Description
This Simple Tuna Macaroni Salad is a creamy, flavorful dish perfect for picnics, potlucks, or light lunches. Featuring tender macaroni, flaky tuna, crisp celery, diced hard-boiled eggs, and sweet peas, all coated in a zesty mayonnaise-based dressing with Dijon mustard and pickle relish. Chill it for a few hours to let the flavors meld beautifully for a refreshing and satisfying salad.
Ingredients
Base
- 1 lb macaroni (Barilla preferred for al dente texture)
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 3 hard-boiled eggs, diced into 1/2-inch pieces
- 1 shallot, finely diced
- 1/2 cup celery, finely chopped
Dressing
- 1 1/4 cups mayonnaise (Hellmann’s preferred)
- 1/2 cup sweet pickle relish
- 1/2 tbsp celery seed
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
Protein
- 15 oz tuna (StarKist solid white albacore in water)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the macaroni according to package directions until al dente. This is important to achieve the perfect texture. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking and remove excess starch.
- Prepare ingredients: While pasta cooks, dice hard-boiled eggs into 1/2-inch pieces, finely dice shallot, and finely chop celery. Drain the tuna and set aside.
- Make the dressing: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, celery seed, Dijon mustard, salt, pepper, and lemon juice until smooth and fully combined.
- Combine tuna and dressing: Stir the drained tuna gently into the dressing until evenly distributed, ensuring the tuna remains in chunks.
- Add pasta: Add the cooled macaroni to the dressing and tuna mixture. Fold gently but thoroughly to coat all pieces without breaking up the tuna.
- Add remaining ingredients: Fold in diced eggs, shallot, and frozen peas (no thawing necessary). Use a spatula or wooden spoon and fold gently to keep texture.
- Chill and serve: Transfer salad to a serving bowl or container and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to allow flavors to meld and peas to soften. Before serving, taste and adjust seasoning with extra lemon juice if desired.
Notes
- Use Barilla macaroni or a similar brand for consistent al dente pasta.
- Rinsing pasta with cold water is key to prevent gummy texture.
- Folding gently preserves the texture of tuna and eggs.
- Peas soften naturally as the salad chills — no need to thaw ahead.
- Adjust lemon juice at the end for brightness based on taste preference.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
