Description
Tuna Macaroni Salad is a creamy, protein-packed dish featuring tender elbow macaroni, flaky tuna, and crisp vegetables tossed in a zesty mayonnaise-based dressing. Perfect for picnics, lunches, or light dinners, it’s a satisfying and flavorful salad that comes together with pantry staples.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup uncooked elbow macaroni
- 1 quart water
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 cup chopped green onion
- 1 cup chopped bell pepper (red, orange, or yellow)
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 2 (5 ounce) cans tuna packed in olive oil
- 2 ribs celery, chopped
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 teaspoon sweet Hungarian paprika
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1/4 to 1/3 head lettuce, preferably iceberg
- Optional: Diced pickles or sweet relish
- Optional: Chopped hard-boiled eggs
- Optional: Corn
- Optional: Olives
Instructions
- Bring 1 quart of water to a boil in a large pot. Add kosher salt and elbow macaroni. Cook until al dente, then drain and let cool.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine chopped green onion, bell pepper, parsley, celery, and tuna.
- In a small bowl, whisk together lemon juice, mayonnaise, sweet Hungarian paprika, and black pepper to create the dressing.
- Add the cooled macaroni to the vegetable and tuna mixture.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and mix gently until everything is evenly coated.
- Chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors meld.
- Just before serving, gently fold in chopped lettuce and any optional add-ons like pickles, eggs, corn, or olives.
Notes
- Use high-quality tuna in olive oil for best flavor and texture.
- You can prep the salad a day ahead—just add lettuce and optional extras before serving.
- Adjust the mayonnaise amount to your preferred creaminess.
- This salad pairs well with crusty bread or crackers.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 420mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 16g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
Keywords: tuna macaroni salad, easy pasta salad, creamy tuna salad, picnic salad, cold tuna pasta