I started making this cold tuna pasta salad on Sunday nights when I needed something I could grab all week without thinking twice. It is one of my favorite mason jar salad recipes because it layers so well in a jar. It’s a salad that stays fresh for a couple of days.
The pasta soaks up just enough dressing while the lettuce on top stays crisp until you are ready to eat. This mason jar pasta salad is one I make every other week. One thing I learned the hard way: always let the pasta cool fully before adding it to the jar, or it will wilt the lettuce underneath fast.
This one is perfect if you are new to meal prep. No fancy steps, no hard to find ingredients, just layer and go. If you are looking for the best gluten free pasta salad to start with, this is it.
Key Features
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes (plus cooling)
- Servings: 2 mason jars
- Difficulty: Easy
- Dietary Labels: Gluten Free, Dairy Free
Why You’ll Love This Gluten Free Pasta Salad Recipe
- Ready in under 30 minutes of active time
- Great for meal prep, stays good in the fridge for a few days
- Easy ingredients you probably already have
- No oven needed, just one pot for the pasta
- A simple pasta salad dairy free option, and a great gf pasta salad if you keep things light
Ingredients
For the salad:
- 100g (3.5 oz) gluten free pasta
- 100g (3/4 cup) cherry tomatoes
- 1 cucumber
- 1 small red onion
- 2 handfuls of lettuce
- 400g (14 oz) tuna in water, no oil
For the dressing:
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 2 tsp whole grain mustard
How to Make Cold Tuna Pasta Salad
Step 1 – Cook the pasta
Cook the gluten free pasta according to the package instructions for this gf pasta salad recipe. Drain it and set it aside to cool completely. This step matters more than it sounds, warm pasta will wilt your lettuce and make the layers soggy.
Step 2 – Prep the vegetables
While the pasta cools, chop the cucumber, cherry tomatoes, and red onion into bite sized pieces.
Step 3 – Make the dressing
In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper, oregano, and whole grain mustard until combined.
Pro tip: Taste the dressing before you start layering. It is your only chance to adjust the salt or tang before everything goes in the jar.
Step 4 – Layer the jar
Start with a small splash of dressing at the bottom, then add the lettuce, cucumber, and cherry tomatoes. Add a bit more dressing, then the tuna, red onion, the cooled pasta, and finish with the rest of the dressing on top. This pasta and tuna salad holds up well in the jar for a few days when layered this way.
Step 5 – Seal and store
Close the jars and keep them in the fridge until you are ready to eat.
Pro tip: If your jar has a wooden or bamboo lid, slip a small piece of foil between the jar and the lid before closing it. Keeps the lid clean and the seal tighter.
Cold Tuna Pasta Salad (Mason Jar Meal Prep)
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Drain and let it cool completely.
- While the pasta cools, chop the cucumber, cherry tomatoes and red onion.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper, oregano and whole grain mustard.
- Start layering in the jar: a splash of dressing first, then lettuce, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, a bit more dressing, tuna, red onion, cooled pasta, and the rest of the dressing on top.
- Seal the jars and store in the fridge.
Notes
- If your jar has a wooden or bamboo lid, slide a piece of foil between the jar and the lid before closing. Keeps the lid clean and the seal tighter.
Substitutions and Variations
This recipe is easy to adjust depending on what you have. It works as a pasta salad dairy free option, no matter which swaps you make.
| Instead of | Try |
|---|---|
| Tuna | Grilled chicken or chickpeas |
| Balsamic vinegar | Apple cider vinegar |
| Cherry tomatoes | Diced regular tomatoes |
| Gluten free pasta | Any gf pasta shape you like |
I love pasta. You have to try this delicious mushroom pasta too!
Storage
This cold gluten free pasta salad keeps well in the fridge for up to 3 days when sealed in the jar. It is one of those gluten dairy free pasta salad recipes that gets even better after a day in the fridge, once the flavors settle. If you like mason jar salad recipes for the week, this one is worth keeping on repeat. This is one of the best gluten-free pasta salad options for meal prep because it does not require reheating. Grab the jar and eat straight from it or pour it onto a plate.
FAQ
Yes, that is the whole point. Make a few jars of this mason jar pasta salad at the start of the week, and you have lunch ready to go.
Yes, this is a gluten dairy free pasta salad from start to finish. No dairy in the dressing or any of the ingredients.
It is meant to be eaten cold, straight from the jar or poured onto a plate. That is what makes it such an easy cold gluten free pasta salad for meal prep, no reheating needed.
Any short gf pasta shape works well, like fusilli or penne. Just make sure it is fully cooled before layering.
If you give this gf pasta salad recipe a try, let me know in the comments how your jars turned out. And if you make it your way, I would love to hear what you swapped in.
