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Katie's Cucina » Recipes » Main Dish

Old Fashioned Macaroni Salad with Tuna

Published: Mar 24, 2020 · Modified: Aug 3, 2022 by Katie · This post may contain affiliate links

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Macaroni and Tuna Fish Salad Collage with title text for pinterest.

Old Fashioned Macaroni Salad with Tuna is the perfect summer day lunch or dinner filled with pantry staples that inexpensively feeds a large group! Whip this recipe up in under a half hours time.

White rectangular bowl with macaroni, tuna, and vegetables.

Growing up I remember my mom making macaroni and tuna fish salad (also known as tuna macaroni salad or tuna pasta salad depending on the region of the world you live in) on a hot summers day. This was a seasonal dish in our house that was typically made on Good Friday, throughout the summer, and the last batch would be made for Labor Day weekend. This is the way her mother did it, and it’s the tradition she kept upon my grandmother’s passing.

Mac and Tuna Fish Salad on a plate with ruffels potato chips and two forks.

The mac and tuna salad (the nickname I gave it many years ago) is accompanied by salty plain potato chips. When I was younger I would use the potato chips as a substitute for silverware, scooping macaroni, vegetables, and tuna onto each chip. My son now does the same exact thing and I absolutely love that the tradition of this hearty warm-weather salad continues!

Jump to:
  • Ingredients
  • Directions
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Expert Tips & Tricks
  • Pasta Salad Recipes
  • Old Fashioned Macaroni Salad with Tuna

Ingredients

Peppers, celery, salt and pepper, tuna, mayo, minced onion, and dried parsley on countertop.

Here is a list of the ingredients you’ll need to make this easy pantry staple salad.

  • Pasta – My family has always used elbow macaroni, but some people use shell pasta for their tuna pasta salad.
  • Tuna – I only ever use solid white albacore canned tuna.
  • Mayonnaise – I always use the real mayonnaise, not miracle whip as that will completely change the taste of the dish. Of course, this is a preference thing.
  • Vegetables – I use a mix of fresh diced red bell pepper and celery.
  • Seasonings – Dried Onion Flakes, Dried Parsley, Salt, and Pepper.

Directions

First, you’ll want to boil elbow macaroni according to the box directions. Drain and rinse in cold water and set to the side.

Top view tuna fish, dried onion, parsley, celery, bell peppers, and mayo in tupperware.

In a large storage container, add drained tuna fish, mayonnaise, diced bell pepper, celery, onion flakes, parsley, salt and pepper and mix well.

top view of tupperware filled with cooked macaroni noodles.

Then slowly add in cooked elbow macaroni mixing mayonnaise mixture until well incorporated. Once all the macaroni has been mixed together, place the container in the refrigerator to chill for at least 2 hours.

plated Macaroni and Tuna Salad with Potato Chips near celery, bell pepper, and remaining salad.

This recipe tastes best when served cold. I always accompany it with salty plain potato chips.

Recipe FAQs

top view plated Macaroni and Tuna Salad with Potato Chips near celery, bell pepper, and remaining salad.
How long is tuna macaroni salad good for?

For those who might be wondering how long tuna macaroni salad is good for? I always suggest like any food that you should store it in an air tight container for 3-5 days in the refrigerator. After that the freshness and quality goes down plus it could be unsafe to eat.

Is tuna macaroni salad dairy free?

Believe it or not this macaroni and tuna fish salad recipe is dairy free! Mayonnaise is a dairy free condiment and perfect for those who can not consume dairy.

Do you put eggs in tuna macaroni salad?

Depending on the region where the tuna macaroni salad is made will depend on if you put hard boiled egg in it. My family was from the Northeast of the USA and they do not put it in. People in the south tend to put egg in the salad. It’s a personal preference.

How much tuna is in macaroni salad?

I put two cans of drained tuna fish for every one 16 ounce box of elbow macaroni’s.

Expert Tips & Tricks

close up top view of Macaroni and Tuna Fish Salad two ways in containers- one without bell pepper.

Here are a few of my tips and tricks that I’ve learned over the years making cold tuna pasta salad.

  • Veggies – I like to add the red bell pepper in the macaroni and tuna salad to give it an additional sweetness and flavor. However, my kids don’t like the red bell pepper. My grandma’s original recipe did not include the red bell pepper. I will make the salad without bell pepper and just add it to my bowl.
  • Mayonnaise – I make this recipe using real mayonnaise and not Miracle Whip. Miracle Whip will produce a much different flavor.
  • Feed a Large Group – My grandmother had to feed a family of 6 so her original recipe only included one can of tuna fish and only ¼ cup of mayonnaise for an entire box of elbow macaroni. Just know you can reduce the quantities to stretch this dish further.

Pasta Salad Recipes

too view of tuna macaroni salad with mayo and pepper on top but not yet mixed in.

