Tuna Macaroni Salad

This delicious tuna macaroni salad is perfect for anyone who loves easy, filling meals that taste amazing! Families and busy people absolutely love this dish because it comes together in just 20 minutes and feeds everyone well. You’ll have a complete, satisfying meal that’s packed with protein and fresh flavors.

Recipe Details

Timing & Servings: Active Time: 20 minutes, Total Time: 20 minutes, Serves: 6 people.

Nutrition Profile: Nut-Free, Soy-Free, High-Protein

Nutrition Facts (per serving): 290 Calories, 11g Fat, 33g Carbs, 16g Protein

Ingredients You’ll Need

Whole-wheat elbow macaroni: You’ll need 8 ounces, which is about half a regular box. The whole wheat gives you extra fiber and keeps you full longer!

Tuna fillets: Two 6.7-ounce jars packed in water work perfectly here. Make sure to drain them well before using.

Celery: One cup chopped up gives you that perfect crispy crunch in every bite. I love how fresh it makes the whole salad taste!

Red bell pepper: One cup chopped adds beautiful color and sweet flavor. You can use any color bell pepper you have on hand.

Scallions: Half a cup thinly sliced, plus extra for garnish. These green onions add a mild onion flavor that’s just right.

Greek yogurt: Half a cup of plain whole-milk Greek yogurt makes the dressing creamy and adds protein too.

Mayonnaise: One third cup mixed with the yogurt creates the perfect creamy base for your dressing.

Fresh dill: A quarter cup chopped brings such bright, fresh flavor to this salad. It really makes a difference!

Lemon juice: Three tablespoons of fresh lemon juice adds the perfect tangy brightness to balance everything out.

Dijon mustard: One tablespoon gives you just the right amount of zip and flavor depth.

Salt and pepper: Half a teaspoon of each seasons everything perfectly and brings out all the flavors.

How to Make Tuna Macaroni Salad

Step 1: Cook your pasta according to the package directions, but skip adding salt to the water. Drain the pasta completely when it’s done. Rinse it under cold water until it feels cool to touch. Transfer everything to a large mixing bowl.

Step 2: Open your tuna jars and drain them well. Use a fork to shred the tuna into medium-size chunks in a separate medium bowl. Don’t make the pieces too small – you want some nice chunks in your salad!

Step 3: Add the celery, bell pepper, and scallions to your pasta bowl. Then add the Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, fresh dill, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. Stir everything together until it’s well combined and creamy.

Step 4: Gently fold in the tuna chunks until they’re just mixed in. Be careful not to overmix – you want to keep some nice tuna chunks intact. Garnish with extra sliced scallions if you want!

Easy and Quick Tuna Macaroni Salad Version

Want to make this even faster? You can use pre-chopped celery and bell pepper from the store! Also, if you have leftover cooked pasta in your fridge, just use 3 cups of that instead of cooking fresh. You can even use dried dill instead of fresh – just use 1 tablespoon instead of 1/4 cup.

Serving Ideas

This tuna macaroni salad is a complete meal all by itself! It’s perfect for lunch boxes, picnics, or easy dinners. You can serve it with some crispy crackers or fresh bread on the side. A simple green salad or some sliced tomatoes make great additions too.

Storage

Store your tuna macaroni salad in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in a covered container. It tastes great cold right from the fridge! If it seems a little dry after storing, just stir in a tablespoon of mayonnaise or Greek yogurt to freshen it up.

Substitutions

No Greek yogurt? You can use all mayonnaise instead – just use 3/4 cup total. Don’t have fresh dill? Dried dill works great too, just use 1 tablespoon. You can swap the red bell pepper for any color you like, or even try diced cucumber for extra crunch!

Pro Tips

• Cool pasta completely: Make sure your pasta is totally cool before adding the dressing so it doesn’t get mushy.
• Don’t overmix: Gentle folding keeps your tuna in nice chunks instead of turning it into mush.
• Taste and adjust: Add extra lemon juice or salt if you want more flavor – trust your taste buds!
• Make ahead: This salad actually tastes better after sitting for an hour so the flavors can blend together.

FAQs

Can I make this salad ahead of time?

You bet! This salad is actually perfect for making ahead. You can make it up to a day before you need it. The flavors get even better as they sit together in the fridge!

What if I don’t like tuna?

Sure, you can swap it out! Canned salmon, cooked chicken, or even chickpeas work great instead. Just use about the same amount as the tuna.

Can I use regular pasta instead of whole wheat?

Of course! Any elbow macaroni or small pasta shape will work perfectly. Use whatever you have in your pantry!

How do I keep the pasta from getting mushy?

The secret is to rinse your cooked pasta with cold water until it’s completely cool. This stops the cooking process and keeps the pasta firm and perfect for salad!

I hope you love this easy tuna macaroni salad as much as my family does! Let me know how yours turns out – I always love hearing about your cooking adventures. Happy cooking, friend!