If you’re heading to a potluck or hosting an afternoon shower, this easy tuna macaroni salad is a must. Serve it next to hamburgers and hot dogs as a simple side dish, or pair it with small brunch bites for an elevated experience. It’s super-easy to whip up, and at 10 servings, this recipe will go far!
To make this recipe, choose one of our Test Kitchen’s recommended tuna brands.
Tuna Macaroni Salad Recipe
Ingredients
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- 2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sweet pickle relish
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
- 1/2 cup chopped sweet onion
- 1/2 cup chopped celery
- 1 can (5 ounces) light tuna in water, drained and flaked
- 3 hard-boiled large eggs, chopped
Directions
Step 1: Prepare macaroni
In a saucepan, bring salted water to a boil and cook the macaroni to al dente. Then drain and rinse with cold water to get rid of the extra starch. (This keeps pasta from getting mushy when tossed with the dressing.) Cool the pasta completely before mixing with other ingredients.
Step 2: Combine the ingredients
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First, make the dressing. In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, relish, salt and pepper.
Then, in a large bowl, combine peas, onion, celery, tuna, eggs and cooled macaroni. Pour the dressing in slowly, gently tossing to coat ingredients.
Step 3: Refrigerate and serve
Refrigerate until serving. Garnish with fresh parsley if you like.
Tips for Making Tuna Macaroni Salad
How long will tuna macaroni salad last in the fridge?
Tuna macaroni salad will last 3-5 days refrigerated. Be sure it’s covered tightly with a lid or plastic wrap. It’s also important to not leave the dish out for more than two hours. As an extra precaution, here are some great tips to keep food cold while serving.
How do you keep macaroni salad from absorbing mayonnaise?
Be sure to cook the elbow pasta to al dente, and rinse with cold water after cooking. Both of these simple steps will ensure that your pasta doesn’t absorb all the dressing.
What is the best tuna to use in this macaroni salad?
Canned tuna in water is best for this recipe. It will be easy to flake apart and mix throughout the salad.
Our Best Macaroni Salad Recipes
BLT Macaroni Salad
A friend served this BLT pasta salad, and I just had to get the recipe. My husband loves BLT sandwiches, so this has become a favorite of his. It’s nice to serve on hot and humid days, which we frequently get during summer here in Virginia. —Mrs. Hamilton Myers Jr., Charlottesville, Virginia
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If you love macaroni salad, you’ve got to try our other pasta salad recipes!
Deviled Egg Macaroni Salad
This macaroni salad mixes the cooked egg yolks into the mayonnaise dressing to give it that classic deviled egg taste. If there are other veggies you like, such as sweet red pepper or carrots, in your macaroni salad feel free to stir them in. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Classic Macaroni Salad
This classic macaroni salad recipe is a refreshingly light take on an all-time favorite. It’s perfect for a fast weeknight dinner or a festive weekend barbecue. —Dorothy Bayes, Sardis, Ohio. If you want to try something different, learn how to make Hellman’s macaroni salad.
Fast Macaroni Salad
Chopped veggies provide crunch, and cherry tomatoes add vibrant color to this refreshing and creamy pasta salad. —Frankiee Bush, Freedom, Indiana
Taste of Home
Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
I had to figure out how to make Hawaiian macaroni salad at home because my husband was getting tired of ordering enough for our whole family from a local restaurant. Sometimes I use green onions and serve the salad with a drizzle of teriyaki sauce and a sprinkle of sesame seeds. —Blaine Kahle, Florence, Oregon
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Chicken Taco Macaroni Salad
I like to give macaroni salad a taco twist. Rotisserie chicken makes it quick. I’ll often serve this dish as a main course since it’s so hearty. —Lisa Allen, Joppa, Alabama
Quick Macaroni Salad
You can’t go wrong with this time-tested winner. Here it is pared down for two. —Carma Blosser, Livermore, Colorado
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This pleasing pasta salad is like eating a BLT in a bowl. Filled with crispy bacon, chopped tomato, celery and green onion, the sensational salad is coated with a tangy mayonnaise and vinegar dressing. It’s a real crowd-pleaser! —Norene Wright, Manilla, Indiana
Sweet Macaroni Salad
A sweet out-of-the-ordinary dressing makes this macaroni salad special. My aunt gave me the recipe and it has become one of my favorites. I occasionally leave out the green pepper if I know that people don’t like it, and it still tastes great. —Idalee Scholz, Cocoa Beach, Florida
