Easy Tuna Pasta Salad – Healthy and Gluten Free

This healthy tuna pasta salad is packed with great crunch and flavor. It is made with gluten-free pasta, protein-packed tuna, lots of fresh veggies, and the most delicious creamy dill dressing. You can make it in minutes and it is one of the best tuna salad recipes ever! Plus it is totally gluten-free!

This healthy tuna pasta salad is anything but boring. It is full of fresh and vibrant colors and flavors and it has the most incredible creamy dill dressing that just pulls it all together. Add in some protein-packed tuna and you have a complete meal all in one easy healthy salad recipe.

If you are looking for a meat-free version then you will love this vegan macaroni salad!

This tuna salad with pasta is made with brown rice pasta (that was amazing) mixed in with crunchy, fresh veggies like peppers, celery, red onion, and peas. It is finished off with a nice smooth and creamy, bright dill lemon dressing that really gives it an incredible flavor.

What makes this tuna pasta salad healthy?

To keep this tuna pasta salad recipe on the lighter side I swapped white pasta with gluten-free brown rice pasta which was amazing! I also included lots of fresh veggies like celery, peppers, onions, and peas and used avocado mayo in place of regular mayo in the dill lemon dressing. Wild canned tuna is also very healthy and high in protein which gives this tuna salad recipe 5 stars for nutrition!

Why you’ll love this recipe

• It’s an easy tuna pasta salad recipe that you can make in under 15 minutes!
• Only requires a few simple ingredients.
• It is totally gluten-free!
• Such a great meal prep recipe and it tastes even better the next day!
• Packed with protein, fiber, and crunchy veggies.
• Perfect for parties since it makes a good amount to feed a crowd.

Ingredients you will need

• Pasta – I used brown rice pasta to keep this recipe gluten-free. The Tinkyada brand from Target is the best gluten-free pasta I have tried so far.
• Tuna – I used Wild Planet Albacore Tuna. Any canned tuna will work!
• Bell peppers – any color is fine, I used red bell pepper.
• Red onion – you can also use shallots or white onion.
• Peas – frozen peas work great but fresh ones will also work in this recipe.
• Celery – for crunch and color.
• Capers – drained.
• Dill – you can use dried dill but fresh works best in this tuna pasta salad
• Avocado mayo – I like to use Primal Kitchen or Sir Kensington’s.
• Dijon mustard – or regular mustard.
• Honey – to give it some sweetness, maple syrup or agave will also work.
• Garlic – fresh garlic works best but garlic powder will also work.
• Salt & pepper – to enhance all of the amazing flavors.

How to make the best tuna pasta salad

1. Cook the pasta until al dente (about 1-2 minutes less than the package instructions) Then drain and rinse the pasta and let it cool.
2. Add all of the salad ingredients to a large bowl.
3. Mix up the creamy dill dressing in a separate bowl.
4. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss.
5. Serve cold and enjoy!

Recipe tips for making tuna pasta salad

• You can use any type of pasta you like in this recipe.  I used gluten-free brown rice pasta. 
• Make the pasta one day in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator until you are ready to assemble the salad.
• Switch up the veggies and use any crunchy veggies like carrots, radishes, cherry tomatoes, or cucumber as well in this tuna salad. 
• If you are not a fan of tuna then cooked, diced chicken also works great in this recipe. 

How do you store tuna salad?

You can easily store this salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days! Just give it a good stir when you are ready to eat it since the dressing can settle as it sits in the refrigerator.

More amazing salads to try

• Easy Salmon Salad
• Fennel Salad With Yogurt Dill Dressing
• Cranberry Chicken Salad
• Kale Caesar Salad With Crispy Chickpeas
• Classic House Salad
• Healthy Egg Salad

Other seafood recipes

• Healthy Shrimp Scampi With Zucchini Noodles
• Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp
• Air Fryer Salmon
• Salmon Patties With Fennel Slaw

Did you try this healthy tuna pasta salad recipe? If you did, then please leave a rating and comment below. I would love to hear how yours turned out!

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