Jumbo pasta shells are filled with the most delicious tuna salad in this easy Tuna Stuffed Shells recipe. Beyond boiling the shells, there is no cooking required in this recipe making it a great no-fuss appetizer or small bite, especially on warmer days. Perfect for baby showers, luncheons, Sunday brunch, or any occasion.
More ways to use up jumbo pasta shells include our classic stuffed shells with cheese and marinara, and stuffed shells appetizer baked in a muffin tin.
Easy Tuna Stuffed Shells
Like my tuna stuffed avocado recipe, these tuna stuffed shells are a fun way to serve classic tuna salad. The tuna salad is made with mayo, Dijon, relish, celery, and a few spices. The Dijon and relish add flavor while the celery gives a bit of texture and crunch. It’s my go-to recipe for tuna salad and it pairs so well with the pasta shells.
To make stuffed shells with tuna, all you need to do is cook the pasta shells and drain them. Fill them with the tuna salad and enjoy. It’s seriously that easy! These are the perfect little bite for baby showers, bridal showers, luncheons, Mother’s Day, a Sunday brunch, or really anytime, especially on warmer days when you don’t want to heat up the kitchen.
Why You’ll Love These Stuffed Shells With Tuna
- No baking is necessary. This is almost a no cooking recipe but the pasta shells do need to be boiled. Other than that, there’s no baking, grilling, air frying, or other cooking involved.
- Perfect for summer. Tuna stuffed shells are served chilled and make a wonderful lunch or appetizer on hot summer days.
- Quick & easy. As noted above, these stuffed shells with tuna are super easy as all you need to do is boil the pasta shells and combine the other ingredients. They come together in just the time it takes to boil the pasta shells and rinse them.
Ingredients Needed
These tuna stuffed pasta shells are made with just a handful of ingredients.
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)
- Jumbo pasta shells – Make sure you buy jumbo shells, not little ones.
- Light mayonnaise – Adds the creaminess to the tuna salad.
- Dijon mustard – Adds a bit of tang and bite to balance the mayo.
- Pickle relish – Dill or sweet pickle relish both work great in this recipe. Use whichever one you
prefer. - Spices – Onion powder, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper season the tuna.
- Tuna – Look for solid white tuna in water. Fully drain before using.
- Hard boiled eggs – Check out my guide to making perfect hard boiled eggs.
- Celery – Adds texture and crunch to the tuna salad.
How To Make Tuna Stuffed Shells
This stuffed shells with tuna recipe comes together in just a few simple steps, in the time it takes to boil pasta.
(Scroll down to the recipe card below for more detailed instructions and don’t miss the video below.)
- Cook the shells. Cook the pasta shells in salted water until al dente. Drain then rinse under cold water and place in a single layer on the baking sheet.
- Make the tuna salad. Whisk together the mayo, mustard, relish, and seasonings. Gently stir in the tuna, eggs, and celery.
- Assemble. Fill each pasta shell with a heaping tablespoon of tuna salad. Chill for a bit or serve right away and enjoy!
Tips for Success
- Boil extra shells. Most jumbo pasta shells come in a 12 ounce box with about 40 shells. You will only need about 12 to 14 for this recipe, but I always cook a few extra in case one or more tears, which seems inevitable when cooking shells or lasagna noodles.
- Start with 1/4 cup mayonnaise. After everything is combined, if you’d like it creamier, add in a bit more until it reaches the desired consistency.
- Adjust the flavor. You can make this tuna salad spicier by adding more cayenne and/or a splash of hot sauce or just omit the cayenne for no heat at all.
Video: Tuna Stuffed Shells
How to Store Leftovers
Leftover tuna stuffed shells should be kept in the fridge for up to 3 days. I recommend tightly wrapping them in plastic wrap, so that it almost touches the tuna salad, to prevent them from drying out.
More Easy Cold Appetizers
- Cucumber Sandwiches
- Deviled Eggs
- Ham Pickle Roll Ups
- Fresh Spring Rolls
- Chicken Salad Pinwheels
- Caprese Skewers
I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!
Tuna Stuffed Shells
Ingredients
- 12 jumbo pasta shells
- 1/4 to 1/3 cup light mayonnaise (see note)
- 1 & 1/2 teaspoons dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon pickle relish (dill or sweet)
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- pinch of cayenne pepper
- 10 ounce can solid white tuna in water , fully drained
- 2 hard boiled eggs , chopped
- 1 celery rib , finely diced
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to boil; throw in a pinch of salt and add the pasta shells. Cook until al dente, according to package directions.
- Drain, rinse the shells under cold water, then transfer to a baking sheet in a single layer.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, mustard, pickle relish, onion powder, salt, pepper, and cayenne. Gently fold in the tuna, chopped eggs, and celery.
- Fill each cooked shell with a heaping tablespoon of the tuna mixture.
- We prefer these chilled for a bit, but you can serve right away, if needed.
