Creamy Tuna Pasta Salad With Greek Yogurt
A healthy Greek-yogurt based whole grain pasta salad packed with protein. This tuna pasta salad recipe is a great option for quick lunches or dinners.
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I have always had a habit of finding ways to “healthy up” recipes that catch my eye. For the most part, I’m successful in my attempts – though I wish I could say that success carries over to my baking adventures. As much as I would like to think there are ways to healthy up certain baked goods, I think it’s safe to agree that some desserts are best left alone to enjoy as they were meant to me.
My friend Julie posted this tuna pasta salad recipe way back in 2011 and I remember having an instant craving for it when I saw it. Since she first posted it, I’ve actually made it several times – but with a few changes based on what I normally have in my fridge and pantry that makes it a little extra nutritious and perfect for a go-to lunch or dinner pasta salad that can carry you over a couple of days. Pasta salads are so good like that aren’t they?
Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad
I enjoyed this whole grain tuna pasta salad over lettuce leaves and sliced tomato for a few lunches in a row. It’s full of good protein and fiber that leave you feeling full (in a good way) and it keeps really well in the fridge making it a good option for days you don’t really have the time to put into making a meal. I always like to toss it with a splash of vinegar or squeeze of lemon the next day to freshen it up.
I love using Greek yogurt as a healthy swap in any creamy salad that typically uses mayo- if you haven’t tried it yet I encourage you to give it a try. Check out recipes like these Tangy Tuna Salad Wraps and my friend Liz’s Curried Chicken Salad with Apples for a little extra inspiration.
Tuna is one of my favorite high protein ingredients – if it’s yours too, be sure to check out my roundup of 20 Healthy Recipes Using Canned Tuna.
What do you put in tuna pasta salad?
My tuna pasta salad has whole grain pasta, canned tuna, celery, hard boiled eggs, mayo, mustard and Greek yogurt. I season it with lemon pepper, onion powder and a splash or two of apple cider vinegar.
How do you make tuna pasta salad?
- Prepare your pasta according to directions. When cooked through, drain and set aside to cool.
- To a large bowl add tuna, hard boiled eggs and celery.
- Prepare your “dressing” by combining Greek yogurt, mayo, mustard, lemon pepper, onion powder, apple cider vinegar, salt and pepper.
- Add your cooled pasta to large bowl along with your dressing. Gently stir to combine. Taste for salt and pepper and adjust.
More Healthy Pasta Salads To Try:
Lemony Green Bean Pasta Salad – whole grain pasta, fresh green beans, lemon and feta. So much flavor!
Tuna and Orzo Salad with Parmesan and Basil – another pasta salad with tuna, this time with a Mediterranean spin using basil and Parmesan cheese
Macaroni Salad (Mayo Free) – I call this my beach day pasta salad since it has no mayo and keeps well. Simple and filled with crunchy veggies.
PrintCreamy Tuna Pasta Salad With Greek Yogurt
A healthy Greek-yogurt based whole grain pasta salad packed with protein. This tuna pasta salad recipe is a great option for quick lunches or dinners.
Ingredients
- 1/2 of 13 oz package of whole wheat rotini (or pasta of your choice)
- 2 cans light tuna, drained and flaked
- 3 hard boiled eggs, chopped
- 3 celery stalks, chopped (include celery leaves for more flavor)
- 1/2 cup plain 0% Greek Yogurt
- 1 tablespoon light mayo (optional, can use more Greek yogurt instead)
- 1 tablespoon mustard
- 1 1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning (I use a no salt added seasoning, check yours and adjust your additional salt)
- 1/8 teaspoon onion powder
- couple of splashes of apple cider vinegar (I measured a cap full)
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare your pasta according to directions. When cooked through, drain and set aside to cool.
- To a large bowl add tuna, hard boiled eggs and celery.
- Prepare your “dressing” by combining Greek yogurt, mayo, mustard, lemon pepper, onion powder, apple cider vinegar, salt and pepper.
