Simple Tuna Macaroni Salad

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Updated on 11/27/21
Simple tuna macaroni salad recipe

The Spruce

Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 8 mins
Total: 28 mins
Servings: 6 servings

While a pasta salad is most often considered a picnic or cookout dish, this tuna macaroni salad can be served with lunch or dinner any time of the year. Enjoy this flavorful dish with sandwiches or along with an everyday family meal. 

A basic macaroni salad like this one is a great starting point. Add vegetables to give it extra color and crunch. Yellow bell peppers, shredded carrots, sliced ripe or green olives, diced cucumber, and diced plum tomatoes are just a few of the possibilities. 

Tuna is the protein in the dish, but diced cooked chicken, turkey, or ham are good choices as well. Or make it with small cooked shrimp, diced lobster, or crab meat. 

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Ingredients

  • 8 ounces small shell macaroni, or elbow macaroni

  • 1 (6-ounce) can tuna, drained, flaked

  • 3/4 cup mayonnaise, or more, as needed to moisten

  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped onion

  • 1/2 cup chopped celery

  • 1/4 cup chopped red bell pepper, or green or a combination

  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste

  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for tuna macaroni salad
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  2. Cook macaroni according to package directions for al dente.

    Cook macaroni
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  3. Drain in a colander, rinse with cold water, and transfer to a large bowl.

    Drain
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  4. Flake tuna using a fork.

    Tuna
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  5. Then add it to macaroni along with 3/4 cup of mayonnaise and onion. Stir to combine, and let stand for 5 to 10 minutes.

    Mix tuna and macaroni
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  6. Add celery and chopped bell pepper. Add more mayonnaise as needed to moisten.

    Add celery and red peppers
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  7. Taste and add salt and pepper as desired.

    Add salt and pepper
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  8. Cover bowl and chill until serving time.

Tips

  • If the salad will be transported, make sure it is kept cold in a cooler on ice or thoroughly chilled and insulated in a wrapping of newspapers or blankets. Keep in mind that the "danger zone" for food is between the temperatures of 40 F and 140 F. Never let food—cold or hot— stand at room temperature for more than 2 hours; 1 hour if the temperature is 90 F or above. To keep the salad cold for serving, nestle the bowl in a larger bowl or container of ice.
  • Cook pasta to the al dente stage so that it will absorb some of the dressing and stay somewhat firm.
  • If you plan to add soft, fresh vegetables to the salad, such as tomatoes or cucumbers (seeds removed), add them just before serving.
  • No time to cook? Gussy up 4 to 5 cups of a good quality deli macaroni salad with the addition of the tuna and some of the chopped vegetables. Add a little extra mayonnaise, if necessary.

Recipe Variation

  • If you need a vegetarian substitute, add about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of diced grilled tofu to the macaroni salad mixture, or make it with 1 cup of cooked white or black beans. Slivered almonds are a good option, too; they add texture as well as protein.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
289 Calories
22g Fat
13g Carbs
9g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 289
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 22g 28%
Saturated Fat 4g 18%
Cholesterol 23mg 8%
Sodium 646mg 28%
Total Carbohydrate 13g 5%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 9g
Vitamin C 11mg 53%
Calcium 16mg 1%
Iron 1mg 5%
Potassium 143mg 3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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