Description
This Easy Tuna Macaroni Salad is a creamy, chilled pasta salad packed with tender macaroni, flaky tuna, crisp celery, red onion, relish, and a tangy dressing that makes every bite refreshing and satisfying. It is an easy recipe for quick lunch, simple dinner ideas, picnic food, potluck sides, meal prep lunches, and budget-friendly food ideas when you want something cool, filling, and ready without much effort.
Ingredients
8 ounces elbow macaroni
2 cans tuna, drained
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
1/2 cup celery, finely diced
1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
2 tablespoons fresh parsley or chives, chopped
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
1. Cook the elbow macaroni in salted boiling water until tender, then drain and rinse under cold water.
2. Shake off excess water from the pasta and let it cool completely.
3. Drain the tuna well and flake it with a fork.
4. In a large bowl, mix mayonnaise, sour cream or Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, relish, salt, and black pepper.
5. Add the cooled macaroni, tuna, celery, red onion, and herbs to the bowl.
6. Fold gently until everything is evenly coated in the creamy dressing.
7. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.
8. Stir before serving, then garnish with paprika and extra herbs if desired.
Notes
Do not add warm pasta to the dressing. Warm macaroni can absorb too much sauce too quickly and make the salad dry, so cool it completely before mixing.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Boil and mix
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 345
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 21g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 27g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 13g
- Cholesterol: 32mg
Keywords: easy tuna macaroni salad, tuna pasta salad, cold pasta salad, quick lunch, easy dinner, potluck salad, meal prep lunch, picnic side dish