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Dill Pickle Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe

4.6 from 101 reviews

This Dill Pickle Tuna Pasta Salad is a refreshing and protein-packed dish that combines the tangy flavors of dill pickle with creamy Greek yogurt and mayo dressing. Perfect for a light lunch or a potluck side, it features protein pasta, skipjack tuna, crisp cucumbers, and a zesty ranch-dill sauce enhanced with pickle juice and fresh garlic.

Ingredients

Scale

Sauce

  • ⅓ cup plain Greek Yogurt
  • ⅔ cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon white vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon dill
  • 1.5 tablespoons ranch seasoning
  • ¼ cup avocado oil
  • 1 tablespoon pickle juice
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Salad

  • 5 cans (3 oz each) skipjack tuna (preferably dill pickle flavored, or 3 cans of 5 oz plain tuna)
  • 8 oz protein pasta (such as shells or macaroni)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • ¼ cup scallions/green onions, thinly sliced (about 3 stalks)
  • ½ cucumber, diced (English or standard cucumber)
  • Salt, to taste

Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta. Prepare the 8 oz protein pasta according to the package instructions. Once cooked, drain it and rinse quickly under cold water to cool and stop the cooking process.
  2. Prepare the sauce. In a bowl or mason jar, combine the Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, white vinegar, lemon juice, dill, ranch seasoning, avocado oil, pickle juice, and salt. Mix thoroughly until the sauce is well blended.
  3. Combine salad ingredients. In a large bowl, add the cooled pasta, tuna cans (drained), minced garlic, sliced scallions, and diced cucumber. Stir gently to distribute ingredients evenly.
  4. Mix in the sauce. Pour the prepared sauce over the salad mixture and stir until everything is coated. Taste and adjust salt if necessary.
  5. Chill and serve. Refrigerate the salad until ready to serve, allowing the flavors to meld together for best taste.

Notes

  • Using dill pickle flavored tuna like Wild Planet enhances the pickle flavor, but plain tuna works well too.
  • Protein pasta is preferred for an extra protein boost; regular pasta can be substituted if needed.
  • This salad can be made a few hours ahead and kept refrigerated for ideal flavor.
  • Adjust ranch seasoning and pickle juice quantities to taste if you prefer a stronger or milder tang.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Keywords: Dill pickle tuna pasta salad, tuna pasta salad, protein pasta salad, tangy tuna salad, picnic pasta salad, dill pickle salad dressing