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This Gluten Free Tuna Pasta Salad recipe is the perfect summer salad, lunchbox idea, or BBQ side dish. A healthy pasta salad using tinned tuna, sweetcorn and olives in a creamy pesto mayonnaise. Throw it together in just 15 minutes to enjoy warm or cold!
What you need to know at-a-glance:
- Why choose this recipe? This is so much more than your average tuna pasta salad. It’s bursting with salty olives and juicy sweetcorn and smothered in a creamy pesto mayonnaise. Made with gluten free pasta, no-one will know it’s coeliac-safe when they’re loading it on their plates at your next BBQ!
- Quick + Easy: This tuna pasta salad is ready in under 15 minutes, using just 8 simple ingredients. I use canned tuna and sweetcorn to also keep this pasta salad recipe super cheap – the perfect budget recipe!
- Pasta of choice: If you want a cold pasta salad you need a decent gluten free pasta. Spend the extra pennies on a brand like Rummo or Garofalo and you won’t regret it! It holds together so much better than cheaper free from pastas.
- Love a gluten free pasta salad recipe? Check out my sun-dried tomato pasta salad or my Greek pasta salad recipes next, both 100% gluten free!
Ingredients and Substitutions
There’s a full printable recipe card below, but here’s a list of the main ingredients you’ll need for this tuna pasta salad and ideas for any swaps, including for a dairy free recipe.
- Pesto – Just bulk standard, green pesto is a winner – even better if it’s a homemade pesto, or try a red pesto or even a chilli one. For dairy free, use a vegan pesto.
- Gluten Free Pasta – I recommend picking a good brand of gluten free pasta as this will hold it’s texture well and not go rock solid when chilled. I used the Garofalo Pasta Farfalle (bows) but you can use any shape.
- Tinned Tuna
- Tinned Sweetcorn: You can also use peas if you prefer, or in addition to the corn.
- Kalamata Olives: These really set this tuna pasta salad apart from the rest, but if you’re not a fan you can omit them or swap for chopped sun-dried tomatoes.
- Spring Onions: Sometimes I add some chopped fresh chives too.
- Mayonnaise: You can use a vegan mayo if you need this pasta salad recipe egg-free. Alternatively swap for a 0% fat Greek Yoghurt for a higher protein pasta salad.
How to make Tuna Pasta Salad
If you want to know how to make tuna salad with pasta, I’ve got some step-by-step photos here to guide you. There’s also a video in the recipe card below!
Bring a pan of salted water to the boil and once boiling, add the pasta. Cook as per the pack instructions until al dente – usually this takes around 8-10 minutes.
Once the pasta is cooked, drain the pasta and rinse in a little cold water to stop it sticking together in the colander.
While the pasta is cooking, mix the mayonnaise and pesto in a bowl until combined and set to one side.
Add the tuna, olives, spring onion and sweetcorn to a large bowl and mix together. Add the cooked and drained pasta and mix again.
Pour over the pesto mayonnaise and mix everything together well. Add some fresh chopped chives and extra drizzle of pesto to serve if you like, and enjoy hot or cold.
Don’t just take my word for it…
Susan left ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and said: “An easy, cheap lunch” while Maria also made this pasta salad and said: “Easy to do and satisfying.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Before we get started, let me answer some of the questions you may have about this gluten free tuna pasta salad recipe.
This tuna pasta salad can be eaten hot or cold and will last in the fridge for 2-3 days. It’s best eaten fresh, but you can make it ahead and store it in the fridge before serving too. I’d recommend picking a decent gluten free pasta for this as some of the cheaper ones can go hard when cold.
I wouldn’t recommend freezing this tuna pasta salad. Gluten free pasta tends to break up when frozen so you’re better off making this fresh.
I definitely find this gluten free tuna pasta salad is best eaten fresh, though it can be refrigerated and eaten cold.
If doing this, I’d recommend you look at choosing a decent gluten free pasta brand such as Rummo, Napolina or Garofalo. These don’t go hard when refrigerated like cheaper brands of free from pasta can.
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Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 200 g gluten free pasta, (I use Garofalo Gluten Free Farfalle)
- 100 g tinned tuna, (drained)
- 130 g tinned sweetcorn, (drained)
- 100 g kalamata olives
- 2 spring onions, (finely chopped)
- 2 tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp pesto
- Fresh chives, (optional, for topping)
Instructions
- Bring a pan of salted water to the boil and once boiling, add the gluten free pasta. Cook as per the pack instructions until al dente – usually this takes around 8-10 minutes. Once cooked, drain the pasta and rinse in a little cold water.
- While the pasta is cooking, mix the mayonnaise and pesto in a bowl until combined and set to one side.
- Add the tuna, olives, spring onion and sweetcorn to a large bowl and mix together. Add the cooked and drained pasta and mix again.
- Pour over the pesto mayonnaise and mix everything together well. Add some fresh chopped chives and extra drizzle of pesto to serve if you like, and enjoy hot or cold.
Video
Notes
- TOP TIP: A lot of gluten free pasta can go hard or break up when eaten cold. This tuna pasta salad is best eaten fresh but if you want to eat it cold, make sure you opt for a better quality (more expensive) gluten free pasta. It’s worth it!
- Storing: If making this ahead of time, keep the tuna pasta salad in the fridge.
- Step-by-Step Photos: Check out the blog post above for step-by-step photos of this method if you find it easier to follow a visual guide, and a video above.
- Variations: Add some chilli flakes for spice, swap the mayonnaise for Greek yoghurt or add your fave veg like chopped cucumbers and tomatoes.
- Like this Recipe? It would mean SO much to me if you could leave a 5* rating and a little comment if you make this Tuna Pasta Salad recipe and love it. It really helps support my blog and get the recipe out there to more people! Thank you xx
Nutrition
More Gluten Free Salad Recipes
Variations
Want to make this tuna pasta salad recipe with a twist? Here are ideas for a few variations:
- Make it spicy: Add some dried chilli flakes to the recipe or switch the pesto for a chilli pesto instead.
- Tuna Pasta Salad Without Mayo: Want to make this recipe without the mayonnaise? Simply omit it and use just pesto, or mix the pesto with a little extra virgin olive oil.
- Extra Veg: Up the veg content of this salad by adding some extra bits such as chopped cucumber, cherry tomato quarters or even peas.
And if you want more gluten free pasta salad ideas, I also have a Greek Pasta Salad recipe and a Sun Dried Tomato Pasta Salad too.
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Want more gluten free meals inspiration? My debut cookbook, Delicious Gluten Free Meals, has 100+ gluten free recipes, from breakfast and lunch ideas to dinners, desserts and sides.
Easy cheap lunch
Easy to do and satisfying
I love this recipe for lunch – if you do too, please leave a comment to let everyone know! xx