- Add your cooled pasta to large bowl along with your dressing. Gently stir to combine. Taste for salt and pepper and adjust.
Notes
Inspired and adapted from The Little Kitchen
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I love this!!! Now you have me craving this again!! I think I have everything I need too!!
Oh my gosh I am so craving this right now!!! What a delicious and comforting dish!!!! Thanks for the shout out to my chicken salad. xo
Can you believe I’ve never made tuna salad with Greek yogurt…yet, I adore Greek yogurt!? This looks fabulous. Can’t wait to make it.
Agree! You can lighten baked goods a bit, but too much? Ick! I wish i enjoyed fish!!
I really enjoy pasta salads in the summer months. Tuna and yogurt would both be favourites.
If this was sitting in my fridge, I would have to take a forkful or two every time I passed by the fridge. It looks so good, Aggie!
I love these tuna recipes!!
I am addicted to Greek yogurt. ADDICTED.
Me too
I just love a good tuna salad. I can’t seem to persuade my husband, but I certainly don’t mind gobbling all of this up!
MMM I love tuna salad. So do my kids! I think I need to give yours a try. I always use miracle whip in mine…egads I know! I think greek yogurt, which I always have in my fridge, is a great idea!!
This sounds wonderful, I can see why you craved it as soon as you saw it. On next weeks dinner menu! ๐
I love that you’ve used greek yogurt!
I love it!! I usually eat tuna salad on a bed of quinoa and wilted greens. Next time will try as a pasta salad!
I’m slapping my head… why have i never thought to do this? Great idea! The whole dish looks delicious (I’m a big tuna salad and tuna casserole fan, so this is up my alley)
Pasta is one of my favorite things to eat and I LOVE pasta salad. I’m pinning this to make soon — loving the use of Greek Yogurt in lieu of mayo. This will be for lunch asap!
Aggie,
I love tuna salad, and used a bit of greek yogurt last week when the mayo was out–it was delicious.
Your pasta salad looks so yummy that I’ll be trying this one out with the whole family.
Thanks!
This is such comfort food to me (wish my hubs felt the same : )
I love this!! I am a huge fan of adding greek yogurt into salads in place of mayo! Healthier and more protein – win win!! I totally “healthy” up recipes too – this is why I have been a long time fan of your blog – you totally make my kind of recipes!!
I love pasta salad and my husband loves tuna! I wonder if I can convert him into a pasta salad lover with this recipe!? yum!
I love tuna pasta salad. I have never tried yogurt in it but will try this recipe soon.
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Oh yum!!! I was just craving tuna salad the other day. Love that you lightened it up with greek yogurt! ๐
I just made a tuna melt with greek yogurt but I never thought of a pasta salad. I will for sure have to try that. Thanks!
I agree..baked goods should just be left alone. But there is always a way to lighten up savory dishes! I love love love tuna pasta! This looks right up my alley Aggie
I don’t enjoy mayo so this is a perfect meal for me! Yum ๐
This looks great. I don’t often think to use tuna, but I can see I’m missing out.
I made this for my packed lunch. 3 days of healthy food, thanks.
Omg. This looks amazing! I am always looking for new lunch recipes. I follow weight watchers so I now I can plug in the nutritional info in and figure that out but I do need to know how many servings ? And is each serving one cup? Thank you!!!!!!
Hi there! This makes a great lunch to have in fridge!! I didn’t measure out portions, but I would say calculate as 3 or 4 servings. It was a very filling meal thanks to the fiber & protein. Serving on a bed of (free!) lettuce & tomato would give you some more veggies too. ๐
Let me know if you try it!
Hello I follow weight watchers. Could you tell me how big a serving size is?
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This looks delicious – I know what I will be making for lunch tomorrow! ๐
I love pasta. I will Try your recipe. It look like delicious.Yummy
This post is really amazing.Thanks for sharing such as relevant article.
I love this so very much!!!! Thanks for sharing a great recipe here.