Pesto Pasta Tuna Salad

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Pesto Pasta Tuna Salad combines pasta, creamy pesto, mayonnaise, fresh vegetables and the star of the show, tender chunks of tuna.

This pasta salad is a wholesome and satisfying meal that will leave you craving more. Try this delicious Sweet Creamy Coleslaw for your next potluck.

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Why you will love this pasta salad

• This cold pasta salad offers the perfect balance of textures. In addition to the tuna, mayonnaise, and pesto, this salad is packed with a variety of colorful and crunchy vegetables.
• Tuna Pasta Salad is quick and easy to throw together with the ingredients you have available in your fridge and just a few pantry staples.
• Packed with nutritious ingredients like tuna, red bell peppers, and red onions, this salad offers a well-rounded meal that’s both satisfying and good for you.
• This recipe is a great option for meal prep. Make the recipe ahead and eat it for lunch all week long.

Simple Ingredients

• Mayonnaise – Substituting half the mayonnaise for Greek yogurt will lower the calorie count on this quick meal.
• Pesto – Purchase store-bought pesto or make this homemade pesto sauce.
• Salt and Black Pepper
• Tuna
• Vegetables – Including celery, red bell pepper, carrots and cucumber.
• Pasta – Use any pasta shape you prefer.
• Optional: Fresh parsley

Salad additions

Change this easy weeknight meal by adding different ingredients. Artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, or fresh tomatoes would be great additions.

Add some cheese! Feta and cheddar are excellent choices to add to this tuna pasta salad.

Step-by-step directions to make pesto pasta salad

Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package direction, 8-9 minutes. Drain and rinse well under cold water.

Step 2: Drain a can of tuna. Cut carrots, cucumber, celery, red onion, and red bell pepper into small pieces similar in size. Add all vegetables, tuna, and cooked pasta to a large bowl.

Step 3: In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, pesto, salt, and black pepper. Add the pesto salad dressing to the large bowl with the rest of the ingredients and gently toss everything together until all of the ingredients are coated with the dressing.

Step 4: Refrigerate for 1 hour and toss well before serving.

What is pesto

Pesto ingredients traditionally consist of pine nuts, garlic, salt, lots of basil leaves, and parmesan cheese, all blended with a good quality extra virgin olive oil.

Pesto is one of the best things to make before the first freeze if you have basil in your garden. You can purchase pesto at your local grocery store or try this homemade basil pesto and explore all the ways to use fresh basil.

More quick and easy ways to use pesto

• Pesto Pizza – So good!
• Pasta – Add a generous amount of pesto, a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese, and red pepper flakes. Yum!
• Pesto Potato Salad – This unique salad is a great way to use pesto sauce.
• Pesto Shrimp – Saute shrimp until they are pink and opaque. Add a generous amount of pesto and coat each shrimp. Cook for 1 – 2 minutes until pesto is warm.
• Grilled Cheese – You’ll need two pieces of buttered bread, a slice of your favorite white cheese, and about two tablespoons of homemade pesto. Build the sandwich and toast it on a griddle. Pesto is a great sandwich spread that pairs great with lunch meat too.
• Italian Chicken Meatballs – Use this pesto recipe as a dipping sauce for Italian meatballs.

What to serve with pesto pasta salad

Serve this pasta salad as a side dish to go with burgers and barbecue, or make it the main event with a side of potato chips and fresh fruit.

Best tuna

When it comes to choosing the best canned tuna for tuna salad with mayonnaise, it largely depends on personal preference. However, there are a few common options that are widely favored:

1. Solid White Albacore Tuna: This type of tuna is known for its firm texture and mild flavor. I use it because it’s what I keep in my pantry.
2. Chunk Light Tuna: Chunk light contains a mixture of lighter, milder, and generally less-expensive tuna varieties, typically skipjack and yellowfin. This creates a soft, flaky texture and distinct flavor ideal for tuna salad.
3. Yellowfin Tuna: Yellowfin tuna is a high-quality option with a delicate flavor and tender texture. It offers a mild taste well-suited for pairing with mayonnaise in tuna salad.

Ultimately, the best canned tuna for your tuna salad with mayonnaise will depend on your personal preferences regarding texture, flavor, and budget.

Storage Instructions

Fridge: Store leftover pesto pasta tuna salad in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

Freezer: It is not recommended to freeze this salad. The mayonnaise texture will change significantly when thawed.

Tips for making Pesto Pasta Tuna Salad

• Cut the vegetables in small bite sizes pieces.
• Break up the tuna before adding to the pasta.
• Feel free to add another can of tuna if you like a more hearty salad.
• Omit the pesto if you don’t have any on hand.

Favorite Pasta Recipes

• Baked Chicken Parmesan with Penne Pasta
• Ranch Bacon Chicken Pasta
• Creamy Cajun Sausage Pasta
• Caesar Pasta Salad

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