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Tuna Macaroni Salad

Tuna Macaroni Salad is a classic pasta salad recipe loaded with canned tuna, chopped celery, diced red onions and green peppers all tossed in a seasoned mayo dressing.

Tuna Macaroni Salad is a classic pasta salad recipe loaded with canned tuna, chopped celery, diced red onions and green peppers all tossed in a seasoned mayo dressing.



Tuna Macaroni Salad can be served as a side dish or even a main meal.

Tuna Macaroni Salad is a classic pasta salad recipe loaded with canned tuna, chopped celery, diced red onions and green peppers all tossed in a seasoned mayo dressing.

This creamy tuna pasta salad is a simple but tasty dish.

Tuna Macaroni Salad is a classic pasta salad recipe loaded with canned tuna, chopped celery, diced red onions and green peppers all tossed in a seasoned mayo dressing.

This tuna salad recipe takes about twenty-five minutes to prepare and then requires at least an hour in the refrigerator to chill before serving.

Tuna Macaroni Salad is a classic pasta salad recipe loaded with canned tuna, chopped celery, diced red onions and green peppers all tossed in a seasoned mayo dressing.

Printable Recipe Card with a Full List of Ingredients and Instructions is Located at the Bottom of the Post.

Be sure to read through the entire post so that you don’t miss out on any important tips and tricks!

To make this pasta salad, I started by cooking some macaroni according to the package directions.

macaroni noodles cooking in a large pot of water

Then I drained and rinsed the macaroni with cold water.

cooked and drained macaroni noodles

I poured some mayonnaise, sour cream, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and black pepper into a mixing bowl.

mayo, sour cream, mustard and seasonings in a bowl.

I whisked the ingredients together until well combined.

I transferred the cooked macaroni to a large mixing bowl.

Then I added some drained tuna, chopped celery, red onion, green bell pepper, and fresh parsley to the bowl.

fresh parsley, red onions, celery, green peppers, tuna chunks and macaroni in a bowl

I stirred the ingredients together.

Then I added the prepared dressing to the bowl.

mayo dressing on top of tuna pasta salad ingredients in a mixing bowl

I stirred until all of the ingredients were coated in dressing.

macaroni salad after stirring in a bowl

Then I covered the bowl with plastic wrap and placed it in the refrigerator for an hour.

macaroni salad in a bowl covered with plastic wrap

After an hour I removed the bowl from the refrigerator and gave the salad one last stir.

Tuna Macaroni Salad is a classic pasta salad recipe loaded with canned tuna, chopped celery, diced red onions and green peppers all tossed in a seasoned mayo dressing.

Then the tuna pasta salad was ready to serve.

Tuna Macaroni Salad is a classic pasta salad recipe loaded with canned tuna, chopped celery, diced red onions and green peppers all tossed in a seasoned mayo dressing.

This macaroni salad with chunks of tuna is sure to be a hit.

Tuna Macaroni Salad is a classic pasta salad recipe loaded with canned tuna, chopped celery, diced red onions and green peppers all tossed in a seasoned mayo dressing.

Tuna macaroni salad is a classic side dish that can be served alongside grilled meats, burgers, hot dogs, or sandwiches.

Tuna Macaroni Salad is a classic pasta salad recipe loaded with canned tuna, chopped celery, diced red onions and green peppers all tossed in a seasoned mayo dressing.

It could also be served on a bed of lettuce or mixed greens, for a light and refreshing lunch or dinner.

Tuna Macaroni Salad is a classic pasta salad recipe loaded with canned tuna, chopped celery, diced red onions and green peppers all tossed in a seasoned mayo dressing.

If you are looking for an easy seafood pasta salad recipe, then you need to try this Tuna Macaroni Salad!

Tuna Macaroni Salad is a classic pasta salad recipe loaded with canned tuna, chopped celery, diced red onions and green peppers all tossed in a seasoned mayo dressing.

More Pasta Salad Recipes You’ll Love…

PRINTABLE VERSION OF THE RECIPE CAN BE FOUND AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE

Ingredients You’ll Need to Make This Tuna Macaroni Salad:

  • 8 ounces elbow macaroni noodles, uncooked
  • 2 (5-ounce) cans solid white tuna, drained
  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup sour cream
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ cup celery, chopped
  • ½ cup red onion, diced
  • ½ cup green bell pepper, chopped
  • ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped

How to Make Tuna Macaroni Salad:

  1. Cook the macaroni according to package instructions until al dente.
  2. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside.
  3. In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper until well combined.
  4. In a large bowl, add the cooked macaroni, drained tuna, chopped celery, red onion, bell pepper, and fresh parsley to the bowl and mix, breaking up the big pieces of tuna.
  5. Add the dressing.
  6. Stir until everything is evenly coated with the dressing.
  7. Cover the bowl and refrigerate the salad for at least 1 hour before serving to allow the flavors to meld together.
  8. Before serving, give the salad a quick stir and add additional salt and black pepper to taste.
  9. Enjoy!

FAQS:

How should I store the tuna macaroni salad?

  • This salad will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days in an airtight container.

Can I use canned salmon instead of tuna?

  • Yes, you can use canned salmon instead of tuna if you prefer.

Can I add hard-boiled eggs to this salad?

  • Yes, you can definitely add hard-boiled eggs to this salad for added protein and flavor. Simply chop them up and mix them in with the other ingredients.

What are substitutions that I can make?

  • If you don’t have fresh parsley on hand, you can substitute with other fresh herbs like dill or chives. For a lighter version of this salad, you can use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream, and reduce the amount of mayonnaise used. 
Yield: 6 servings

Tuna Macaroni Salad

Tuna Macaroni Salad is a classic pasta salad recipe loaded with canned tuna, chopped celery, diced red onions and green peppers all tossed in a seasoned mayo dressing.

Tuna Macaroni Salad is a classic pasta salad recipe loaded with canned tuna, chopped celery, diced red onions and green peppers all tossed in a seasoned mayo dressing.

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Additional Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces elbow macaroni noodles, uncooked
  • 2 (5-ounce) cans solid white tuna, drained
  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup sour cream
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ cup celery, chopped
  • ½ cup red onion, diced
  • ½ cup green bell pepper, chopped
  • ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

    1. Cook the macaroni according to package instructions until al dente.
    2. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside.
    3. In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper until well combined.
    4. In a large bowl, add the cooked macaroni, drained tuna, chopped celery, red onion, bell pepper, and fresh parsley to the bowl and mix, breaking up the big pieces of tuna.
    5. Add the dressing.
    6. Stir until everything is evenly coated with the dressing.
    7. Cover the bowl and refrigerate the salad for at least 1 hour before serving to allow the flavors to meld together.
    8. Before serving, give the salad a quick stir and add additional salt and black pepper to taste.
    9. Enjoy!

Notes

  • Be sure to rinse the cooked macaroni with cold water to stop the cooking process and prevent the noodles from becoming mushy.
  • You can use any type of pasta you like, but small pasta shapes like elbow macaroni or shell pasta work well in this recipe.
  • To add some crunch and texture to the salad, you can include other vegetables like grated carrot or chopped cucumber.
  • Drain as much water out of the tuna can as possible. This ensures that the tuna has the best consistency and flavor.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 242Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 365mgCarbohydrates: 16gFiber: 2gSugar: 2gProtein: 8g

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Valerie

Friday 28th of July 2023

I made this recipe, this is definitely a keeper, it's so delicious that I took it to a small group that I'm in. Worth saving

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