Confession: I\u2019ve never been a huge tuna person, but this tuna pasta salad recipe converted me. I crave this easy pasta salad constantly and it\u2019s a great lunch for work. If you\u2019re not into asparagus, you can swap it out for any vegetable that tastes good blanched, like broccoli or green beans. <\/p>\n
If you wanted to make this vegan, you can swap tuna out for chickpeas, but it won\u2019t have the same savory flavor profile<\/a>. It\u2019s really all about the sauce! This recipe is perfect for using up herbs on their last legs. Use whatever you have on hand! <\/p>\n This recipe is also featured in my cookbook,\u00a0The Workweek Lunch Cookbook<\/em>: Easy, Delicious Meals to Meal Prep, Pack, and Take On The Go<\/a>! \u00a0It includes 60 approachable recipes designed to be meal-prepped and stored.<\/strong><\/p>\n We used bowtie in this recipe, but really any short pasta would work! Penne, macaroni, shells, or a protein pasta like Banza would all be great.<\/p>\n You can also check out our delicious pesto pasta salad<\/a> for another easy, no reheat meal!<\/p>\n Here use asparagus, red onion, avocado, and sun-dried tomatoes but you can change this however you like! You can add in cooked broccoli, raw bell pepper, thinly sliced carrots, cooked or raw mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, radishes, yellow bell pepper, spinach, arugula, or raw cucumber. Yours just may not look as green as ours did!<\/p>\n This pasta salad has canned tuna and chickpeas as its protein source, but you can mix it up! I would go for pinto beans, white beans, shredded chicken, or cooked chicken sausage would be great. Cooked and shredded salmon could also work.<\/p>\n Related:\u00a0Cold Lunch Ideas: Meal Prep Recipes When You Don\u2019t Have A Microwave<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n The flavor will change slightly, but the herby sauce still does most of the heavy lifting.<\/p>\n I suggest baking a chicken breast or two seasoned generously with lemon juice, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper at 375 F for 30 minutes. Let it rest for 15 minutes after cooking, then dice or shred it and add it to the pasta salad mixture.<\/p>\n Related:\u00a0Picnic Food: No-Reheat Meals for a Perfect Picnic<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n In this recipe, we use plain Greek yogurt, but you could absolutely use mayonnaise if you prefer! Use 1\/3 cup mayo of your choice.<\/p>\n![\"tuna](\"https:\/\/workweeklunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/green-tuna-pasta-salad-1.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nIngredients<\/h2>\n
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\nInstructions<\/h2>\n
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How to Customize This Recipe<\/h2>\n
Change up the pasta<\/h3>\n
Swap the veggies<\/h3>\n
Change the protein<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/workweeklunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/green-tuna-pasta-shot-1024x1024.jpg\"\/)
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/workweeklunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/green-tuna-pasta-shot-1024x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nDietary Swaps (Vegan \/ Dairy-Free \/ Gluten-Free)<\/h2>\n
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You can easily swap tuna for chicken<\/h2>\n
Want to add mayo?<\/h3>\n
![\"Green](\"https:\/\/workweeklunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/green-tuna-pasta-salad-1-320x321.jpg\")