Description
A refreshing and creamy tuna pasta salad combining tender macaroni, flaky tuna, fresh vegetables, and a tangy homemade dressing. Perfect for a light lunch or picnic, this salad is easy to prepare, flavorful, and serves six.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta Ingredients
- 2.5 cups uncooked macaroni
Salad Ingredients
- 1 (6 ounce) can tuna (drained)
- 2 tablespoons red onion (chopped)
- 1 cup little tomatoes (halved)
- 2 sticks celery (chopped small)
- 1 mini cucumber (or 1/4 English cucumber) (chopped)
- 1/2 red bell pepper (chopped)
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley (chopped)
Dressing Ingredients
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill
- Salt & pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Boil a large pot of salted water. Add macaroni and cook until al dente according to package directions, about 8-10 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool the pasta.
- Prepare the Dressing and Veggies: While pasta cooks, mix mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, garlic powder, and fresh dill in a bowl until smooth to make the dressing. Chop the red onion, celery, mini cucumber, red bell pepper, small tomatoes, and fresh parsley.
- Combine Salad: In a large bowl, combine the drained tuna, chopped vegetables, and cooked pasta. Pour the dressing over and gently toss everything together until well coated. Season with salt and pepper to taste, adding more salt as needed since pasta absorbs flavors.
- Chill and Serve: You can serve the pasta salad immediately or cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld beautifully before serving.
Notes
- Fresh dill adds a bright, fragrant flavor that complements the tuna and creamy dressing. Dill can be substituted with dried dill if fresh is unavailable, but reduce quantity as dried is more concentrated.
- Using cold water to rinse the cooked pasta stops the cooking process and prevents stickiness, a key step for pasta salads.
- This salad is best enjoyed chilled but can be stored covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.