Mini Tuna Salad Pasta Salad
A refreshing, bite-sized pasta salad featuring flaked tuna, colorful bell peppers, and a tangy lemon dressing—perfect for lunchboxes or quick weeknight meals. This American-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs small pasta shapes, tuna, red bell pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 265 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 12 oz small pasta shapes
- 5 oz, canned and drained tuna
- 1/2 cup, diced red bell pepper
- 1/4 cup, diced cucumber
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp dried dill
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Cook 12 oz small pasta shapes in a large pot of salted boiling water for 8-10 minutes until al dente, then drain and rinse under cold water to cool.
- Step 2: In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, 5 oz drained tuna, 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper, and 1/4 cup diced cucumber.
- Step 3: In a small bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup mayonnaise, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1/2 tsp dried dill, salt, and pepper until smooth.
- Step 4: Pour the dressing over the pasta mixture and toss gently until all ingredients are evenly coated.
