Creamy Tuna Pasta Salad with Lemon and Capers • Kath Eats

This creamy tuna pasta salad is a scrumptious mixture of purple bell pepper, capers, and a creamy yogurt dressing, brightened with recent herbs and lemon.

This creamy tuna pasta salad comes collectively in about 20 minutes and holds up superbly within the fridge all week, making it excellent for meal-prepped lunches. Flaky tuna, recent herbs, capers, purple bell pepper, and a tangy yogurt-mayo dressing make this straightforward pasta salad something however boring.

Why This Tuna Pasta Salad Works for Meal Prep

Whereas I’m not an enormous prep day individual, I do like to make one giant recipe that may carry my lunches by the week. I’ve achieved prep day kale salads and grain salads like this citrus curry farro salad. And this season I’ve been on a kick of pasta salad recipes (see additionally dill pickle pasta salad and taco pasta salad!) 

Pasta salads aren’t at all times excessive on the protein chart, which is why I added some tuna. Canned salmon would work completely right here too! Suppose tuna noodle casserole meets creamy tuna salad! In contrast to many basic pasta salads which are principally pasta and mayonnaise, this model provides protein-rich tuna and Greek yogurt to make it extra filling for lunch or a light-weight dinner. Plus recent herbs, purple bell pepper, capers, and many lemon for a pasta salad that’s simply as excellent for meal prep lunches as it’s for summer time picnics, potlucks, or a fast weeknight dinner.

Makes about 6 servings, prepared in 25 minutes, retains for 4 days!

Simple Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe

This tuna pasta salad recipe is SO straightforward to toss collectively and will be made principally from substances within the fridge and pantry. I used elbow macaroni as a nod to casseroles, and two cans of flaked albacore tuna. The tuna provides loads of protein, making this pasta salad satisfying sufficient for lunch as a substitute of only a aspect dish. I at all times search for sustainably caught tuna – the MSC seal is an efficient indicator. Fishwife and Wild Planet are my favourite manufacturers. (Get 10% off Fishwife with the code KATHEATS10).

Substances

This straightforward tuna pasta salad recipe combines elbow macaroni, hearty albacore tuna, purple bell pepper, recent herbs (a should!), and capers in a creamy Greek yogurt dressing with lemon. The intense lemon taste retains it recent and lightweight whereas the yogurt provides further protein and a tangy, creamy texture with out feeling such as you’re getting a cup of mayo in each chew.

Variations

This tuna pasta salad is endlessly adaptable. Swap the albacore tuna for canned salmon or chunk gentle tuna, use peas or corn as a substitute of bell pepper, add chopped celery or carrots for crunch, or stir in feta, cheddar, or olives for a Mediterranean twist. It’s an important clean-out-the-fridge recipe.

Yep, a few of these pics are from my outdated (outdated) kitchen!

Lemon zest is vital to the dish’s vibrant taste, and I additionally used a handful of herbs from our herb backyard: parsley, dill, and basil. Use no matter mixture of herbs you’ve, or simply decide your favourite and go all in. I used a purple bell pepper as a result of I at all times have one readily available, however frozen peas or corn – or recent summer time corn lower off the cob – could be nice. Chopped celery and even purple onion (!) would add crunch. You can even add in some shredded or diced sharp cheddar cheese or crumbled feta. Olives could be a pleasant Mediterranean addition to go together with the capers, too! 

• Elbow macaroni – or you should utilize any pasta form you want
• Albacore tuna – or swap in salmon or chunk gentle tuna in case you desire
• Crimson bell pepper – or the equal quantity of veggies of your alternative
• Herbs – any combine you want. I used parsley, basil, and dill. Child spinach works too! 
• Capers – love them! Go away them out in case you don’t, or swap in chopped olives. 

For the dressing

• Full-fat Greek yogurt – my go-to in pasta salads to maintain the saturated fats at bay and protein excessive with a lot of creamy texture
• Duke’s mayonnaise
• Lemon – zested and juiced
• Salt and pepper – naturally

How To Make This Tuna Pasta Salad

Prepare dinner the pasta

Warmth a big pot of salted water to boiling. Prepare dinner the pasta till al dente in line with the package deal directions. Drain and rinse with chilly water. Return pasta to pot or a big mixing bowl.

Prep the substances

In the meantime, chop the bell pepper and herbs. Drain the capers. Zest and juice lemon. I really like lemon zest and use it each time I exploit a lemon! I then flip over my microplane and use it to catch the lemon seeds whereas squeezing out the juice. My lemon yielded about 1.5 tbsp zest and three tbsp juice.

Prep the tuna

Drain tuna and flake with a fork.

Make the dressing

Mix yogurt, mayonnaise, lemon, lemon zest, salt and pepper in a bowl and whisk to mix.

Combine pasta salad collectively

Add chopped pepper, herbs, and capers to the cooked pasta. Then add the tuna. Stir to combine.

Stir within the dressing

Add 3/4 of the dressing to the pasta and stir till mixed. Add remainder of dressing, if desired.

Serve

Function a aspect dish at a picnic or as a essential course for lunch or a lighter dinner. 

Retailer

Retailer within the fridge in an hermetic container for a number of days. Chances are you’ll need to freshen it up with a squeeze of lemon juice or further yogurt dressing because the pasta will step by step take in the dressing. 

Tuna Pasta Salad FAQs

Are you able to make tuna pasta salad forward of time?

Sure! In reality, this tuna pasta salad tastes even higher after a number of hours within the fridge because the flavors have time to mix collectively.

How lengthy does tuna pasta salad final?

It’s a wonderful meal prep lunch and can preserve effectively for as much as 4 days within the fridge in an hermetic container. Stir in a squeeze of lemon juice or an additional spoonful of yogurt earlier than serving if it appears dry.

What sort of tuna is finest for tuna pasta salad?

I like albacore tuna as a result of it has a agency texture and extra taste, however chunk gentle tuna or canned salmon each work effectively – even sardines! Simply drain the can completely earlier than mixing it into the salad.

Can I make tuna pasta salad more healthy?

Completely. Utilizing Greek yogurt within the dressing boosts the protein whereas preserving the salad creamy and lighter than a mayonnaise-only dressing. You can even add further greens like peas, celery, spinach, or cucumbers for much more diet.

What goes with tuna pasta salad?

Serve it by itself in a bowl for a simple lunch or pair it with a peach, watermelon, sliced tomatoes, grilled greens, crackers, or a inexperienced salad for an entire summer time meal.

Are you able to freeze tuna pasta salad?

I don’t advocate it. The yogurt dressing can separate after thawing and the pasta loses its texture.

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