Caprese Macaroni Salad
When fresh tomatoes and basil are abundant in the summer, I like to make this wonderful Caprese macaroni salad. —Debbie Glasscock, Conway, Arkansas
Easy Macaroni Salad
This hearty pasta salad is sure to please appetites of all ages—and it serves a lot of folks! —LaVerna Mjones, Moorhead, Minnesota
Polynesian-Inspired Macaroni Salad
I have always loved SPAM, so I decided to combine it with pineapple to make this Polynesian-inspired macaroni salad recipe. It reminds me of vacationing in Hawaii. —Susan Bickta, Kutztown, Pennsylvania
Creamy Macaroni Salad
When we grill, my mother asks me to make this summer pasta salad. To make it extra creamy, I like to keep a small amount of dressing separate and stir it in just before serving. —Carly Curtin, Ellicott City, Maryland
Scandinavian-Inspired Macaroni Salad
Give a humdrum side salad a Scandinavian touch by adding some freshly chopped dill and tiny shrimp. —Kallee Krong-McCreery, Escondido, California
Summer Chicken Macaroni Salad
For sunny, lazy days, I make a loaded macaroni salad that’s like three salads in one. The mix of fresh veggies, sweet peaches and crunchy pistachios is a surprisingly delicious combo. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada
Chicken Caesar Macaroni Salad
Give me a Caesar salad anytime, no matter what form it’s in. I like to add some chicken and artichokes to make this Caesar macaroni salad a little more hearty. —Shawn Barto, Palmetto, Florida
Judy’s Macaroni Salad
After finding this vintage macaroni salad recipe years ago, I tweaked the flavor and bumped up the pickles. Tuck this dill pickle pasta salad inside your picnic basket. —Elizabeth Kirchgatter, Maysville, Kentucky
Shrimp and Crab Macaroni Salad
This salad is a summertime staple in our house. If you want to splurge, go ahead and use real crab. —Darla Andrews, Boerne, Texas
Ricotta, Tomato & Corn Pasta
I love to make healthy meals with produce from my latest farmers market trip. This pasta takes just 30 minutes from pantry to dinner table. You can easily make it a meat entree by adding cooked, shredded chicken. —Jerilyn Korver, Bellflower, California
Cubano Macaroni Salad
One of my favorite sandwiches is a hot Cubano, piled high with juicy pork, layers of ham and melty Swiss cheese. These same ingredients are amazing turned into a macaroni salad. —Marina Castle Kelley, Canyon Country, California
Salami & Provolone Pasta Salad
Everyone needs a perfect pasta salad that’s easy to make, especially on busy nights when your family wants a dish that’s fast, light and cool. This is just the thing. —Jill Donley, Warsaw, Indiana
Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
There’s a new salad on the scene, and we have TikTok to thank for the recipe. Erikka Furseth shared this tangy dill pickle pasta salad on her @pastasaladgirl account and I was immediately intrigued. I love pasta salad and I love pickles, and I’m always looking for different macaroni salad recipes; this was all the enticement I needed to test this viral recipe! —Nancy Mock, Burlington, Vermont
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Grecian-Inspired Macaroni Salad
I love all Grecian flavors and tried adding them to a macaroni salad. Toss in whatever olives you can find; personally, I love kalamata olives. —Brigette Schroeder, Yorkville, Illinois
Shrimp Pasta Salad
I adore shrimp, so discovering it in this pasta salad recipe was a real treat for me. The lemon-dill sauce is light and bright. It’s one of our favorite cold pasta salad recipes! —Traci Wynne, Denver, Pennsylvania
Barbecue Macaroni Salad
My family loves a touch of barbecue sauce and ranch dressing in our mac salad. Not too much—just a hint of both makes this everyday salad something special. —Andrea Bolden, Unionville, Tennessee
Macaroni Coleslaw
My friend Peggy brought this coleslaw to one of our picnics, and everyone liked it so much, we all had to have the recipe. —Sandra Matteson, Westhope, North Dakota
Mexican Macaroni Salad
Looking for a different macaroni salad to bring to the family reunion? This is it! Add plenty of jalapenos for heat! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Middle Eastern-Inspired Macaroni Salad
This creamy, tangy macaroni salad is inspired by the many wonderful flavors of the Middle East. The za’atar seasoning gives it an earthy (and delicious!) taste. —Ruth Hartunian-Alumbaugh, Willimantic, Connecticut
Vegan Macaroni Salad
All the classic flavors come through in this vegan macaroni salad, from the pickle relish to the ground mustard. The only thing you’ll be missing is leftovers! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
