Lemony Tuna Pasta Salad (Printer-Friendly)

A bright and refreshing pasta salad with canned tuna, zesty lemon, fresh herbs, and peas. Ready in 25 minutes.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 9 oz short pasta such as fusilli, penne, or bowties
02 - Salt for boiling water

→ Salad

03 - 1 cup frozen peas
04 - 2 cans tuna in olive oil, 5 oz each, drained and flaked
05 - 1 small red onion, finely diced
06 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
07 - 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
08 - Zest and juice of 1 large lemon
09 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
10 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
11 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste

→ Optional Additions

12 - 1/4 cup capers, rinsed and drained
13 - 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

# Steps:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. In the last 2 minutes of cooking, add the peas to the boiling water. Drain pasta and peas, then rinse under cold water to cool quickly.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the drained tuna, red onion, parsley, dill, lemon zest, and lemon juice.
03 - Add the cooled pasta and peas to the bowl. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and toss gently to combine.
04 - Stir in capers and cherry tomatoes if using. Taste and adjust seasoning with more lemon juice, salt, or pepper if desired.
05 - Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 days. Garnish with extra herbs before serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The brightness of fresh lemon cuts through the richness of tuna, making each bite feel surprisingly light
  • You can make it ahead and it actually tastes better after the flavors hang out together for a while
02 -
  • Rinsing the pasta under cold water stops the cooking and washes away excess starch so the salad does not turn into a sticky glob
  • The lemon juice will eventually discolor the parsley, but the flavor stays perfect, so do not stress about the looks
03 -
  • Use a microplane or fine grater for the lemon zest so you only get the bright yellow part, no bitter white pith
  • If your red onion feels too sharp, soak the diced pieces in cold water for 10 minutes before adding them
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