Creamy Tuna Pasta Salad with Lemon and Capers • Kath Eats

July 19, 2026

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This creamy tuna pasta salad is a scrumptious mixture of pink bell pepper, capers, and a creamy yogurt dressing, brightened with recent herbs and lemon.

Creamy Tuna Pasta Salad with Lemon and Capers • Kath Eats

This creamy tuna pasta salad comes collectively in about 20 minutes and holds up fantastically within the fridge all week, making it excellent for meal-prepped lunches. Flaky tuna, recent herbs, capers, pink bell pepper, and a tangy yogurt-mayo dressing make this straightforward pasta salad something however boring.

Why This Tuna Pasta Salad Works for Meal Prep

Whereas I’m not an enormous prep day particular person, I do like to make one massive recipe that may carry my lunches by way of the week. I’ve finished prep day kale salads and grain salads like this citrus curry farro salad. And this season I’ve been on a kick of pasta salad recipes (see additionally dill pickle pasta salad and taco pasta salad!)

Pasta salads aren’t at all times excessive on the protein chart, which is why I added some tuna. Canned salmon would work completely right here too! Assume tuna noodle casserole meets creamy tuna salad! In contrast to many basic pasta salads which might be principally pasta and mayonnaise, this model provides protein-rich tuna and Greek yogurt to make it extra filling for lunch or a lightweight dinner. Plus recent herbs, pink bell pepper, capers, and plenty of lemon for a pasta salad that’s simply as excellent for meal prep lunches as it’s for summer time picnics, potlucks, or a fast weeknight dinner.

Makes about 6 servings, prepared in 25 minutes, retains for 4 days!

Simple Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe

This tuna pasta salad recipe is SO straightforward to toss collectively and may be made principally from elements within the fridge and pantry. I used elbow macaroni as a nod to casseroles, and two cans of flaked albacore tuna. The tuna provides loads of protein, making this pasta salad satisfying sufficient for lunch as a substitute of only a facet dish. I at all times search for sustainably caught tuna – the MSC seal is an effective indicator. Fishwife and Wild Planet are my favourite manufacturers. (Get 10% off Fishwife with the code KATHEATS10).

Components

This straightforward tuna pasta salad recipe combines elbow macaroni, hearty albacore tuna, pink bell pepper, recent herbs (a should!), and capers in a creamy Greek yogurt dressing with lemon. The intense lemon taste retains it recent and lightweight whereas the yogurt provides further protein and a tangy, creamy texture with out feeling such as you’re getting a cup of mayo in each chunk.

Variations

This tuna pasta salad is endlessly adaptable. Swap the albacore tuna for canned salmon or chunk gentle tuna, use peas or corn as a substitute of bell pepper, add chopped celery or carrots for crunch, or stir in feta, cheddar, or olives for a Mediterranean twist. It’s a fantastic clean-out-the-fridge recipe.

Yep, a few of these pics are from my previous (previous) kitchen!

Lemon zest is vital to the dish’s brilliant taste, and I additionally used a handful of herbs from our herb backyard: parsley, dill, and basil. Use no matter mixture of herbs you’ve gotten, or simply choose your favourite and go all in. I used a pink bell pepper as a result of I at all times have one readily available, however frozen peas or corn – or recent summer time corn lower off the cob – could be nice. Chopped celery and even pink onion (!) would add crunch. You may also add in some shredded or diced sharp cheddar cheese or crumbled feta. Olives could be a pleasant Mediterranean addition to go along with the capers, too!

Elbow macaroni – or you should use any pasta form you want
Albacore tuna – or swap in salmon or chunk gentle tuna in case you desire
Pink bell pepper – or the equal quantity of veggies of your selection
Herbs – any combine you want. I used parsley, basil, and dill. Child spinach works too!
Capers – love them! Go away them out in case you don’t, or swap in chopped olives.

For the dressing

Full-fat Greek yogurt – my go-to in pasta salads to maintain the saturated fats at bay and protein excessive with a lot of creamy texture
Duke’s mayonnaise
Lemon – zested and juiced
Salt and pepper – naturally

How To Make This Tuna Pasta Salad

Prepare dinner the pasta

Warmth a big pot of salted water to boiling. Prepare dinner the pasta till al dente in line with the bundle directions. Drain and rinse with chilly water. Return pasta to pot or a big mixing bowl.

Prep the elements

In the meantime, chop the bell pepper and herbs. Drain the capers. Zest and juice lemon. I really like lemon zest and use it at any time when I take advantage of a lemon! I then flip over my microplane and use it to catch the lemon seeds whereas squeezing out the juice. My lemon yielded about 1.5 tbsp zest and three tbsp juice.

Prep the tuna

Drain tuna and flake with a fork.

Make the dressing

Mix yogurt, mayonnaise, lemon, lemon zest, salt and pepper in a bowl and whisk to mix.

Combine pasta salad collectively

Add chopped pepper, herbs, and capers to the cooked pasta. Then add the tuna. Stir to combine.

Stir within the dressing

Add 3/4 of the dressing to the pasta and stir till mixed. Add remainder of dressing, if desired.

Serve

Function a facet dish at a picnic or as a essential course for lunch or a lighter dinner.

Retailer

Retailer within the fridge in an hermetic container for a number of days. You might wish to freshen it up with a squeeze of lemon juice or further yogurt dressing for the reason that pasta will progressively take up the dressing.