This tasty side dish is so incredible and so good, it’s the kind of side dish that will keep you sneaking back to the fridge to snack on it some more. There’s just the perfect amount of acid, chew, creamy texture, and crave-able flavor. Serve this up beside any of your favorite proteins or just munch away on a big bowl of the stuff – I won’t judge!
I don’t think tuna salad gets enough loves. When made properly you can get a side dish that packs flavor, creamy texture, and a great source of lean protein. Throwing some macaroni pasta in there was just the last logical step – and believe me it’s a welcome addition.
Ingredients
I kept this recipe nice and simple with only two ingredients that need to be chopped up. Dump everything in a bowl, mix, and you’re ready to go! Keep scrolling for the full recipe and ingredient amounts.
- Elbow macaroni – This recipe will work with other small shapes such as farfalle, penne, and rotini.
- Red onion – You can use other types of onion such as white, yellow, or scallions.
- Celery – You can use more, less, or no celery at all. Whatever you prefer!
- Peas – I really love the sweet bursts the peas give this salad. You can leave them out if you like, but I really recommend leaving them in!
- Tuna – Make sure yo drain your tuna well before using it in this salad.
- Mayo – Any type of mayo will work.
- Sour cream – I like to use sour cream in this salad so it doesn’t have such a mayo-y taste. You can use any ratio of sour cream to mayo that you like.
- Relish – I used sweet relish for this salad, however any type you have hand will work.
- Salt & pepper – Season to taste.
How to Make Tuna Macaroni Salad
- Cook the pasta – Boil the pasta in well salted water until al dente. After you drain the pasta, rinse it well with cold water.
- Finish the salad – Add the cooked pasta and the rest of the ingredients to a large bowl and toss well.
- Chill and serve – Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Can I Make Tuna Macaroni Salad Ahead?
This is the perfect recipe to make ahead! If you’d like, you can mix the mayo, sour cream, and relish separately and add it right before serving to make sure your pasta salad is extra creamy. It will still taste delicious if everything is all mixed together, though!