Best 9 Classic Tuna Macaroni Salad Recipes

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Tuna macaroni salad is a classic dish that is perfect for potlucks, picnics, and backyard barbecues. It is made with tuna, macaroni, mayonnaise, and a variety of other ingredients, such as celery, onion, and hard-boiled eggs. Tuna macaroni salad is a delicious and versatile dish that can be easily customized to your liking. Whether you prefer a classic recipe or something with a little more flair, there is a tuna macaroni salad recipe out there for everyone.

Here are our top 9 tried and tested recipes!

TUNA MACARONI SALAD



Tuna Macaroni Salad image

Great for summer nights when you don't want to cook!

Provided by It's A New Day

Categories     Salad     Seafood Salad Recipes     Tuna Salad Recipes

Time P1DT1h30m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 10

3 cups uncooked macaroni
⅓ cup Italian-style salad dressing
½ cup sour cream
1 cup mayonnaise
1 onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
½ teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 (5 ounce) can tuna, drained

Steps:

  • Cook macaroni in a large pot of boiling salted water until done. Drain.
  • Marinate macaroni in Italian dressing for 2 to 3 hours or overnight.
  • Mix sour cream, mayonnaise, onion, celery, garlic powder, tuna, and salt and pepper into macaroni. Chill before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 572.1 calories, Carbohydrate 44.9 g, Cholesterol 28.7 mg, Fat 37.8 g, Fiber 2.2 g, Protein 13.5 g, SaturatedFat 7.7 g, Sodium 847.1 mg, Sugar 4 g

SIMPLE TUNA MACARONI SALAD



Simple Tuna Macaroni Salad image

This macaroni salad is a simple and delicious combination of tuna with chopped vegetables. Use cooked shell pasta or elbows in the salad.

Provided by Diana Rattray

Categories     Entree     Side Dish     Lunch     Salad

Time 28m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 8

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 onion (finely chopped)
1/2 cup celery (chopped)
1/4 cup red bell pepper (or green or a combination, chopped)
1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Steps:

  • Cover bowl and chill until serving time.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 289 kcal, Carbohydrate 13 g, Cholesterol 23 mg, Fiber 1 g, Protein 9 g, SaturatedFat 4 g, Sodium 646 mg, Sugar 1 g, Fat 22 g, ServingSize 6 servings, UnsaturatedFat 0 g

TUNA-MACARONI SALAD



Tuna-Macaroni Salad image

Perfect for a simple summer supper or as a main-dish potluck contribution, this tuna noodle salad is a comfort food classic that comes together in just 20 minutes. Serve it on a bed of lettuce or other cool, crisp greens, and pair it with some crusty bread for a satisfying and refreshing entrée.

Provided by Betty Crocker Kitchens

Categories     Entree

Time 1h20m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 package (7 oz) elbow macaroni
1/2 cup frozen green peas, thawed
2 cans (5 oz each) tuna, drained
1 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (4 oz), if desired
1/4 cup sweet pickle relish, if desired
2 teaspoons lemon juice
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 medium stalk celery, chopped (1/2 cup)
1 small onion, chopped (1/4 cup)

Steps:

  • Cook macaroni as directed on package, adding peas for last 4 to 6 minutes of cooking; rinse with cold water and drain.
  • In large bowl, mix macaroni, peas and remaining ingredients. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour to blend flavors.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 440, Carbohydrate 31 g, Cholesterol 30 mg, Fat 5 1/2, Fiber 2 g, Protein 14 g, SaturatedFat 4 1/2 g, ServingSize 1 Serving (about 1 cup), Sodium 650 mg, Sugar 2 g, TransFat 0 g

CLASSIC TUNA-MACARONI SALAD



Classic Tuna-Macaroni Salad image

I like this recipe. It is close to my mother's...which is a good thing!! I think I took the dressing part of it from a Muellers box.

Provided by Jill L. Margaritta

Categories     < 30 Mins

Time 30m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 13

8 ounces elbow macaroni
3/4 cup real mayonnaise
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 tablespoon prepared mustard
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup chopped radish
1/4 cup chopped green pepper
1 small can albacore tuna (optional) or 1 small chicken (optional)
1/2 cup sweet peas

Steps:

  • Cook and drain pasta according to the package directions.
  • Combine mayonnaise, vinegar, mustard, sugar, salt and pepper in a large bowl.
  • Chop up all the veggies.
  • Drain the can of tuna or chicken.
  • Mix all together.
  • *Note* Add the peas last and stir them gently. You don't want them mushed up.
  • Toss to coat.
  • Cover and chill to blend the flavors.
  • Enjoy.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 440.4, Fat 15.9, SaturatedFat 2.4, Cholesterol 11.5, Sodium 954.8, Carbohydrate 64.9, Fiber 3.8, Sugar 9.7, Protein 9.8

TUNA-MACARONI SALAD



Tuna-Macaroni Salad image

If there is such a thing as comfort salad, then this is it: A cold and creamy, mayonnaise-laden pasta that evokes your grandma's "tuna mac," but made a touch more sophisticated with the addition of cornichons and scallions. Amanda Hesser picked up the recipe, in 2006, from Clementine, a bakery and cafe in Los Angeles known for "its stylish take on home-style cooking." They were selling it for about 9 bucks a quart, but you can make it at home for about a quarter of that. Thankfully, it's no more difficult to make than Grandma's. Just boil up some macaroni and drain. Combine with two cans of tuna (if you're feeling flush, you can add chunks of cooked fresh tuna like we did for the photo) one cup of mayonnaise, chopped celery, cubed Cheddar cheese, sliced scallions and cornichons and two spoonfuls of chowchow, a green tomato relish that's an optional addition. Season well with freshly ground black pepper and serve cold.

