Tuna Pasta Salad
My brother Don and his wife Alice have been married over 30 years. They are a wonderful couple and I love them both so much. We have a great relationship and I’m so thankful to have them in my life! You know when you have family members over the years you develop a system and we have one that works really well.
Tuna Pasta Salad
When they are at my house, I do the cooking and clean-up. When we are at theirs, Alice takes care of everything! I love her cooking and she makes so many wonderful meals.
With Alice’s permission I’m sharing her recipe for Tuna Pasta Salad – it’s my favorite salad she makes; creamy, crunchy, salty and savory – it checks off all the bases!. Easy to make and tastes even better the next day.
Tuna Pasta Salad
I love, love, love this salad – I’ve been known to eat it for breakfast the next day (or for a midnight snack!). At the lake over the 4th of July, it’s my Cousin Kyle’s favorite salad – he’s requested it for years. The olives and parmesan cheese give it a salty bite, great crunch from the celery and the creaminess of the mayonnaise/miracle whip combination is mouthwatering. (Don’t take a shortcut and use only mayonnaise or just miracle whip. It’s the combination of the two that gives in the perfect creamy flavor.)
More great Tuna dishes!
Are you bbq’ing this weekend? This salad would be perfect to compliment grilled pork, steak or chicken. You should definitely give this yummy salad a try!
Tuna Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 1 lb . box Diatalini Pasta or other small pasta
- 1 5 oz can albacore tuna I use packed in water tuna
- 1 16 oz can sliced olives
- 2 stalks celery diced
- 1 bunch green onions thinly sliced
- 3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- 3/4 cup miracle whip
- 1 teaspoon seasoning salt
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Put a pot of water on to boil - generously salt the water. When boiling add the pasta and cook to al dente. When the timer's up, drain and rinse with cold water. Sprinkle with a teaspoon of olive oil & a teaspoon of seasoning salt (I use McCormick's). Set aside to cool.
- Slice the olives, dice the celery into a small dice and thinly slice the green onions. Drain the tuna and flake it well.
- Add the olives, celery, green onions and tuna to the pasta. Also add the grated parmesan cheese, 1/2 teaspoon salt & 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Mix to combine. Add the mayonnaise & miracle whip - equal amounts of each. Depending on how warm the pasta is you may need to add additional mayo & miracle whip - just eyeball it. You want this to be nicely creamy.
- Tuck it in the fridge when you're done - stir well before serving, add additional mayo/miracle whip if needed.
Nutrition
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Lois
I have eaten this salad many time and it is very good. Thank you both. Alice for making the Salad first and Deb for publishing it.
Bowl Me Over
Yum, yum, yum! Sharing it with the world Mom! 😀
Gina
Looks fantastic! Can you substitute the tuna for chicken?
Bowl Me Over
I don’t know why you couldn’t – probably just use one rotisserie chicken breast. You may need a bit more salt – give that a try & let me know if you like it!
lizzy
Holy yum this looks incredible, awesome photo! I think I may substitute chicken for tuna… this looks great!
Bowl Me Over
I hope you give it a try Lizzy – if you do the switch-a-roo, let me know what you think!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Tuna noodles used to be one of my favorite dishes as a little girl!
Bowl Me Over
Me too and I love it as a salad.
Marye
This looks absolutely delicious! I am definitely saving this one for later!
Bowl Me Over
Awesome, let me know what you think Marye.
Christie
I love the crunch you added with the celery and salty olives.
Bowl Me Over
Definitely makes the salad Christie – thanks for stopping by!
Des @ Life's Ambrosia
What a great salad for all of the end of summer BBQs coming up! I am loving the idea of the parmesan and olives, has anyone ever added capers? I wonder if they would give a nice briny kick too.
Bowl Me Over
I have not tried capers Des, I think it would be a great addition to this salad!
Alisa @ Go Dairy Free
Tuna pasta salad is an old favorite – now I’m craving it! I love the addition of olives, it’s making me think capers would be good, too.
Bowl Me Over
Yes, I think you’re right – it’s that salty bite that adds so much!
The Food Hunter
It sounds perfect! I’ve got to try making it soon
Bowl Me Over
Awesome, let me know what you think Theresa!
Gwen @simplyhealthyfamily
I haven’t had this in years! Thanks for the recipe! Saving and sharing and making soon 😉
Bowl Me Over
Oh yes, an oldie but a goodie, thanks Gwen!
Diane
My son would adore this salad! thank you! #FoodieFriDIY
Bowl Me Over
Yummy! My favorite!!!
April J Harris
I love family recipes – it’s so nice Alice was happy to share. I really like the addition of the olives and the parmesan to this yummy salad. What a lovely recipe! Sharing. Thank you for being a part of the Hearth and Soul hop.
Bowl Me Over
Thank you so much April!
Jamie @ Coffee With Us 3
It’s such a blessing to have family that is enjoyable to be around, and to have those close relationships! Looks like a delicious pasta salad!
Bowl Me Over
Thanks Jamie – so true on all accounts! Thanks so much for stopping by!
Joy @ Joy Love Food
I love tuna salad and I love pasta salads, together they sound wonderful, thank-you to your sister-in-law for the great recipe!
Bowl Me Over
Yes, Alice totally rocks!!
christine
With Labor Day coming up this would make a great addition to the potluck/BBQ menu!
Bowl Me Over
It would be perfect!
Sandi Gaertner (@sandigtweets)
What a fun salad. There are lots of tiny shaped gluten free pastas coming out so I will give this a try soon 🙂
Bowl Me Over
Wonderful – I hope you & your family enjoy it Sandi!
swathi
delicious pasta salad thanks for sharing with Hearth and soul blog hop, pinning and tweeting.
Bowl Me Over
Thank you so much! I always enjoying your party!!!
Michelle @ The Complete Savorist
Wow, seeing this brings back some foodie memories with my grandmother. She made a similar, but not exact dish…YUM.
Bowl Me Over
Love Tuna salad! And memories…well those are even better. 😀
Tom
Hi Alice
Salad looks great. I noticed that the ingredients are very very similar to our Family Tuna Pasta Salad.. I am going to pass ours and I will also make a batch of your Tuna Salad and compare. Out secret ingredient is Good Seasons Italian salad dressing.
Ingredients:
1 lb Shell Pasta ( Medium size – Not small and Not Large) – no substitutions
2/3 – 1 cup Mayonnaise – Helman’s
1/4 to 1/2 cup prepared Good Season’s Italian Salad Dressing – ( I will bring a single packet)
no substitutiones on the GSISDressing – a must have ingredient.
1 tablespoon prepared mustard
2/3 cups peeled cucumber pieces
2/3 cups Fresh Diced Tomato (no seeds)
2/3 cup diced Red Pepper
2/3 cup Thinly sliced red onion
2/3 cup Celery – Juliened
2/3 cup Carrots – Juliened
1/2 cup sliced black olives
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
approx 20 ounces solid-pack tuna, drained/broken up
(White Albicore works best for our family.
Fresh Chopped parsley and Basil Leaf – Garnish
Directions are the same as yours. This salad is even better stored in the Refrigerator Over night.
Looking forward to receiving your weekly Recipes. Like you site – Simple and to the point and very easy to read.
D
Bowl Me Over
Ooh I LOVE your salad Tom that sounds absolutely delicious and I will definitely give it a try! The combo for the dressing sounds terrific and I will be sure to be on the look out for the Good Seasons Italian Dressing!