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Kerri’s Creamy Tuna Pasta Salad

A creamy and flavorful tuna pasta salad that combines tender pasta, crunchy veggies, and a rich dressing, perfect for gatherings and cozy lunches.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 320

Ingredients
  

Pasta and base ingredients
  • 8 ounces pasta (your choice—shells, rotini, or elbow macaroni)
  • 1 can (5 ounces) tuna, drained
Vegetables
  • 1 cup celery, diced
  • 1 cup bell pepper, diced
  • 1/2 cup red onion, diced
Dressing
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • to taste Salt and pepper
Garnish
  • to taste Fresh parsley for garnish Optional

Method
 

Cooking the Pasta
  1. Begin by boiling water in a large pot. Once it reaches a rolling boil, add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool.
Preparing the Vegetables
  1. While the pasta cooks, dice the celery, bell pepper, and red onion. Set aside.
Making the Dressing
  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Mix until well blended.
Combining Ingredients
  1. Add the cooled pasta, drained tuna, and diced veggies to the dressing. Gently fold everything together until the pasta is well coated.
Serving
  1. Transfer the salad to a serving bowl. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired, and serve chilled. Enjoy!

Notes

For a creamier salad, let it chill in the fridge for about an hour before serving to allow flavors to meld. Can be served with garlic bread or a light green salad.