Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (2024)

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(updated July 6, 2022)

4.35 from 198 votes

By Dani Spies

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ThisHealthy 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.

Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (1)

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.

Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (2)

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!

Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (3)

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.

Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (4)

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,Instagramand,FaceBookfor more healthy food inspiration!

Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (5)

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4.35 from 198 votes

Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe

ThisHealthyTuna Pasta Saladis 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 minutes mins

Total Time15 minutes 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

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.

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    Comments

  1. Niki says

    Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (6)
    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

      Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (7)
      I have made similar recipes with the canned chicken. My son does not eat tuna.

      Reply

  2. Janet says

    Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (8)
    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

      Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (9)
      I totally forgot to post it (YIKES!) – it’s up there now!!

      Reply

  3. Louise says

    Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (10)
    What a great idea. I’ll pick up the ingredients today for my lunch tomorrow. Really good idea Dani.

    Reply

  4. vicki says

    Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (12)
    Agree – looking for a recipe to print so I can get the nutritional information.

    Reply

    • Dani says

      Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (13)
      Ooops!!! Just posted it… sorry about that!

      Reply

  5. Robert Richards Recipes says

    Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (14)
    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

    Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (15)
    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

    Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (16)
    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

    Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (17)
    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

    Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (18)
    I love to use Greek Yogurt whenever possible. Great nutritional value and adds such creaminess. Thanks for posting this, Dani!

    Reply

  10. Frances says

    Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (19)
    Hi Dani, thanks for all the amazing recipes. Just wondering if this recipe is okay to freeze/defrost?
    Cheers 🙂

    Reply

  11. Mike W says

    Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (20)
    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

    Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (21)
    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

    Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (22)
    This looks great. I’m making it tonight. What size cans of tuna did you use?

    Reply

  14. Alissa says

    Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (23)
    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

    Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (24)
    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

    Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (25)
    Hi Dani…
    How long does this yummy tuna pasta keep ??

    Reply

    • Dani says

      Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (26)
      About 3 days in the fridge:)

      Reply

  17. Brittany says

    Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (27)
    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

    Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (28)
    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

    Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (29)
    Hi Dani, is there any alternatives instead of using the red wine vinegar?

    Reply

  20. LaKendra says

    Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (30)
    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

    Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (31)
    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

    Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (32)
    What size cans of tuna?

    Reply

    • Dani says

      Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (33)
      5-6 ounces:)

      Reply

      • Laura Winston says

        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

    Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (34)
    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

    Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (35)
    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

      Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (36)
      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

    Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (37)
    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

    Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (38)
    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

    Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (39)
    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

    Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (40)
    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

    Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (41)
    I would love to make this but I don’t eat mayo, what else can I use?

    Reply

    • Dani says

      Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (42)
      Just skip the mayo and use a little extra yogurt. Will be delish!

      Reply

  30. Maureen says

    Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (43)
    I left out the pasta and used this as filling in a whole wheat tortilla. Yum!

    Reply

  31. jennifer says

    Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (44)
    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

      Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (45)
      Thanks for stopping by to let me know! I’m honored and so glad you enjoyed it:)

      Reply

  32. Mayumi Pecson says

    Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (46)
    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

      Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (47)
      You can use apple cider vinegar:)

      Reply

  33. Sue says

    Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (48)
    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

      Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (49)
      So glad you enjoyed it Sue. Thanks for letting me know!

      Reply

  34. MARY E STEWART says

    Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (50)
    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

      Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (51)
      So glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply

  35. Karen says

    Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (52)
    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

    Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (53)
    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

    Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (54)
    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

    Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (55)
    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

    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

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

      Reply

  40. Nicole says

    Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (56)
    I was so nervous to make this but it turned out to be a new favorite in this house!

    Reply

  41. Jeannette says

    Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (57)
    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

    Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (58)
    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

    Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (59)
    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

    Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (60)
    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

    Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (61)
    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

  46. Michelle says

    Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (62)
    This recipe is the best! I use red lentil pasta and it turns out amazing every time. This has become a go-to recipe for quick lunches around here! Thanks Dani!

    Reply

    • Dani Spies says

      Oooh! I’m so glad you liked it – I can’t wait to try this with red lentil pasta myself.

