🐟 Easy Tuna Pasta Salad – Healthy, Hearty & Budget-Friendly! 🍽️
Hey foodies! Chef Alex here, your friendly neighborhood kitchen enthusiast, back again with another tasty recipe that’s close to my heart (and hopefully soon yours!) This easy tuna pasta salad isn’t just delicious, it’s like a cozy hug in salad form—and it always transports me right back to my grandma’s kitchen.
My grandma was the original pantry wizard. I remember lounging around her kitchen, the radio softly playing old classics, as she turned simple staples into culinary magic. Her tuna pasta salad was always loaded with wholesome ingredients like hearty beans, creamy eggs, and protein-rich tuna. A bowl of this goodness wasn’t just lunch—it was comfort served up with a side of sunshine.
Today, I’m sharing my grandma-inspired take—creamy, tangy, high-protein, budget-friendly, and totally foolproof. Trust me: whether you’re looking for an easy meal-prep dish, a quick family dinner, or a crowd-pleaser at a potluck, this salad hits the spot every time! Let’s get cooking friends!!
🥗 Why This Tuna Pasta Salad is a Must-Try:
– Packed with protein and fiber to keep you full, fueled, and satisfied.
– Uses easy pantry ingredients to stretch your dollar and feed the family on a budget.
– Ultra quick—it’s ready in under 30 minutes!
– Make-ahead friendly for meal-prep or gatherings.
– Creamy, tangy flavor with just the right balance of comfort and nutrition.
Ready to whip this up? Let’s gather our tasty ingredients:
🥘 Ingredients You’ll Need:
– 8 oz dry protein pasta (I prefer chickpea or lentil pasta, but use your fave!)
– 2 (5 oz) cans albacore tuna packed in water
– 1 (15.5 oz) can white kidney beans, drained and rinsed
– 4 large hard-boiled eggs, chopped
– 2 scallions, thinly sliced
– 1 cup frozen peas (no need to cook them, they defrost perfectly in the salad!)
– 1 cup whole milk cottage cheese (surprise hack ingredient alert!)
– ½ cup mayonnaise (my go-to is Duke’s mayo!)
– 2–4 tbsp red wine vinegar (just trust me here)
– 2 tsp Dijon mustard (brings a nice little zing!)
– 1 tsp dried dill (fresh herbs work too if you have them!)
– 1 tsp garlic powder
– 1 tsp onion powder
– ½ tsp black pepper
– Salt to taste (taste test until it’s perfect!)
🥄 How To Make The Best Easy Tuna Pasta Salad:
Ready to drift into pasta salad glory? Let’s get our mixing bowl out and dive right in!
Step 1: Cook That Pasta!
Bring a pot of water to boil, salt generously, and cook your protein pasta fully—don’t go for al dente here. For pasta salad, fully-cooked pasta holds the creamy dressing best (a little grandma secret!). Drain cooked pasta and rinse immediately under cold water to stop cooking. Set aside to drain.
Step 2: Blend Up Grandma’s Secret Dressing
In a blender, combine cottage cheese, mayo, Dijon mustard, red wine vinegar (start with 2 tbsp first), garlic powder, onion powder, dried dill, black pepper, and a pinch of salt. Blend until creamy and smooth—then taste and adjust seasonings. Pour this dreamy dressing into a large mixing bowl.
Step 3: Ready, Set, Assemble!
Open the tuna cans (don’t drain the juices—they add great flavor!) and gently break up the tuna into the dressing bowl. Toss in your rinsed and drained white beans, frozen peas (don’t worry, they’ll defrost quickly in the mix), chopped boiled eggs, and thinly sliced scallions. Stir lightly to combine.
Step 4: Pasta Party!
Now, gently fold your cooked pasta into the dressing and ingredients, mixing gently until everything is coated evenly. When it’s looking beautiful and creamy, give it another taste-test and adjust salt and vinegar. A touch more vinegar brightens up all these flavors wonderfully!
🍽 Serving Suggestions:
This salad tastes amazing right away, but the flavor really pops if you’ve got time to let it chill in the fridge for 30 minutes to an hour. It’s awesome served on its own, or with some crusty bread and sliced avocado. For dinner, pair it with a fresh green salad. For potluck, place a bed of greens on a big platter and pile the salad high in the middle for a beautiful presentation!
💡 Pro Tips & Swaps From Your Chef Friend (That’s me!)
– Pasta Swap: Any short-shaped pasta works wonderfully—fusilli, rotini, shells, penne—go wild!
– Mayo vs. Greek Yogurt: Got a mayo aversion? Feel free to swap in creamy plain Greek yogurt. It adds extra protein and cuts calories deliciously!
– Fresh Veggie Boost: Add cherry tomatoes, diced cucumbers, or even sliced black olives for extra color, nutrients, and brightness.
– Dressing Hack: Don’t skip blending the cottage cheese. It adds creaminess and protein without tons of calories—no one will guess it’s your secret ingredient!
💖 Why I’m Crazy For This Salad? Grandma Memories!
This easy tuna pasta salad isn’t just another simple recipe—it’s nostalgia in every bite. Cooking this dish brings sweet memories flooding back: the comfort of grandma’s kitchen, her laugh filling the room, the warmth radiating from every bite. Isn’t it amazing how such a simple meal can do so much more than just nourish your body? Food really does have magical superpowers.
🏋️ Nutrition Spotlight:
This protein-packed pasta salad will give your day a nutritious boost:
– Protein powerhouse from tuna, cottage cheese, eggs, beans, and protein pasta (talk about filling!)
– Rich in dietary fiber for digestion (thanks, beans and peas!)
– Balanced, healthy fats from eggs, mayonnaise, and cottage cheese keep you satisfied for longer periods.
– Light yet filling – ideal for healthy last-minute dinners or easy-to-pack lunches.
Nutrition Approx. per Serving: 390 calories | 30g protein | 33g carbohydrates | 14g healthy fats | 8g fiber.
Isn’t good food amazing? Now go forth and pasta salad, friends! 🐟🍝🥗