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.
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How to make old fashioned Tuna Pasta Salad
Dice the onion and set aside.
Cook the pasta in a saucepan according to the package directions. Click for a saucepan.
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.
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Classic Tuna Macaroni Salad
Equipment
Ingredients
- ¼ cup sweet onion, or red onion
- 1 cup uncooked pasta (any shape)
- 1 can solid white albacore tuna, 5 oz can (drained)
- 1 Tablespoon cooking oil (like canola or vegetable oil)
- ⅔ cup mayonnaise
- 1 Tablespoon sour cream
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon regular mustard
- ⅓ cup frozen peas (do not thaw)
Instructions
- 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.
Video
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.
Nutrition
Hi and welcome. I’m Zona and I have a passion for recipes. I share recipes, tips, tricks, and resources to help you cook for two. Eat, drink, and enjoy!
Amy
Monday 1st of July 2024
Absolutely amazing!!! Do not deviate from exact recipe! Its the best!!!🩵🧜🏻♀️
Vicki
Monday 1st of July 2024
what kind of oil?
Zona House
Monday 1st of July 2024
Hi Vicki, any kind of cooking oil will work, like canola or vegetable oil.
Rosie
Saturday 8th of June 2024
Oh, dear God in heaven! This is the most DELICIOUS tuna pasta salad! The stuff all of my most wonderful childhood memories are made of!! Thank you so much! Followed the recipe exactly (something i rarely do) and I'm so glad i exercised the restraint! Lol! I thought to myself, "... how could an ⅛ of a teaspoon of mustard have any possible affect on the flavor! Wow! Was i wrong because it's a marriage of ingredients that is pure perfection! Can't thank you enough! Just recently lost a dear loved one and I've been leaning hard into the comfort foods of my past. I've made many a pasta salad in my 60 years, but nothing as perfectly lovely as yours. Next time, I'll double the recipe because this will be gone by tomorrow! You've really brought a nostalgic smile to my heart! ♥︎ Bless you!!
Zona House
Sunday 9th of June 2024
Hi Rosie, I'm so glad you loved it! Thank you for the lovely comment :)
Linda Lovett
Wednesday 3rd of April 2024
Can leftovers tuna macaroni salad be frozen?
Zona House
Wednesday 3rd of April 2024
Hi Linda, Tuna salad doesn't freeze well. While it's possible, it's not recommended to freeze it because the mayo may change its consistency when defrosted.
Marilyn
Tuesday 9th of May 2023
Excellent! Added celery & pickles, hot sauce & a little pickle juice. Love it!!!!