If you’re looking for fresh flavors in a protein-packed pasta salad that works for meal prep, quick lunches, potlucks, or easy dinners, this Pesto Pasta Tuna Salad checks every box. It’s creamy, flavorful, and tossed in a vibrant, tangy pesto dressing that brings everything together beautifully while showcasing pantry staples with fresh veggies.

WHAT’S NEW?

This gal is on summer break until after Labor Day and it feels fantastic! By the end of my semester, I felt like I could fall asleep standing upright and yet was having trouble sleeping through the night. With a bit of help from magnesium and the end of the semester, I’m nearly a week into some solid rest. It feels amazing!

The spring sports season is wrapping up and this past weekend was spent being mom at the girls’ Track and Field Day with school, running the Girls-on-the-Run 5K race, and off to Indianapolis for a weekend soccer tournament for Piper. Sports weekends in a hotel with the team are some of my fondest childhood memories and I’m glad we can make that happen for our girls. Sure, a Comfort Inn for way too many dollars because Morgan Wallen is in town isn’t ideal, but we certainly made some memories and enjoyed a beautiful weekend weather-wise…alongside our first win of the soccer season! Woohoo! With just a few weeks left before summer, we have our eye on the prize and are keeping things as simple as can be. Dinner included. My bestie sent a pasta tuna salad recipe and I tweaked it a bit to include pesto a bit more – it’s unique and it is perfection!

ROLL CALL FOR THIS RECIPE

Meal Preppers: This pasta salad stores beautifully in the refrigerator for 2-3 days, making it perfect for lunches and grab-and-go meals for busy weeknights!
Protein Lovers: The tuna adds satisfying, lean protein that helps keep you full longer while pairing perfectly with the creamy pesto dressing.
Simple Ingredients: With pantry and freezer staples, I love the simplicity of this recipe, its ingredients, and its preparation!
Classic Flavors: Tuna salad and pasta salad are classic flavors the whole family loves, elevated by pesto sauce.

KEY INGREDIENTS AND SUBSTITUTIONS

Pasta: Small pasta shapes like ditalini, shells, or bowties work best because they hold onto the creamy pesto dressing. You can also use whole wheat, protein-rich, or gluten-free pasta.
Celery: A classic tuna salad ingredient, the bit of crunch and fiber is essential!
Onion: Flavor, crunch, and freshness – use any onion you prefer, or omit. I love red onion!
Pepperoncini: These mild peppers are sold shelf-stable in a tangy brine. Both the peppers and the brine are used in this recipe to add a tangy, slightly briny flavor that brightens the entire salad. Banana peppers can work as a substitute if needed.
Tuna: Buy packed in water or the very convenient vacuum-sealed packets that require no effort!
Carrots: I love the color, crunch, and added nutrition and opt for the matchstick sliced carrots that require no prep, however these can be swapped for another crunchy veggie such as bell pepper or omitted.
Peas: The sweet burst of flavor and color from peas are a must-have in this pasta salad!
Mayonnaise: A reduced fat, olive oil mayo gives the dressing a creamy texture with a healthier fat profile. Greek yogurt can replace part of the mayo for an extra protein boost.
Pesto: Store-bought pesto is convenient but you can also make your own pesto – use more or less to your liking.

NUTRITIONAL MERITS

High fiber with 5.0 grams per serving
Pesto is rich in heart-healthy unsaturated fats
Balanced macronutrients
Good source of vitamins A, C, & K

FAQ

Do you have a favorite pesto recipe?

I’ve gone to using more sunflower seeds in place of pine nuts in my homemade pesto. I love this Basil Pesto with Pine Nuts, Sunflower Seeds, and Lemon – it’s the best of both versions!

Can I make this ahead of time?

Yes! This salad actually tastes even better after chilling for a few hours, making it ideal for meal prep or grab-and-go weeknight meals.

How do you recommend serving this tuna pesto pasta salad recipe?

As is, or consider serving it alongside roasted vegetables for a light dinner or atop some baby spinach with fresh cherry tomatoes, a squeeze of lemon juice, and a few grinds of freshly ground black pepper.

VARIATIONS, STORAGE, and TIPS

Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days – mix before serving!
Doubles as a main or a side dish – you choose!
Allow the pasta salad to come close to room temperature before serving to ensure its creaminess
For some unique flavor tweaks, consider adding sun-dried tomatoes, fresh garlic, or Parmesan cheese

Pesto Pasta Tuna Salad

Yield: 12 servings

This creamy Pesto Pasta Tuna Salad combines pantry and freezer staples with a tangy, creamy pesto dressing that makes for a killer side or meal!

Ingredients

1 lb small pasta, such as ditalini
1 cup celery, finely diced
2/3 cup red onion, finely diced
3/4 cup pepperoncini peppers, chopped
10.4 oz tuna in water, drained
1 cup shredded carrots
1 1/2 cups frozen peas, defrosted
1 cup olive oil mayonnaise
1 cup prepared pesto
1/3 cup pepperoncini brine

Instructions

Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to cool completely.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, celery, red onion, pepperoncini peppers, tuna, shredded carrots, and peas.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, pesto, and pepperoncini brine until smooth and creamy.
Pour the dressing over the pasta mixture and stir until everything is evenly coated.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to develop.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 10 Serving Size: scant 2 cups
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 367Total Fat: 15.9gCholesterol: 27mgSodium: 560mgCarbohydrates: 42.4gFiber: 5.0gSugar: 3.1gProtein: 14.5g

Love pasta dishes for a crowd? But, of course!

Be well,