Mediterranean Tuna Pasta Salad (No-Mayo)

Tuna Pasta Salad – This light and easy Pasta Salad is loaded with Mediterranean flavors! Tender noodles, protein-rich tuna, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, Kalamata olives and capers are tossed in a flavorful lemon yogurt vinaigrette.

This Tuna Pasta Salad is the perfect dish to serve for lunch, at potlucks, picnics and backyard parties. I like to serve it as a side dish or as a main dish on hot evenings that call for lighter meals.

This Pasta Salad recipe is tossed in a quick and easy to make lemon-yogurt dressing. The dressing is light  and adds so much flavor to the noodles and the vegetables. Although I love a super creamy and rich pasta salads like this flavor-packed  Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad, this No-Mayo Pasta Salad is incredibly tasty and one of our favorite pasta salad recipes.

How To Make Tuna Pasta Salad

• Cook the pasta in salted water according to package directions, until al dente. 
• While the pasta cooks, make the dressing. Whisk all the dressing ingredients together in a bowl, or pour ingredients in a lidded jar and shake away!
• Drain the pasta. You can rinse the noodles with cold water if you want to speed the cooling process.
• When the pasta is at room temperature, add the tuna and vegetables and toss to combine.
• Pour the lemon yogurt dressing over the pasta salad and toss!
• You can serve it immediately or let it sit for at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator so the flavors have time to meld and intensify.

Frequently Asked Questions, Tips and Notes about Tuna Pasta Salad

• Can this Pasta Salad Recipe Be Made Ahead?
  Yes, actually the longer the pasta salad sits in the fridge, the better it tastes. You can make it the night or day before you want to serve it. If it looks a bit dry, just drizzle a little olive oil and toss it.
• How Long Can Tuna Pasta Salad Keep?
  Properly stored, in an airtight container, tuna pasta salad should keep between 3 – 4 days in the refrigerator.
• Is Canned Tuna Good For You?
  Tuna is low in fat and high in protein. Due to high content of omega-3, tuna fish may support brain function, help lower cholesterol, and reduce blood pressure.
• What Type Of Tuna Should I Use For This Easy Pasta Salad Recipe? 
  I use Solid White Tuna in Water, my second option is Chunk White Tuna in Water. Because the dressing has oil, I do not recommend tuna packed in oil as the pasta can get too oily.
  When possible I get sustainable wild tuna (available canned).
• I add a bit of oil to the pasta water when making cold pasta dishes.
• You can customized this salad by adding:
  Diced Red Bell Peppers
  Corn
  Chopped Avocado
  Fresh Dill
• If you like tuna, take a look at these recipes:
  Fabulous Trio of Crostini with Mini Tuna Melt 
  Weeknight Classic Tuna Casserole
  Classic Tuna Salad Deviled Eggs 

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5 from 5 votes

Mediterranean Tuna Pasta Salad (No Mayo)

Kathy McDaniel

Tuna Pasta Salad – This light and easy Pasta Salad is loaded with Mediterranean flavors! Tender noodles, protein-rich tuna, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, Kalamata olives and capers are tossed in a flavorful lemon yogurt vinaigrette.

Prep: 8 minutes

Cook: 8 minutes

Total Time 16 minutes

Servings 10 servings

Ingredients

For the Pasta Salad

• 12 ounces short pasta (rotini, penne, farfalle)
• 2 (5-ounces) canned solid white tuna (in water)
• 1/2 cup diced onions
• 1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
• 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted
• 1 cup diced cucumber
• 3 tablespoons capers, drained

For the Vinaigrette

• 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons plain yogurt
• 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon chopped parsley

Instructions

To Make the Vinaigrette

• Whisk together the vinaigrette ingredients.

To Make the Pasta Salad

• Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Rinse in cold water.
• Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl. Add the vinaigrette and toss well to combine. Serve (See Note)

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 238kcal (12%)Carbohydrates: 29g (10%)Protein: 12g (24%)Fat: 8g (12%)Saturated Fat: 1g (6%)Cholesterol: 12mg (4%)Sodium: 522mg (23%)Potassium: 300mg (9%)Fiber: 2g (8%)Sugar: 3g (3%)Vitamin A: 470IU (9%)Vitamin C: 10.5mg (13%)Calcium: 32mg (3%)Iron: 1mg (6%)

* Please note that all nutrition information are just estimates. Values will vary among brands, so we encourage you to calculate these on your own for most accurate results.

Course:Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine:Mediterranean

Keyword:Mediterrenean Pasta Salad, Pasta Salad no mayo, Pasta Salad Recipe, Tuna Pasta Salad

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