Tuna and Macaroni Salad is a simple, fresh-tasting, and budget-friendly recipe we have made over the years in my household. Solid white albacore tuna, al dente macaroni, hard-boiled egg whites, diced red onions, fresh parsley, sliced dill gherkins pickles, mayonnaise, and a hint of freshly squeezed lemon juice make this Summer salad a winning combination for your next cookout.
As a small child, I loved my mom’s Southern-Style Tuna and Macaroni Salad to the point of no return and then back again. Yes, that’s a lot of love. Over the years, I have changed her recipe slightly, and it has become more delicious than ever.
I also love that this recipe is so budget-friendly and seems to hit it off well with our BBQs in the Summer with family and friends. The method has the most simple ingredients you can easily find at any local market you and your family shop at. You can feel at ease when shopping for this recipe; you won’t risk it. If you take a peek, you have 98% of them now.
Ingredients needed to make Tuna and Macaroni Salad
- Twelve ounces of dry macaroni pasta cooked al dente
- Two hard-boiled eggs, whites only diced
- Three cans of solid white albacore tuna drained
- One small red onion diced
- Eight Dill gherkins pickle sliced
- 1/4 of a cup chopped fresh parsley
- One and 1/2 cups mayonnaise
- One teaspoon of wholegrain mustard
- juice of 1 fresh lemon
- Kosher salt to own taste
- Freshly ground black pepper to your taste
Frequently asked questions about Tuna and Macaroni Salad
- How do I keep the mayo from absorbing my pasta after it sits overnight? This usually is very simple to fix by adding a little more mayonnaise before serving if needed. Some say that completely draining the pasta, rinsing, and refrigerating the pasta before adding sauce help. I, however, usually add a little more, and it comes out just fine.
- I have heard you shouldn’t rinse pasta ever. Is that true? No, it is not. You shouldn’t rinse pasta for hot dishes, but always rinse pasta for salads. P pasta should always be rinsed after cooking when used for a cold salad. This serves two purposes. First, it stops the cooking process immediately. Secondly, it keeps the pasta from sticking together.
- How long does this Tuna and Macaroni Salad last in the refrigerator? It will safely stay good for 3-4 days when placed in a tightly sealed container. After the 4th day, it will start declining.
Tuna and Macaroni Salad
Ingredients
- 12 ounces Dry macaroni pasta cooked al dente
- 2 large Hard-boiled eggs whites only diced
- 3 cans Solid white albacore tuna drained
- 1 small Red onion diced
- 8 Baby Dill gherkins pickle sliced
- ½ cup Fresh parsley chopped
- 1½ Cups Mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon Whole grain mustard
- 2 tablespoons Fresh Lemon Juice
- Kosher salt, to own taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to own taste
Instructions
- Cook 12 ounces of dry macaroni noodles according to package directions for al dente method.Meanwhile, in a small saucepan filled with water, cook 2 eggs till hard boiled. Remove the eggs from the pan, let cool. Once the eggs are done cooling off, peel the eggs and dice.
- Drain 3 can of solid white albacore tuna. Dice 1 small red onion. Slice 8 dill gherkins pickles.
- Place diced hardboiled eggs, 3 cans of solid white albacore tuna, diced red onion and dill gherkins pickles in a large glass bowl or a deep serving dish.
- Drain macaroni and rinse lightly in cold water.
- Add macaroni to the rest of the ingredients from above, mayonnaise, whole grain mustard, freshly squeezed lemon juice, kosher salt, and fresh ground black pepper to own taste.
- Combine all ingredients and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Nutrition
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I have been craaaaving macaroni!! This looks perfect!
I hope you enjoy the Recipe JZ! Let me know.
Anything with Tuna sounds delicious and yum. My family to enjoy their Dinner as well.
Thank you, Veena, I hope they enjoy the recipe
As a Southern gal, I love salads of all types, and this tuna macaroni salad looks like one I need to try! Lots of ingredients (love that … it’s hard for me to use only a few) lend to more flavors. Making soon!
Me too Sally! Great minds think alike!
I love that this tuna salad has gherkins in it. This sounds wonderful.
Those are one of my favorites, so crunchy!
I know what I will be having for lunch tomorrow! This tuna and macaroni salad looks too good to pass up!
Awesome, Sara, let me know how you like it.
Keep these Southern recipes coming please. I am a newly wed and I married a Southerner, guess what I have not a clue of Southern food lol. However, your recipes have been saving my backend. He loves every recipe that I have made thus far. I need more and soon.
Mandy, thank you for that sweetness this AM, bless your little heart I sure will keep the Southern Recipes coming. I am so happy to help you. Hugs!!!
I really love coming to your blog, thank you for sharing your recipes and memories behind them. Your Southern recipes are hands down 100% true and the most authentic out there. I get so tired of some of the bullshit recipes I see on pinterest at times claiming to be authentic recipes yet they aren’t even close.
Good morning, Sadie! Thank you so much for sharing that with me. I completely understand how you feel and I know it’s frustrating. I don’t think they mean to destroy our culture’s food, I think they are just being creative. I usually only go to reputable Southern Blogs there are still some real Southern Belles blogging real recipes from the South. I noticed a recipe for Cowboy Caviar the other day made with black beans– and went hold crap that’s not right–They really made black bean salsa. I just kept my mouth closed and moved on.
Looks like a bowl of memories, Heidy 🙂 I haven’t made this in ages, thanks for the inspiration!
This was such a childhood favorite. Of course I made some changes to our original over the years and love it more if you can believe that!!!
This looks healthy and delicious Heidy! Pinned and shared!
Thank you so much, Joanne!
Reblogged this on Sarah's Attic Of Treasures and Our Neck Of The Woods and commented:
The only thing I know I would do differently is use the whole egg. I am an egg yolk person.
This salad looks awesome.
Thanks, so much. I like the yolks, but I really try to watch what I eat sometimes 🙂