Last week I posted pictures of a picnic tablescape that I had planned for the summer. One of the food items I had prepared was a Tuna Pasta Salad which was absolutely delicious and so easy to make. It is the perfect picnic/summer/no fuss food because it doesn’t take long to put together (you can essentially cut up all your items while the pasta boils) and it can be eaten at room temperature. No heating = win win!

This is the perfect dish for your next picnic, potluck or even for this weeks lunch! Scroll down below for some preparation tips and the recipe.

Like I mentioned above, this salad doesn’t take too much time to put together. As my pasta was boiling, I put all my ingredients in a bowl and mixed everything together once the pasta was done. I did let it cool slightly when it was cooked (for about 5-10 mins) before mixing everything in together. Personally I like to serve the dish shortly after it is prepared but you can also put it together ahead of time if required.

JMS TIP: Although I suggest serving this salad fresh when the pasta is done, I do understand sometimes you are pressed for time! A good tip is to cut up all the veggies and store them in separate containers which helps when putting everything together last minute.

Another tip for the pasta salad – if you do store leftovers in the fridge, I do find the pasta soaks up the liquid and makes everything slightly dry. Let it come to room temperature and sprinkle in a few dots of water to mix everything with. You may also need to add in a little bit of extra mayo to the mix!

This salad is best served at room temperature therefore it travels great in a cooler bag (or your lunch bag!) and is perfect for the summer since it does not need to be heated. As you can see in the pictures, I just packed it in disposable food containers for the picnic and it work out great!

Side-note – have you ever tried photographing pasta salad? It is not the prettiest of foods…but I promise it tastes delicious!

What is your favourite type of pasta salad? Share below! 

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TUNA PASTA SALAD

Perfect pasta salad for your next picnic, lunch or potluck with friends! 

Course Salad

Keyword pasta salad, school lunch, tuna, vegetables

Total Time 25 minutes

Servings 6 people

Author JOANNA

Ingredients

• 3 cups Bow Tie Pasta (3 cups of dry pasta NOT cooked)
• 1 can Tuna (in water)
• 1 cup Red Peppers (cut into small square pieces)
• 1 cup Bread and Butter Pickles (sliced into thin strips)
• 2 cups Cherry Tomatoes (cut in half)
• 1 cup Celery (sliced into small pieces)
• 3 tbls Mayonnaise
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1 tsp Pepper

Instructions

1. Boil pasta until al dente, drain and leave in strainer to cool. Make sure to toss frequently so the pasta does not stick together.

2. While the pasta is boiling, cut up the vegetables as noted above and combine into a large bowl. 

3. Once pasta has cooled, add into the bowl.

4. Add in the mayonnaise, salt and pepper and mix everything together.

5. Enjoy!