Simple Tuna Macaroni Salad Recipe

It takes only 20 minutes to put together this Simple Tuna Macaroni Salad and, you have got lunch ready without a hassle. It is easy to make, delicious, and a fantastic summer salad to please a crowd.

It’s summer and 111 degrees today! The thought of cooking in a kitchen with heatwaves makes me feel exhausted. So, what is for lunch today? Well, something quick and easy and doesn’t make me sweat. It has to be my Simple Tuna Macaroni Salad!

I love this recipe and prepare this very often for a quick lunch. When I have not done any meal prep for the next day or too tired to make rice and curry for lunch, this is my go-to recipe.

How to make Simple Tuna Macaroni Salad

This Simple Tuna Macaroni Salad is so versatile. Depending on what you have in hand. The recipe calls for easy-to-find ingredients that must be already there in your pantry and fridge.

Ingredients for Salad

Veggies for the recipe:

For this recipe, I used three different colors of bell pepper, lettuce, red onion, pickled gherkins, and some pickled jalapenos for some kick. Our spicy palate does not end there; we also like some green chilies in this salad which works very well. You can always leave both chilies out or have one that you prefer for a little spicy kick. Apart from this, sometimes I do add diced cucumber, baby spinach, broccoli, carrots, tomatoes, corn, and rocket leaves. Depending on what you have in hand, you could add any veggies you want.

First main Ingredient: Tuna

I always have canned tuna in my pantry. I prefer buying the ones in brine ( water) because of their flavor. Most of all, it is much healthier than the tuna in oil. This salad also can be made with prawns or chicken, and if you want to make it low-carb: leave the pasta out and add more veggies. You can prepare this salad any way you want.

Second main Ingredient: Pasta

I used the elbow shape here. However, you can use any small, short pasta. At times I cook the pasta a day in advance, drain it, cool completely, put it in an air-tight container and leave it in the fridge. The next day I take it out and put the pasta in boiling water for 1 minute and drain it and use it for this salad. I do this because I like my pasta to be slightly warm. So it absorbs all the flavors. You could also use this method to make other pasta dishes. 

For the Salad Dressing: 

The dressing is so simple to put together. You will only need Mayo, lemon juice, and some freshly ground black pepper.  I used about 1/2 cup of mayo but if you like more you can add 3/4 cup. Put all the ingredients in a large bowl and add the ingredients for the dressing. Mix until everything is well coated. 

Simple Tuna Macaroni Salad Recipe

Recipe by Ruwani Ravin KumarCourse: Sides, Main, LunchCuisine: American

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

10

minutes

Cooking time

10

minutes

It takes only 20 minutes to put together this Simple Tuna Macaroni Salad and, you have got lunch ready without a hassle. It is easy to make, delicious, and a fantastic summer salad to please a crowd.

Ingredients

• 4 cups of cooked elbow pasta

• 2 cans light meat tuna in brine( drained)

• ½ red bell pepper diced

• ½ green bell pepper diced

• ½ yellow bell pepper diced

• 1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce/lettuce of your choice

• 1 pickled cucumber finely diced

• 2 Tablespoon chopped pickled jalapeno / fresh jalapeno (optional)

• 1 Tablespoon lemon juice

• 2 green chilies chopped (optional)

• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper

• 1/2 to 3/4 cup good mayonnaise

Directions

• Dice the veggies and put them in a large bowl. Add the chopped pickled cucumber and Jalapeno.
• Put the cooked and cooled pasta into the bowl full of veggies.
  
• Drain the water from the canned tuna and add it to the bowl.
• Next, add lemon juice, black pepper, and mayonnaise. Use a large spoon to mix well. Serve as a main or side.
• If serving later, cover the salad bowl with cling wrap and place it in the refrigerator.
• This salad can be prepped a day in advance and mixed few hours before serving.