Name: Classic Tuna Macaroni Salad
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 2
Cuisine: American
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)

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.

a graphic of Classic Tuna Macaroni Salad Recipe small batch pasta salad for Two in a white bowl — Classic Tuna Macaroni Salad for Two

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 sauce pan according to the package directions. Click for a sauce pan.

shell pasta boiling in a pan with wooden spoon

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.

shell pasta and chunk tuna in a bowl with orange spatula

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

mayo mixture mixed into shell pasta and tuna in a bowl

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

old fashioned tuna macaroni pasta salad mixed in a bowl

Place into the refrigerator to chill until ready to serve.

a bowl of Classic Tuna Macaroni Salad with pasta, onion, and peas. — Easy Classic Tuna Macaroni Salad

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Serves 2

Classic Tuna Macaroni Salad

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

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.

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

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.

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.

Tuna Macaroni Salad

How to make old fashioned Tuna Pasta Salad: