:10 am

    5 stars
    Hi Dani. We do not have a wine vinegar where i live. What can i use to substitute the red wine vinegar?

    Reply
    • Dani says

      April 12, 2017 at 11:50 am

      5 stars
      You can use apple cider vinegar:)

      Reply
  33. Sue says

    June 13, 2018 at 7:33 pm

    5 stars
    Just moved and doing lots of packing & unpacking. This recipe was so easy to put together in the midst of all the chaos and it will be great for a quick & healthy lunch. Thank you for sharing it., I didn’t have Red wine vinegar, so I tried some Key Lime juice that I had & it worked well.

    Reply
    • Dani says

      June 13, 2018 at 9:18 pm

      5 stars
      So glad you enjoyed it Sue. Thanks for letting me know!

      Reply
  34. MARY E STEWART says

    July 25, 2018 at 2:17 am

    5 stars
    HELLO I MADE THE PASTA TUNA SALAD AND IT WAS GREAT.I REALLY NEEDED SOMETHING LIKE THIS.SOMETHING LITE.EAT RIGHT LIKE SALADS AND NOT FRIED FOODS ALL THE TIME.THANK YOU FRIEND

    Reply
    • Dani says

      July 26, 2018 at 11:35 am

      5 stars
      So glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply
  35. Karen says

    June 15, 2020 at 3:30 pm

    5 stars
    This is so good! The red wine vinegar is the secret ingredient that makes it extra great! I tried red lentil pasta with it and it turned out perfectly!

    Reply
  36. nancy says

    June 21, 2020 at 7:19 pm

    5 stars
    This was so easy to make and incredibly delicious! Already made it twice (don’t worry…I’m single and only using one can of tuna)!

    Reply
  37. Melanie says

    June 29, 2020 at 6:36 am

    5 stars
    You’ve done it again….another wonderful, healthy recipe. I was hesitant to do the Greek yogurt but followed your recipe exactly and would never have known it had yogurt in it. My husband was surprised as well. This is definitely be in the rotation. Thanks Dani!

    Reply
  38. Julie S says

    July 3, 2020 at 8:20 pm

    5 stars
    Delicious recipe! The combination of yogurt, mayo and red wine vinegar made this a most unique dish. Thank you, this will be one of our staples!

    Reply
  39. Carol-Anne says

    July 12, 2020 at 3:55 pm

    This was so yummy. Will definitely be putting this in my regular rotation. Quick and easy. I used ancient grain rotini as that’s what I had in the pantry. Thanks for all of your clean and delicious recipes!

    Reply
    • Dani says

      September 22, 2021 at 2:15 pm

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for letting me know.

      Reply
  40. Nicole says

    June 3, 2021 at 10:33 am

    5 stars
    I was so nervous to make this but it turned out to be a new favorite in this house!

    Reply
  41. Jeannette says

    June 27, 2021 at 4:12 pm

    5 stars
    Just made this today. Thought the peas were not going to go well with the tuna but it is delicious. I also used wheat pasta instead of regular. Great for meal prep. Thank you Dani.

    Reply
  42. Sara says

    July 3, 2021 at 10:30 am

    5 stars
    Love this recipe!! I added some bacon crumbles and a handful of shredded Colby jack to it. My daughter ate it up!! So, so delicious!

    Reply
  43. Kim says

    July 22, 2021 at 1:36 pm

    5 stars
    Simple, delicious and comforting! I actually really loved the combo of yogurt and mayo. It gave a nice creaminess without all the extra fat. I was pleasantly surprised. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  44. Maria says

    March 3, 2022 at 4:34 pm

    5 stars
    Made this recipe today! I was so pleased with it! The pasta salad is so fresh, crunchy, and just hits the spot in every way! Thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe!

    Reply
  45. Karen horn says

    March 7, 2022 at 4:47 pm

    5 stars
    Nice warmer day out and I made this. Delicious! I usually just throw in whatever is in the fridge but not today! Will definitly make this again! Bring on summer!

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

Hi, I’m Dani.

I’m a Health, Wellness & Weight Loss Coach, Mom of two, and the Founder of Clean & Delicious®. I’ll show you how to make healthy eating CRAZY-easy and insanely DELICIOUS!

Learn more

Stay Connected

Never Miss a Recipe

Sign up for free recipes straight to your inbox.

Reader Faves

shrimp and green beans on small plate with fork

Roasted Shrimp and Green Beans

meatloaf muffins on plate

Turkey Meatloaf Muffins

Brussels Sprouts + Grapes

Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Grapes | Healthy Holiday Side Dish

Turkey Stuffed Zucchini Boats - Clean & Delicious®

Turkey Stuffed Zucchini Boats

Roasted Rosemary Chicken

Baked Chicken And Potatoes

apple-protein-muffins

Apple Protein Muffins

Seasonal Picks

spinach frittata in cast iron pan

Spinach Frittata

warm blueberry crisp with vanilla ice-cream

Blueberry Crisp Recipe

open-faced fish taco on white plate

Easy Fish Tacos

healthy foods

10 Healthy Fridge Staples

blueberry oatmeal muffin cup

Baked Blueberry Lemon Oatmeal Muffin Cups

steamed beets in a white bowl

Simply Steamed Beets

My Ebooks

photo of salad and ice cream ebook

Search

As Featured On

Footer

Never miss a recipe!

Subscribe to get new recipes + tips via email plus my BONUS smoothie making guide!

  • Recipes
  • Food For Thought
  • Shop
  • About
  • Work With Me

© 2023 Clean & Delicious. Privacy Policy

Jump on the Interest List for My New Course:

The Don’t Diet