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The Ultimate Creamy Tuna Pasta Salad | Quick & Easy Recipe

A close-up of creamy Tuna Pasta Salad mixed with fusilli pasta, red onion, and celery on a light plate.

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This tuna pasta salad is the ultimate creamy tuna pasta salad recipe. It features simple, delicious flavors and is easy to make, ready in about 20 minutes. Serve it chilled for lunch, dinner, or as a side dish for your next potluck.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound rotini pasta (or preferred shape)
  • 2 cans (5 ounces each) tuna in water, drained well
  • 1 cup celery, finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup sweet pickle relish
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

  1. Cook the rotini pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta and rinse immediately with cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down. Set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, combine the drained tuna, chopped celery, red onion, and sweet pickle relish. Mix gently.
  3. In a separate small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, yellow mustard, salt, and pepper until the dressing is smooth.
  4. Pour the creamy dressing over the tuna and vegetable mixture. Fold everything together until the pasta is evenly coated.
  5. Stir in the fresh chopped parsley.
  6. Cover the bowl and chill the tuna pasta salad in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to blend.

Notes

  • This **classic cold salad** tastes even better the next day, making it perfect for **meal prep salads**.
  • For a lighter version, substitute all the mayonnaise with plain Greek yogurt for a **healthy tuna salad** twist.
  • If you are making this for a crowd or a **picnic food idea**, you can easily double the recipe.

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