Provided by Amanda Hesser

Categories     easy, quick, pastas, salads and dressings, side dish

Time 20m

Yield Serves 6

Number Of Ingredients 10

Salt
1/2 pound uncooked elbow macaroni
1/2 cup 1/4 -inch diced celery
2 ounces sharp Cheddar, cut into 1/4 -inch cubes
1/4 cup thinly sliced scallions
1/4 cup sliced cornichon rounds
2 tablespoons mild Tennessee chow chow (optional)
1 cup mayonnaise
2 6-ounce cans chunk light tuna in water, drained
Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook. Drain and cool completely.
  • In a large bowl, fold together the macaroni with the remaining ingredients. Season.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 541, UnsaturatedFat 27 grams, Carbohydrate 30 grams, Fat 34 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 28 grams, SaturatedFat 7 grams, Sodium 553 milligrams, Sugar 1 gram, TransFat 0 grams

TUNA MACARONI SALAD



Tuna Macaroni Salad image

"This jazzed-up tuna recipe came from a nutritionist I worked with at a prenatal clinic," writes Mary pat Eck from Cincinnati, Ohio. "It's so full of protein and flavor that we shared it with many of our clients."

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch

Time 15m

Yield 2 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 10

3/4 cup cooked small pasta shells
1 can (5 ounces) light water-packed tuna, drained and flaked
1 hard-boiled large egg, chopped
1/2 cup cubed cheddar cheese
1/4 cup chopped celery
2 tablespoons pickle relish, drained
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1-1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1/8 teaspoon salt
Lettuce leaves

Steps:

  • In a small bowl, combine the first 6 ingredients. In another bowl, combine the mayonnaise, mustard and salt; stir into tuna mixture. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Serve on lettuce-lined plates.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 347 calories, Fat 11g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 156mg cholesterol, Sodium 1259mg sodium, Carbohydrate 25g carbohydrate (9g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 35g protein.

GRANDMA'S TUNA MACARONI SALAD



Grandma's Tuna Macaroni Salad image

This is the plain old fashioned macaroni salad my grandma used to make, which is still my sister Cathy's favorite.

Provided by Julesong

Categories     Tuna

Time 10m

Yield 4-6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 7

2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
1 can tuna in water, drained
1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon dried onion flakes
1/2 cup chopped celery (optional)
3/4 cup good mayonnaise (Best Foods, Helmann's, or Vegenaise)

Steps:

  • Cook macaroni according to package directions and let cool.
  • Mix in the other items well, adding mayo last.
  • Chill well before serving.
  • When I make this, I omit the celery, add more dried onion, and add a little curry powder and garlic powder and cayenne.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 307.7, Fat 6.8, SaturatedFat 3.5, Cholesterol 32.9, Sodium 689.1, Carbohydrate 39.6, Fiber 1.7, Sugar 1.6, Protein 20.6

COLD TUNA MACARONI SALAD



Cold Tuna Macaroni Salad image

A tuna and macaroni salad best served on a sunny summer day with a fresh muffin on the side.

Provided by D

Categories     Salad     Seafood Salad Recipes     Tuna Salad Recipes

Time 1h30m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 (12 ounce) package macaroni
3 tomatoes - peeled, seeded and diced
3 stalks celery, chopped
1 (12 ounce) can tuna
1 ½ cups light mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Italian-style salad dressing
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 pinch ground black pepper

Steps:

  • In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook pasta until al dente, rinse under cold water and drain.
  • In a large bowl, combine the pasta, tomatoes, celery and tuna.
  • Prepare the dressing by whisking together the mayonnaise, salad dressing, sugar and pepper. Add to pasta salad, mix together, and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 499.3 calories, Carbohydrate 52.7 g, Cholesterol 37.8 mg, Fat 22 g, Fiber 3 g, Protein 22.9 g, SaturatedFat 3.6 g, Sodium 495.4 mg, Sugar 8.6 g

GARDEN TUNA MACARONI SALAD



Garden Tuna Macaroni Salad image

"I knew this recipe was a hit the first time I served it at a barbecue and got wonderful compliments," recalls Scarlett Hilton in Sabina, Ohio. "I even got a phone call afterward suggesting that I open a restaurant!" We have to agree this cool, creamy and crunchy salad really is delicious.

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch

Time 30m

Yield 4 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 12

2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
1 can (6 ounces) light water-packed tuna, drained and flaked
2/3 cup chopped sweet yellow pepper
2/3 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup shredded carrot
1/4 cup diced radishes
2 green onions, chopped
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
3/4 cup Miracle Whip
1/2 cup ranch salad dressing
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper

Steps:

  • Cook macaroni according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine tuna, vegetables and parsley. Drain macaroni and rinse in cold water; add to tuna mixture., In a small bowl, combine Miracle Whip, ranch dressing, Parmesan cheese and pepper. Pour over salad and toss to coat. Refrigerate until serving.

Nutrition Facts :

Tips:

  • Choose high-quality ingredients for the best flavor. Look for fresh vegetables, firm tuna, and a good quality mayonnaise.
  • Don't overcook the macaroni. It should be al dente, with a slight bite to it.
  • Flake the tuna with a fork for even distribution throughout the salad.
  • Add the mayonnaise a little at a time, until the salad reaches the desired consistency.
  • Season the salad with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Chill the salad for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
  • Garnish the salad with fresh herbs, such as parsley, dill, or chives.

Conclusion:

Tuna macaroni salad is a classic dish that is perfect for a summer picnic, potluck, or backyard barbecue. It is easy to make, affordable, and always a crowd-pleaser. With its creamy texture, flavorful ingredients, and refreshing taste, tuna macaroni salad is a dish that everyone will enjoy. Experiment with different ingredients and flavors to create your own unique version of this classic salad.

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