Side Dishes
Tuna Macaroni Salad
Tuna Macaroni Salad is a classic potluck recipe and is so easy to throw together. It is creamy and delicious
- Serves 10
- Prep 15 minutes
- Total 15 minutes

This Tuna Macaroni Salad recipe easily feeds 10 to 12 people as a side and is perfect for your next picnic. There’s something about a cool and creamy recipe that really hits the spot during the hot summer months.
Reader Comment
Renne says “I love this recipe! It’s so easy & quick to make! It tastes great right after you make it as well as after it’s refrigerated!” ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Make Ahead
And this Macaroni Salad only tastes better with time so feel free to make it a day or two in advance. If it has lost some of its creaminess, just stir another tablespoon or two of mayonnaise in before serving.
How To Make
(More detailed instructions in recipe card below.)
- Cook pasta in boiling salted water. Add peas for the last minute of cooking. Drain and rinse under cold water.

- Add remaining ingredients and stir well.

- Refrigerate until ready to serve.

How To Serve
This recipe is a great one to make for a potluck. It goes wonderfully with sandwiches, burgers, or grilled chicken.
Budget Friendly
Tuna Macaroni Salad is a really budget-friendly recipe. Adding a can of tuna to pasta salad gives it plenty of flavor and some protein without the expense of a more protein-laden recipe.
Storage
Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 days. They make a great lunch. I like to serve them over a bed of lettuce with some sliced summer tomatoes.

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More Picnic Sides
- Creamy Dill Potato Salad
- Southern Potato Salad
- Spicy Bacon Baked Beans
- Sweet Vinegar Coleslaw
- Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
Originally posted June 18, 2018.
Recipe
Tuna Macaroni Salad
Tuna Macaroni Salad is a classic potluck recipe and is so easy to throw together. It is creamy and delicious with lots of hard-boiled egg, peas, celery, onion, and sweet pickle relish.
- Serves 10
- Prep 15 minutes
- Total 15 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 pound elbow pasta
- 1 1/2 cups frozen peas
- 1/2 cup chopped red onion
- 2 celery ribs (chopped)
- 3 hard boiled eggs (chopped)
- 3 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
- 1 (12-ounce) can tuna (drained)
- 1 1/3 cups mayonnaise
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- 1
Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions, adding the peas the last minute of cooking time. Drain and rinse under cold water. Drain again and add to a large bowl.
- 2
Add remaining ingredients and stir to mix.
- 3
Refrigerate until ready to serve. Can be made a day in advance.
Nutrition
- Calories452 kcal
- Carbohydrates40 g
- Protein16 g
- Fat25 g
- Saturated Fat4 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat14 g
- Monounsaturated Fat6 g
- Trans Fat0.1 g
- Cholesterol81 mg
- Sodium324 mg
- Potassium254 mg
- Fiber3 g
- Sugar4 g
- Vitamin A342 IU
- Vitamin C9 mg
- Calcium33 mg
- Iron2 mg







