Tuna Macaroni Salad is a classic potluck recipe and is so easy to throw together. It is creamy and delicious with lots of hard-boiled egg, peas, celery, onion, and sweet pickle relish. This simple pasta salad goes great with a sandwich, burgers, bbq chicken. You name it!
This Tuna Macaroni Salad recipe easily feeds 10 to 12 people as a side and is perfect for your next picnic. There’s something about a cool and creamy recipe that really hits the spot during the hot summer months.
Reader Comment
Renne says “I love this recipe! It’s so easy & quick to make! It tastes great right after you make it as well as after it’s refrigerated!” ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Make Ahead
And this Macaroni Salad only tastes better with time so feel free to make it a day or two in advance. If it has lost some of its creaminess, just stir another tablespoon or two of mayonnaise in before serving.
How To Make
(More detailed instructions in recipe card below.)
- Cook pasta in boiling salted water. Add peas for the last minute of cooking. Drain and rinse under cold water.
- Add remaining ingredients and stir well.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve.
How To Serve
This recipe is a great one to make for a potluck. It goes wonderfully with sandwiches, burgers, or grilled chicken.
Budget Friendly
Tuna Macaroni Salad is a really budget-friendly recipe. Adding a can of tuna to pasta salad gives it plenty of flavor and some protein without the expense of a more protein-laden recipe.
Storage
Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 days. They make a great lunch. I like to serve them over a bed of lettuce with some sliced summer tomatoes.
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Tuna Macaroni Salad
Ingredients
- 1 pound elbow pasta
- 1 1/2 cups frozen peas
- 1/2 cup chopped red onion
- 2 celery ribs, chopped
- 3 hard boiled eggs, chopped
- 3 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
- 1 (12-ounce) can tuna, drained
- 1 1/3 cups mayonnaise
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions, adding the peas the last minute of cooking time. Drain and rinse under cold water. Drain again and add to a large bowl.
- Add remaining ingredients and stir to mix.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve. Can be made a day in advance.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Originally posted June 18, 2018.
I went with the other recommendations and added mustard, then I also added dill relish and white balsamic vinegar similar to what I wd do with potato salad or tuna salad by itself. I sauteed the onions and used yellow ones to make them milder bc someone said the red ones were too much. It is very yummy and the proportions are just right! TY!
I’m curious has to how you can change the entire recipe and then give it a 4? You shouldn’t be rating it as it is now a different recipe.
This recipe is simple, economical, tasty, and does not disappoint. Perhaps next time — and there will be a next time — I’ll “experiment” but this time I used only the ingredients indicated. I tripled the recipe and we (family of 4) ate it for BOTH Lunch and Dinner on Ash Wednesday (alongside refrigerator biscuits). Result: NO complaints and NO leftovers!
Very simple and delicious! My family really enjoyed this recipe and we had no leftovers!! Thank you for sharing!
Very similar recipe to what I grew up with only my mom added shredded carrots (for color) and didn’t add hardboiled eggs. I made this recipe and added carrots and a few teaspoons of Dijon mustard – it was delicious and a hit! Making it again for the 4th.
This Tuna recipe is a keeper.
Perfect!!
Nicely balanced recipe and simple to make. I don’t normally offer variations, but have to say that if you dump the frozen peas into the pasta after it is drained, and stir together, the cold peas will stop the pasta cooking, and they will be sweeter than if you add them to the cooking water. Less work, sweeter peas = win win! I didn’t have enough mayonnaise and subbed a third cup of homemade greek yoghurt was fine.
Try this with frozen cheese tortellini. It’s delicious. Also instead of relish, try your favorite Italian dressing with the mayo. Always a crowd favorite.
Came out great !!! Taking it to a picnic , hope they all like it !!!
How many points is a serving