If you love pasta salad you will love these other easy pasta salad recipes.

  • Greek Pasta Salad
  • Orzo Pasta Salad
  • Arugula Pesto Pasta Salad
  • Pesto Tortellini Salad

To this day, when I make my mama’s macaroni and tuna fish salad I think of my grandma and my own mama, bite by bite. I’m so happy it’s a food family tradition I can continue with my own family.

If you make this tuna macaroni salad recipe, I would be honored and love for you to take the time to leave a ⭐ star rating and comment! I spend hours developing and testing these recipes, and always love to hear feedback and user experience!

Don’t forget to FOLLOW ME on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram, and subscribe to my email list!

White rectangular bowl with macaroni, tuna, and vegetables.

Old Fashioned Macaroni Salad with Tuna

Old Fashioned Macaroni Salad with Tuna is the perfect summer day lunch or dinner filled with pantry staples that inexpensively feeds a large group! Whip this recipe up in under a half hours time.
5 from 3 votes
Print Pin Save Saved! Rate
Course: Main Course, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Diet: Low Lactose
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
Refrigeration Time: 2 hours hours
Total Time: 2 hours hours 25 minutes minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 378kcal
Author: Katie

Equipment

  • Stove Top
  • Refrigerator

Ingredients

  • 1- 16 oz. Box of Elbow Macaroni
  • 2 cans Solid White Albacore Tuna Fish
  • ½ cup Mayonnaise or more if desired
  • ¼ cup Red Bell Pepper
  • 2 Celery Sticks diced
  • 1 tablespoon Dried Onion Flakes
  • 1 tablespoon Dried Parsley Flakes
  • Salt & Pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Boil elbow macaroni according to the box directions. Drain and rinse in cold water, set aside.
  • In a large storage container, add drained tuna fish, mayonnaise, diced bell pepper, celery, onion flakes, parsley, salt and pepper and mix well.
  • Then slowly add in cooked elbow macaroni mixing mayonnaise mixture until well incorporated. Once all the macaroni has been mixed together, place container in refrigerator and chill for at least 2 hours. Serve cold with salty plain potato chips and enjoy.

Notes

  • Veggies – I like to add the red bell pepper in the macaroni and tuna salad to give it an additional sweetness and flavor. However, my kids don’t like the red bell pepper. My grandma’s original recipe did not include the red bell pepper.
  • Mayonnaise – I make this recipe using real mayonnaise and not Miracle Whip. Miracle Whip will produce a much different flavor.
Nutritional calculations are estimated and may vary depending on serving size and ingredients.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 378kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 257mg | Potassium: 268mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 173IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @KatieJasiewicz or tag #katiescucina!
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About Katie

Katie is a busy mom of 2 children who loves to feed her family delicious meals that don't take hours to cook! She started her blog 15 years ago as a way to help others get cooking in the kitchen.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lori

    June 12, 2023 at 3:01 pm

    5 stars
    This is exactly the recipe my family used. I looked for this recipe but could never find it. I wanted to know the exact proportions. I do add chopped carrots to mine. Thank you. Finally the original recipe that I grew up with and loved!

    Reply
    • Katie

      June 13, 2023 at 5:06 pm

      Lori–so happy to read this. I love the idea of adding chopped carrots. I like to add diced red bell pepper to the salad.

  2. Kathleen

    August 04, 2022 at 10:04 am

    This is also MY grandmother’s recipe. Going to make it today (sans red peppers) since the temps are supposed to reach 103 degrees! P.S. I live in snowy Massachusetts, so that’s really, really hot for us!

    Reply
    • Katie

      August 15, 2022 at 12:57 pm

      Hi! Yes, it’s definitely a passed down family recipe. My mom started adding the red bell pepper years ago. We are the only ones who like it like that, so we tend to chop and add the red pepper to our bowls only. Hope you stay cool (and belly’s full)!

  3. Angie

    May 10, 2011 at 11:31 pm

    I made this for dinner yesterday – it was a great quick meal after yardwork, and we had plenty for lunch today as well. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  4. Miz Helen

    May 10, 2011 at 3:18 pm

    Hi Katie,
    What a great dish, I would really like this. Thank you for sharing and have a wonderful week!

    Reply
  5. Krystal

    May 09, 2011 at 5:33 pm

    I love macaroni salad, and I might add that your pictures look fantastic! Way to go on food styling!!

    Reply
  6. Anngela

    May 09, 2011 at 1:05 pm

    I LOVE macaroni and tuna fish–yum!! 🙂

    Reply
5 from 3 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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I'm Katie Jasiewicz: home cook, food blogger, and recipe developer. A busy mom of two children who loves to feed her family delicious meals that don’t take hours to cook! My mission is to create easy-to-make modern comfort food for the busy family. (more)

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