Mediterranean Tuna Pasta Salad

A delicious and filling lunch, this Mediterranean Tuna Pasta Salad is full of flavor and a healthy lunch idea for any day of the week.

Disclosure – I was provided free samples of the Tonnino Tuna mentioned in this post. However, I was not compensated for my time and all reviews are completely my own. Thank you for supporting brands that help The Domestic Dietitian flourish.

Elevating Tuna

Did you ever have tuna fish growing up?

My mom used to make tuna fish sandwiches for us all the time. Her recipe consisted of canned tuna, diced celery, onions, and hardboiled egg all swimming in an entire jar of mayo.

I loved it. I still use her recipe to make myself a good old fashioned tuna fish sandwich on white bread every once in awhile.

Most days though I prefer to use tuna to create a bit healthier, more filling meal for my weekday lunches.

Tonnino Tuna

I was recently introduced to Tonnino Tuna – a gourmet jarred tuna brand. Their products are made with 100% Yellowfin Tuna that is –

• Low Mercury
• Wild Caught
• Dolphin Safe
• Gluten Free
• Non-GMO

I tried multiple flavors of their Jarred Tuna and you guys….I could (and did) eat it straight out of the jar. It’s that good.

The Garlic & Olive Oil flavor was perfect for this delicious Mediterranean Tuna Pasta Salad recipe that has become one of my favorite lunches. It’s available at Whole Foods, but their website also has a locator tool to find a location near you.

Mediterranean Diet Inspired Lunch

This pasta salad is a hearty, nutrient filled dish that is perfect for lunch, or even a side dish at dinner time. It follows the principles of The Mediterranean Diet.

The tuna provides a lean, complete source of protein, as well as Omega 3’s which have anti-inflammatory properties that are great for heart health and your mind/cognition.

Flavored with fresh herbs, sun-dried tomatoes, capers, and olives this pastas salad is full of healthy, delicious flavors.

Instead of a heavy or mayo based dressing, all this dish needed was a herb packed olive oil based vinaigrette that comes together in less than a minute.

Mediterranean Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe

You can also make this recipe your own by adding your favorite Mediterranean inspired ingredients.

Print Pin

Mediterranean Tuna Pasta Salad

A delicious and filling lunch, this Mediterranean Tuna Pasta Salad is full of flavor and a healthy lunch idea for any day of the week.

Course Appetizer, lunch, Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine Mediterranean

Keyword capers, fish, healthy lunch, herbs, meal prep, mediterranean diet, olive oil, pasta, pasta salad, salad, seafood, sun dried tomato, tuna

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Author Brynn at The Domestic Dietitian

Ingredients

• 1 pound pasta any short noodle would work (penne, rigatoni, bowties, etc)
• 2 jars Tonnino Tuna I used the Garlic & Olive Oil flavor
• 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes
• 4 scallions green and white parts, diced
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, stems removed chopped
• 2 tbsp capers
• 1/4 cup kalamata olives sliced
• 1 lemon zested and juiced
• 1 clove garlic minced
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

• Prepare the pasta according to the instructions on the package, prepare slightly al dente so that it holds up in the pasta salad. Drain and set aside to cool
• In a large bowl, combine tuna, sun dried tomatoes, scallions, parsley, capers, and olives. Mix well
• Add drained, cooled pasta to bowl and stir to combine
• In a small bowl/jar, whisk together lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, oregano and olive oil. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed
• Drizzle dressing over top of pasta salad and toss all together right before serving. 

Notes

If you can’t locate Tonnino Tuna, canned tuna would also work in this recipe.