Tuna Macaroni Salad

This family favorite tuna macaroni salad is made with canned tuna, elbow macaroni, bell peppers, mayo, parsley, green onion, and crispy iceberg lettuce. Tuna macaroni salad is a great recipe for any potluck, BBQ, or gathering!

By
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.
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Updated April 13, 2022
Elise Bauer
canned tuna pasta salad recipe

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

Growing up, almost every other Friday my mother would serve our family this tuna macaroni salad. (Fish on Fridays, it's a Catholic thing.)

Why This Tuna Macaroni Salad Recipe Is a Favorite

It's such a simple salad, yet even now my heart skips a beat when I stop by my parents' house and find out that's what we're having for dinner. I think it's my favorite macaroni salad, and also my favorite tuna salad, of all time. In the whole world. Period.

Classic Ingredients for Tuna Macaroni Salad

Macaroni pasta with the creamy canned tuna and mayo, along with the crunch of bell peppers, celery, and lettuce?

A little squirt of lemon juice for some tang?

So good!

This salad is also one of my go-to dishes to prepare for a midweek meal. It's easy to make, filling, and budget friendly.

Tuna macaroni salad with iceberg lettuce

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

The Best Canned Tuna for Tuna Macaroni Salad

Tuna packed in olive oil is more flavorful than tuna packed in water. If you can find it packed in olive oil, use it but don't drain it. If you have tuna packed in water, drain it, and add 2 to 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil.

We like Wild Planet Wild Albacore Tuna packed in extra virgin olive oil and Genova Yellowfin Tuna packed in olive oil.

How to Make Tuna Macaroni Salad Ahead of Time

The saddest thing about this salad is that the lettuce will get wilty and even soggy if stored for more than a few hours in the fridge. (We'll eat up the leftovers anyway, we love it that much.)

So, if you want to make it a day or two ahead, do everything in the recipe except for adding the sliced iceberg lettuce. Add the lettuce when it's time to serve.

tuna pasta salad for a crowd

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

Here Are 5 More Ways to Love Tuna

Tuna Macaroni Salad

Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 20 mins
Total Time 30 mins
Servings 4 servings

Tuna packed in olive oil is more flavorful than tuna packed in water. If you can find it packed in oil, use that but don't drain it. If you have tuna packed in water, drain it, and add 2 to 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil.

Ingredients

For the pasta:

  • 1 cup uncooked elbow macaroni

  • 1 quart water

  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

For the salad:

  • 1/2 cup chopped green onion, including green onion greens

  • 1 cup chopped red, orange, or yellow bell pepper

  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

  • 2 (5-ounce) cans tuna, packed in olive oil (if it's packed in water, drain and add 2 to 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil)

  • 2 ribs celery, chopped (about 1 cup)

  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice

  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise (more to taste)

  • 1/2 teaspoon sweet Hungarian paprika

  • Freshly ground black pepper

  • 1/4 to 1/3 head lettuce (preferably iceberg lettuce), sliced first and roughly chopped into 2-inch-long strips

Method

  1. Cook the macaroni:

    In a saucepan, add 1 cup of elbow macaroni to 1 quart of boiling water with an added teaspoon of salt. Cook at a rolling boil uncovered for about 10 minutes until the macaroni is just a little more cooked than al dente.

    Remove from heat, drain, and rinse with cold water.

  2. Prep the salad ingredients:

    While the macaroni is cooking, assemble the other ingredients. In a large bowl, mix the green onion, bell pepper, parsley, tuna, celery, and lemon juice.

    Ingredients for canned tuna pasta salad recipe.

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
    mixing tuna pasta salad ingredients

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
    Ingredients mixed in a bowl to make a tuna pasta salad recipe.

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
  3. Combine the salad ingredients:

    Add the cooked and drained macaroni. Fold in the mayonnaise until well mixed. Add the paprika. Add fresh ground pepper to taste. (At this point, you can make ahead and chill.)

    add salad dressing to tuna pasta salad

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
  4. Serve:

    Fold in the lettuce gently and serve. The salad does not make good leftovers as the lettuce will eventually get soggy.

    Ingredients mixed in a bowl to make a tuna pasta salad recipe.

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
    finished canned tuna pasta salad recipe

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
259 Calories
14g Fat
17g Carbs
16g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 259
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 14g 19%
Saturated Fat 2g 12%
Cholesterol 13mg 4%
Sodium 635mg 28%
Total Carbohydrate 17g 6%
Dietary Fiber 3g 12%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 16g
Vitamin C 62mg 308%
Calcium 70mg 5%
Iron 2mg 13%
Potassium 466mg 10%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.