Folks, this is one of those super easy go-to meals that I rely on whenever I and can’t make a trip to the grocery store. Instant Pot Tuna Pasta Salad only takes a couple of minutes to put together with common pantry staples.
Yeap, you can easily whip up this delicious pasta salad with canned, dried, and frozen ingredients that most of us always have on hand! #pantryrecipesforthewin
Trust me, this tuna pasta salad has saved me more than once when I’ve found myself in a pinch. It’s super versatile, so it’s perfect for easy dinners and packing in lunchboxes. Plus it’s an ideal potluck recipe and a great meal prep solution.
And once you learn how much flavor my secret ingredient adds to this dish, you’re never going to want to make any other Instant Pot pasta salad recipe again!
YOU WILL LOVE THIS RECIPE BECAUSE
- Made from everyday pantry staples that you have on hand.
- It is budget-friendly.
- So easy that kids can help make it.
- It can be easily adapted to use the ingredients you have at home. (more on this below!)
- Great for fast dinners, packing in lunches and for weekly meal prep.
KITCHEN TOOLS, UTENSILS & APPLIANCES NEEDED
This post contains affiliate links. For more information, check out my disclosure.
Here are some of the items you will need to make this recipe.- 8 qt Instant Pot.
- I use and love the 8qt, my extra Instant Pot Insert & sealing ring.
- 3 qt Instant Pot or 6 qt Instant Pot depending on family size.
- Knife.
- Measuring jugs or cups.
- Measuring teaspoons.
- Bowls with covers.
- Store leftover beans in these bowls.
- Sea Salt Flakes.
- 8 qt Instant Pot.
What You’ll Need To Make This Instant Pot Pantry Recipe
- penne or fusilli pasta
- water
- salt
- chopped olives
- sweetcorn kernels: fresh or frozen
- chopped sun-dried tomatoes
- tuna
- balsamic vinaigrette (or other salad dressing)
- dill: fresh or dried ==> the secret ingredient that adds tons of flavor!
How To Make Tuna Pasta Salad In Your Instant Pot
- Add in the pasta and water to the Instant Pot insert. Close the lid and turn the vent to the sealing position. Set to manual pressure/high pressure for 4 minutes.
- When done, perform a quick release then drain and rinse the pasta.
- Stir in the salt, chopped olives, sweetcorn kernels, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, and tuna.
- Add as much (or as little) Balsamic salad dressing as desired, and top with the secret ingredient, dill.
Stove Top Instructions
No Instant Pot? No worries! Just cook the pasta on the stovetop, following the package instructions until it is al dente. Then continue with steps 3 and 4 above to complete your tuna pasta salad.
Recipe Tips
- Make sure to rinse the pasta quickly after cooking and before combining with the rest of the ingredients.
- For extra flavor, you can use chicken broth or vegetable broth instead of water. Just adjust the amount of salt accordingly.
- You really do want to keep the time under pressure to 4 minutes, any longer will likely turn the pasta to mush.
- Cook time does not include the time it takes for the Instant Pot to come up to pressure or for the pressure to release.
Tuna Pasta Salad Variations
The beauty of easy pantry recipes like this is that you can easily adapt them to use ingredients you have on hand. Take a look inside your fridge and pantry and then get creative! Here are some ideas for other ingredients that can be added to this tuna pasta salad:
- cucumber
- tomatoes
- green onions
- broccoli
- cauliflower
- peppers
- pickles (a personal fave!)
- peas
- carrots
- canned salmon instead of tuna
- pasta shape of your choice (elbow macaroni, rotini, etc.)
- different salad dressing (try it with Italian, Ranch or Blue Cheese!)
Meal Prep and Prep Ahead
Prep Ahead – Make ahead and refrigerate for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
Freeze – Follow the handy tips below on how to freeze tuna pasta salad:
- Do not add the Balsamic salad dressing.
- Make sure it cools completed before storing in a freezer-safe container or placing in a Ziploc storage bag.
- Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Thaw and Reheat – Remove frozen tuna pasta salad from freezer and place in the fridge to thaw overnight. Add the Balsamic salad dressing before serving chilled, or after reheating using the method of your choice.
Serving Suggestions
More Easy Pantry Recipes
- Easy Cheesy Tuna Casserole.
- Bean Soup.
- Easy Instant Pot Pinto Beans.
- Greek Rice.
- Instant Pot White Chicken Chili.
Weight Watchers Points
There are 10 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this tuna pasta salad recipe.
Thank you for reading my Instant Pot Tuna Pasta Salad recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue dreaming up recipes, traditional African recipes, African fusion recipes, Sierra Leone recipes, travel plans and much more for you. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog.
Get The Instant Pot Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe
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Instant Pot Tuna Pasta Salad
Ingredients
Instructions
How To Make Instant Pot Tuna Pasta Salad
- Add in the pasta and water to the Instant Pot insert. Close the lid and turn the vent to the sealing position. Set to manual pressure/high pressure for 4 minutes.
- When done, perform a quick release then drain and rinse the pasta.
- Stir in the salt, chopped olives, sweetcorn kernels, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, and tuna.
- Add as much (or as little) Balsamic salad dressing as desired, and top with the secret ingredient, dill.
Stove Top Instructions
- Cook the pasta on the stovetop, following the package instructions until it is al dente.
- Then continue with steps 3 and 4 above to complete your tuna pasta salad.
Notes
Recipe Tips
- Make sure to rinse the pasta quickly after cooking and before combining with the rest of the ingredients.
- For extra flavor, you can use chicken broth or vegetable broth instead of water. Just adjust the amount of salt accordingly.
- You really do want to keep the time under pressure to 4 minutes, any longer will likely turn the pasta to mush.
- Cooking time does not include the time it takes for the Instant Pot to come up to pressure or for the pressure to release.
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