Made with our staple Greek yogurt based ranch dill pickle dressing this dill pickle tuna pasta salad is packed with protein and classic flavors. My grandma used to make the best tuna casserole and this pasta salad version is inspired by her. Whether your grandma has her own tuna pasta dish or not, I hope this recipe makes you think of your grandma too!
Want to save this recipe?
Enter your email below & we'll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you'll get fun new recipes from us every week!
Dill pickle tuna pasta salad is a modern and fun twist on a classic that marries dill pickle with ranch tuna pasta salad. Whether you need a potluck meal or just a quick and high protein meal prep - this is the dish for both!
Jump to:
my grandma would be honored if you made this
She had 13 kids on a farm. Yes, 13. So to say she was a pro at serving a lot of people quickly food that keeps them full and fueled is an understatement.
This simple dill pickle tuna pasta salad is inspired by her tuna casserole. Hers had the perfect ratio of tuna to pasta with a super light dressing.
Nothing too heavy, not just for taste but because it gets expensive. The more dressing the more expensive it is to feed to 15 hungry mouths.
Now you might not be trying to feed that many mouths and you might just be meal prepping. Which is the category I fall into. But, I'm always at ease making this recipe because I know it's nourishing, I know people will love it, and I know it won't take me much effort to make.
Ok, it might really just be because I can feel my grandma helping me make it. So, I hope you can feel your grandma while you make this pasta salad ❤️. P.S. don't forget to try her quick pickles too!
how to make tuna pasta salad like my grandma
1. prep
Cook the pasta al dente. It's super important that it's cooked just enough that it's soft but still has a bite (al dente) since it will sit in the sauce for a while. Chop the green onions and cucumber.
2. make the sauce
Mix the sauce ingredients in a mason jar.
3. mix it all
Add everything (cooled pasta) to a super large bowl (what ever bowl you have, that's not big enough). Mix until evenly coated. Store in the fridge until ready to eat.
quick recipe video
how to store & meal prep it
Leftovers of this pasta salad will last for up to 5 days in the fridge in an airtight container.
If you want to meal prep it, just make it as directed and store it in individual serving sizes. And it's best eaten cold so no need to reheat.
I don't recommend freezing it because the dressing gets odd.
Recipe
Dill Pickle Tuna Pasta Salad
Ingredients
Sauce
- ⅓ cup plain Greek Yogurt
- ⅔ cup mayo
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon dill
- 1.5 tablespoon ranch seasoning
- ¼ c avocado oil
- 1 tablespoon pickle juice
- ½ teaspoon salt
Salad
- 5 3 oz cans skipjack tuna (best to use dill pickle tuna from Wild Planet or 3 5 oz plain cans of tuna)
- 8 oz protein pasta (1 box) (preferably a small pasta variety like shells or macaroni)
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- ¼ c scallions/green onions (about 3 stocks thinly sliced)
- ½ cucumber diced (english or standard)
- Salt to taste
Before you start!
If you make this recipe, please take a moment to leave us a review. We love to hear from you!
Instructions
- Make the 8 oz protein pasta (1 box) per the package directions, strain it, and quickly cool it by running cold water over it.
- Mix together the sauce ingredients in a bowl or mason jar until well combined.
- Add the pasta, 5 3 oz cans skipjack tuna or 3 standard cans of tuna, 2 cloves minced garlic, ¼ c scallions/green onions, and ½ cucumber diced to a large bowl (the bigger the better). Stir to combine.
- Mix in the sauce, then taste and add additional Salt to taste.
- Store in the fridge until ready to serve.
Video
Notes
- If traveling with it, wait to add the tuna (it’s shelf stable) that way it’s not as critical that the salad stays really cold.
- To cool the pasta, you can also add a few ice cubes to the pasta in the strainer.
- It will keep for 5 days in the fridge and it shouldn’t be frozen.
Looking for more information?
Additional substitution information can be found above in the substitution section of this post.
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate and for informational purposes only.
Nutrition
common questions
Yes, I like to use skipjack because it's a smaller fish and thus has less mercury. But, any type of tuna will work.
If you're short on time, you can make the pasta salad with the dressing packet from a dill pickle salad kit. Our dill pickle dressing is inspired by just that!
Sure, but I would use something else that isn't a meat like chickpeas or giant white beans. And if you want chicken, you can try our dill pickle chicken salad.
Made this recipe for my boyfriend and I and we both loved it! I've been trying to incorporate more greek yogurt into both of our diets for added protein and this recipe turned out great. Super flavorful, will definitely be making again!
Sounds yummy!