If you like Macaroni Salad then you would love my traditional Macaroni Salad Recipe!
Tuna Macaroni Salad
Grilling season is upon us and that means we need delicious and easy side dishes! If you love tuna salad, then you are definitely going to love this take on pasta salad. My tuna macaroni salad is the type of side dish that you just can’t get enough of. It is packed with flavor and so easy to make! The flavors in this pasta salad are delightful. The savory, flaky tuna and hard boiled eggs pair well with the acidic pickles, crunchy onions and celery, and creamy dressing. You can serve this pasta salad right away or you can store this in the fridge for a few hours before serving for the flavors to really develop!
Tuna Salad Ingredients
Tuna macaroni salad uses easy to find ingredients for ease! Here’s what you’ll need:
Macaroni Noodles: I used classic macaroni elbows for this pasta salad, but you can use any of your favorite short noodles! Canned Tuna: Canned tuna adds protein and flavor here. You can use your favorite canned tuna! Pickles: I dice up some dill pickles on my own. You can also use relish if you prefer. Celery: Dice up the celery into small pieces. The celery offers an amazing texture! Red Onion: I really like the flavor that red onion brings to the table. If it is too strong for you, you can replace it with the white part of green onions or shallot! Boiled Eggs: I like to add boiled eggs to the mix. You can skip them if you aren’t a fan! Salt & Pepper: Salt and pepper to taste! For the Dressing: Mayonnaise, Sour Cream, Frozen Peas, Dried Dill, Sugar, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Dijon Mustard, Red Wine Vinegar, and Pickle Juice are used to whip up a super flavorful, creamy dressing for this pasta salad!
How to Make This Recipe
Boil the Pasta: Boil pasta according to package instructions in salted water. Drain, rinse with cold water, and set aside.
Prep the Ingredients: To a large bowl, add the cooked macaroni, tuna, pickles, celery, onion and hard boiled eggs.
Make the Dressing: Combine the ingredients for the dressing in a small bowl and whisk until smooth.
Add the Dressing: Add dressing on top of the pasta salad ingredients and toss to coat.
Serve: Serve immediately or store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days!
Tips for Success
This recipe is super versatile! You can switch out the tuna for canned salmon or shredded chicken. Or, try adding some different vegetables like cucumbers, bell peppers, or corn! Not a fan of red onion? No worries, you can substitute the red onion with shallot or green onions! These both still have flavor but aren’t quite as strong. Add the frozen peas right into the mix! Don’t worry about thawing the peas before adding them. Don’t skip salting the pasta water! This adds flavor to the pasta which helps with the overall flavor of the tuna macaroni salad. I highly recommend always salting the water when making pasta for any recipe!
Can I make tuna macaroni salad ahead of time?
Definitely! This is a great pasta salad to make ahead of time if you need. If you’d like, you can keep the dressing and the pasta salad separate until it is time to serve, so that it doesn’t dry out. However, you can store it with the dressing mixed in and then add a bit more mayo or sour cream before serving to make it nice and creamy again!
What kind of canned tuna should I use?
I like using albacore tuna that is packed in water. If you use tuna that is packed in oil, it might change the flavor a bit and add a more oily texture.
How to store leftover tuna macaroni salad?
To store any leftover macaroni pasta salad, store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days!
What to Serve with Tuna Macaroni Salad
You can eat this tuna macaroni salad on it’s own for a light lunch, or pair it with some of my favorites!
Easy Grilled Chicken Grilled Sweet Potato Wedges Skirt Steak Steak Kabobs Homemade Baked Beans Pulled Pork Sandwiches
More Easy Recipes to Try
Easy Macaroni Salad Air Fryer Fried Rice Baked Macaroni and Cheese BLT Pasta Salad Spicy Tuna Bowls
title: “Tuna Macaroni Salad” ShowToc: true date: “2024-09-17” author: “Carolee Ezzelle”
If a macaroni salad isn’t your thing but you love summer picnics and barbecues, take a look at our Classic Potato Salad.
Creamy macaroni tuna salad
If you’ve made my Tuna Noodle Casserole, you’ll notice some similarities between the two tuna pasta recipes. I’ve lovingly taken two iconic American classics and given them a sophisticated Vikalinka twist. If you love one, I know you’ll love the other. So, what’s the same? Most obviously, tuna and pasta! And then the tell-tale calling card; both dishes are blessed with Dijon mustard, capers and tarragon. In both they offer a slightly sour balance to the abundant soft and creaminess. What’s more, both of these carb and protein-based recipes are meals in themselves. Meaning there’s no need to fret over what to serve with them. They’re a balanced meal in one bowl.
What ingredients to add
Pasta is a dream ingredient, whether served steaming and saucy or cool with crunchy vegetables. In this recipe, I’ve gone for the tang-tastic! My love for dill and salty capers and a heavy handful of herbs is well-documented. So, it’s no surprise that diced dill pickles, plump capers and two types of herb feature in this tuna pasta salad. I’ve also included boiled eggs. Not only is this another protein packer, but the yolks up the creaminess. For greenery, I’ve used celery and green peas. However, you can use whatever you have in your salad drawer. I know a briny bombshell of tuna and capers isn’t for everyone, so Green Goddess pasta salad is a milder Mediterranean vibe of olives, cherry tomatoes and baby mozzarella. Or for a vegetarian pasta salad alternative, Pasta Salad with Basil Vinaigrette is a sharply dressed lemony dish with a luscious olive oil instead of mayo.
Recipe tips and notes
While pasta and tuna are the bricks and mortar, it’s the other ingredients that furnish the dish. How will you decorate yours? Mine is a mouth-watering mouthful with plenty of dill pickles and capers. Their acidity brings a tangy contrast to the pasta and mayo and works in tandem with the salty tuna fish. A lip-smacking must! I also add dried tarragon to my mayonnaise-based dressing. It has a subtle liquorice-like flavour that adds an edge to the creamy mayo and upgrades this old potluck staple. If you can get your hands on it, fresh tarragon is even better. Feel free to customise the rest of the ingredients to your own taste. Keep what you fancy and add what you need using up. That is part of the beauty of tuna pasta salad- endless possibilities. Proportions are important. I’ve only used ½ a pound of macaroni here to allow the crunch and bite of the other ingredients to shine through.
Storage and leftovers
One of the many praise-worthy characteristics of this pasta salad is that it can be made ahead of time. You can prep the entire salad, dressing and all, and store it in the fridge until needed. Seal it well in an airtight container and it will keep refrigerated for up to four days.
Other salad recipes to try:
Healthy Tuna Salad Recipe (Italian Style) Traditional Salad Nicoise (with Tuna) German Potato Salad with Bacon and Chive Vinaigrette Israeli Salad with Lemon Garlic Tahini Dressing
