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Tuna-Macaroni Salad

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  • Prep 20 min
  • Total 1 hr 20 min
  • Servings 6
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Wondering how to make macaroni salad with tuna? We've got you covered with a recipe that's high in flavor and low in prep! Perfect for a simple summer supper or as a main-dish potluck contribution, this Tuna-Macaroni 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.
Updated Feb 15, 2022
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Ingredients

  • 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

  • 1
    Cook macaroni as directed on package, adding peas for last 4 to 6 minutes of cooking; rinse with cold water and drain.
  • 2
    In large bowl, mix macaroni, peas and remaining ingredients. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour to blend flavors.

Tips from the Betty Crocker Kitchens

  • tip 1
    If you make the macaroni and tuna salad ahead of serving time, take it out of the refrigerator for a few minutes to take the chill off. If the salad seems dry (it will absorb moisture as it stands), stir in 1 to 2 tablespoons milk or half-and-half to moisten.
  • tip 2
    Stir in a handful of coarsely chopped parsley just before serving macaroni salad with tuna to brighten the color and flavor.
  • tip 3
    It's easy to customize this macaroni tuna salad recipe based on your preferences. Replace tuna with the same amount of chunk chicken, pink salmon or ham to make a delicious salad that works nicely with the mayo dressing spiked with pickle relish, or try 1 to 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard instead of the relish.
  • tip 4
    Macaroni-shaped pasta is tailor-made for salads because it won’t fall apart when mixed up with other ingredients. Try other short, sturdy pastas for picnics or potlucks—fusilli, shells, or rotini.

Nutrition

440 Calories, 29g Total Fat, 14g Protein, 31g Total Carbohydrate, 2g Sugars

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Serving (about 1 cup)
Calories
440
Calories from Fat
260
Total Fat
29g
44%
Saturated Fat
4 1/2g
23%
Trans Fat
0g
Cholesterol
30mg
10%
Sodium
650mg
27%
Potassium
170mg
5%
Total Carbohydrate
31g
10%
Dietary Fiber
2g
10%
Sugars
2g
Protein
14g
% Daily Value*:
Vitamin A
6%
6%
Vitamin C
2%
2%
Calcium
2%
2%
Iron
10%
10%
Exchanges:
1 Starch; 0 Fruit; 1 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 1/2 Vegetable; 1 1/2 Very Lean Meat; 0 Lean Meat; 0 High-Fat Meat; 5 1/2 Fat;
Carbohydrate Choice
2
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

More About This Recipe

  • Everyone loves the hot version of tuna noddle casserole (the one with the potato chips crumbled on top), but this tuna-macaroni salad, its warm-weather cousin, is equally as delicious—and so easy to prepare. Once you’ve boiled a pot of macaroni, mix in the green peas, tuna, mayonnaise, cheese, pickle relish, celery, onion, and seasonings. There are so many ways to add your own culinary creativity to this tuna salad pasta. Don’t feel limited to using elbow macaroni, for starters. Try radiatori (little radiators), campanelle (bells), cavatappi (corkscrew) or farfalle (butterflies). For extra add-ins, use any you like, including diced hard-boiled eggs, grated carrots or sunflower seeds. If you like things on the sweet side, add halved red grapes, raisin or craisins. Now that you’ve mastered the art of making pasta salad with tuna, you can try more traditional favorite recipes, intriguing variations and fresh new takes in this collection of Betty’s Tuna Recipes.
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