Lemony Tuna Pasta Salad (Printable)

Light and zesty pasta with tuna, lemon, peas, and fresh herbs. Ready in 25 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

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

→ Salad Components

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

→ Optional Additions

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

# How To Make It:

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 Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 30 minutes but tastes like you spent much longer thinking about it
  • The lemon and herbs make canned tuna feel fancy and special
  • It actually gets better after a day in the fridge, making it perfect meal prep territory
02 -
  • Rinse the pasta under cold water immediately after draining to stop the cooking process completely
  • Let the tuna and lemon juice sit together for a few minutes before mixing with the pasta
  • This salad tastes best after the flavors have had time to meld in the refrigerator for at least an hour
03 -
  • Use a microplane or fine grater for the lemon zest to avoid bitter white pith
  • Invest in good quality canned tuna packed in olive oil because you can really taste the difference
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