      Reply

Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe « Clean & Delicious (2024)

FAQs

What does Martha Stewart put in her tuna salad? ›

Ingredients
  1. 12 ounces good-quality tuna, packed in oil, drained.
  2. 2 stalks celery, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced.
  3. 1 apple, such as McIntosh or Gala, peeled, cored, and cut into ¼-inch pieces.
  4. 3 tablespoons light mayonnaise, preferably Ojai Cook's Lemonaise Light.
  5. 2 tablespoons freshly chopped basil leaves.
Dec 21, 2022

How do you make Paula Deen's tuna salad? ›

Directions. In a mixing bowl, combine the tuna, eggs, mayonnaise, lemon juice, chives, celery, relish, and onion. Season the salad with a big pinch of salt and pepper and stir to combine. Serve on a bed of salad greens or on toasted bread, if you like.

Is tuna salad a good diet food? ›

Support Weight Loss

Tuna is a lean meat. It's relatively high in protein, but low in calories, which means that it keeps you full longer and stops you from eating more.

Is tuna pasta nutritious? ›

Tuna pasta is an easy to make, nutritious meal that is perfect for those who are on the go. It contains high levels of protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and other essential nutrients. Tuna pasta is a great meal for weight loss. It is a good choice for people who want to eat healthier and lose weight.

Why does restaurant tuna salad taste better? ›

The highest-quality tuna is bought fresh from the market or fishmonger, so some restaurants process and cook fresh tuna before incorporating it into the tuna salad. Although time-consuming and expensive, many chefs prefer this approach.

What can I add to tuna instead of mayo? ›

When you're ready to elevate your next lunch or dinner, here are 12 delicious substitutes for mayo in your tuna salad.
  1. Greek yogurt. Maslova Valentina/Shutterstock. ...
  2. Avocado. Irina Rostokina/Shutterstock. ...
  3. Hummus. Tempura/Getty Images. ...
  4. Olive oil. Maryia_K/Shutterstock. ...
  5. Dijon mustard. ...
  6. Ranch dressing. ...
  7. Sour cream. ...
  8. Cottage cheese.
Jan 24, 2024

How many times a week is it safe to eat tuna salad? ›

Yes. Canned light tuna is in the “Best Choices” category and it is fine to eat 2 to 3 servings per week. We recommend that you eat a variety of fish. You may wish to try other affordable fish in the “Best Choices” category such as canned salmon or sardines, frozen fish, or fresh fish that are at a reduced price.

How many times a week should you eat tuna salad? ›

For most healthy adults, it's recommended to consume at least 2 servings of fish per week, which can include tuna.

What can I mix with a can of tuna? ›

To keep it hot, mix a can into pasta sauce as you heat it; we love tuna in a classic tomato sauce, but you can also go simple with a no-cook sauce, combing tuna with olive oil, capers, olives, and herbs for a salsa verde approach. Or you can stir it into mac-and-cheese for a creamy, tuna casserole.

What is the most healthiest pasta? ›

6 Healthy Noodles You Should Be Eating, According to a Dietitian
  • Whole-Wheat Pasta.
  • Chickpea Pasta.
  • Veggie Noodles.
  • Red Lentil Pasta.
  • Soba Noodles.
  • White Pasta.
Jul 13, 2023

What is the healthiest pasta available? ›

Whole-Wheat Pasta

Also called whole-grain pasta, this type of pasta keeps the bran, endosperm, and germ of the grain together. It's filled with fiber, vitamins, and minerals. This helps you feel full longer and keeps your blood sugar from spiking.

Is it OK to eat tuna pasta everyday? ›

The benefits of eating canned tuna every day outweigh the risks. Because canned tuna provides omega-3 fatty acids and is a lean source of protein, there's no harm in adding it to your daily diet. "Mercury levels are very low, and canned tuna is the most economical and accessible way to consume omega-3s," Miller says.

What can I put in canned tuna? ›

Start by doctoring up a can of tuna with mayonnaise, lemon, and cilantro—think spicy tuna with the spice on the side. Then add rice and crunchy seasoned carrots and cucumber for the perfect balance of flavor and texture. Serve with your favorite condiments such as soy and hot chili sauce.

What is the vegetable broth in StarKist tuna? ›

Vegetable broth is added to some StarKist Tuna products as a flavor enhancer. The broth must consist of two or more of the following: beans (including soybeans), cabbage, carrots, celery, garlic, onions, parsley, peas, potatoes, green or red bell peppers, spinach, or tomatoes.

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