Tuna Macaroni Salad

This Classic Tuna Macaroni Salad Recipe is easy, delicious, and quick, ready in just 15 minutes. Perfectly cooked pasta or macaroni is tossed with solid white albacore tuna, sweet onion, peas, and a creamy mayo and sour cream dressing. 

This small batch recipe makes a great side dish or main dish. Throw it in your summer picnic basket for two or serve this pasta salad at your next intimate barbecue.

I highly recommend using canned solid white albacore tuna in this recipe. Regular canned tuna is way mushier. Solid white albacore will cost a tiny bit more but it’s worth it because the meat stays chunky and holds together much better.

As an Amazon Associate, I may make a small commission, at no additional cost, if you purchase through product affiliate links in this post.

How to make old fashioned Tuna Pasta Salad

Dice the onion and set aside.

Cook the pasta in a sauce pan according to the package directions. Click for a sauce pan.

Empty the pasta into a colander to drain, rinse well with cold water, and then drain again.

Place the pasta into a medium bowl.

Add the oil and tuna to the cooked noodles. Toss to coat.

Stir in the mayo, sour cream, salt, pepper and mustard.

Fold in the onion and frozen peas. The peas will thaw within minutes. Do not thaw or cook them ahead of time.

Place into the refrigerator to chill until ready to serve.

You may also enjoy

BLT Macaroni Salad for Two

In this easy and tasty BLT Macaroni Salad bacon, lettuce and tomato are mixed with a creamy delicious dressing. This small batch recipe is a great side dish and serves two or three people. You can use any pasta shape you prefer and I chose this gorgeous cavatappi pasta.

Get the Recipe

Cold Broccoli Salad

This delicious Cold Broccoli Salad with Bacon recipe is a combination of broccoli, bacon, red onion, dried cranberries, sharp cheddar cheese, and sliced almonds. It's coated with a creamy mayonnaise dressing.

Get the Recipe

Tuna Noodle Casserole

This homemade Tuna Noodle Casserole has thick egg noodles, big chunks of solid white albacore tuna, peas, creamy mushroom sauce, and topped with cheese and crispy crunchy crushed potato chips.

Get the Recipe

Best Classic Creamy Coleslaw

Best Classic Creamy Coleslaw is super easy and delicious with coleslaw mix or shredded cabbage and a perfect creamy dressing.

Get the Recipe

Continue to Content

Yield: Serves 2

Classic Tuna Macaroni Salad

Print

This Classic Tuna Macaroni Salad Recipe is easy, delicious, and quick, ready in just 15 minutes. Perfectly cooked pasta or macaroni is tossed with albacore chunk white tuna, sweet onion, peas, and a creamy mayo and sour cream dressing.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup sweet onion, or red onion
• 1 cup uncooked pasta (any shape)
• 1 can solid white albacore tuna, 5 oz can (drained)
• 1 Tablespoon oil
• 2/3 cup mayonnaise
• 1 Tablespoon sour cream
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon regular mustard
• 1/3 cup frozen peas (do not thaw)

Instructions

1. Dice the onion and set aside.
2. Cook the pasta in a sauce pan according to the package directions. Click for a sauce pan.
3. Empty the pasta into a colander to drain, rinse well with cold water, and then drain again.
4. Place the pasta into a medium bowl.
5. Add the oil and tuna to the cooked noodles. Toss to coat.
6. Stir in the mayo, sour cream, salt, pepper and mustard.
7. Fold in the onion and frozen peas. The peas will thaw within minutes. Do not thaw or cook them ahead of time.
8. Place into the refrigerator to chill until ready to serve.

Notes

• I highly recommend using canned solid white albacore tuna in this recipe. Regular canned tuna is way mushier. Solid white albacore will cost a tiny bit more but it’s worth it because the meat stays chunky and holds together much better.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate I may make a small commission, at no additional cost to you, if you make a purchase through product links in this post.

• 
  T-Fal Specialty 3 Quart Handy Pot w/Glass Lid

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

2
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 977Saturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 70mgSodium: 1395mgCarbohydrates: 57gFiber: 3gSugar: 5gProtein: 31g

Did you like this recipe?

Please leave a comment on this post and pin this recipe on Pinterest.

Tuna Macaroni Salad Web Story