A Tuna Pasta Salad – The Old Fashioned Macaroni Salad For Your Next Potluck
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A tuna pasta salad is a pasta salad that has tuna in it. While the tuna does give a distinctive flavor, the salad has all the ingredients of a great pasta salad. Serve it the next time you host a potluck.
Tuna Pasta Salad is an old fashioned macaroni salad that features frozen peas, albacore tuna and cheddar cheese cubes. Its simplicity can be deceiving since it packs a punch of flavor that is perfect for your dinner table.
We love a good salad any time of year, but especially in the summer when it’s often too hot to cook. I like to serve pasta salads, bean salads, chicken salads, bologna salads – pretty much any type of salad you can think of.
Old Fashioned Macaroni Salad with Tuna Recipe
This Macaroni Salad as it’s called in the Eastern Airlines Cook Book is unique since it has tuna, peas and cubes of cheddar cheese.
I made it for a family vacation, and we ate on it for several days. The creaminess of the pasta salad dressing is a win.
If you are planning to make it ahead, I recommend putting an extra layer of mayonnaise right on top of it. That way, all you have to do is give it a good stir before serving. This will keep it from getting dry.
Hellman’s Tuna Macaroni Salad
The original recipe clearly specifies to use Hellman’s Mayonnaise, and I have to agree with her. But, if you can’t find Hellman’s or you have another favorite brand, go ahead and use it. It will still be tasty.
One minor change that I made to the original seashell salad is to use frozen peas instead of canned peas. Either can be used, just be sure to drain the canned first. I also let my frozen bag of peas thaw for a little bit before stirring into the Hellman’s Tuna Macaroni Salad.
What goes in tuna pasta salad?
Ingredient List for Old Fashioned Macaroni Salad with Tuna
The ingredients for this pasta salad with tuna are simple, and you might have most of them in your kitchen already. Check out our Amazon Store for many of the pantry items below and other kitchen must-haves.
Seashell Pasta or Macaroni
Hellmann’s Mayonnaise (or your favorite mayo brand)
Tuna, drained and chunked
Frozen Peas
Onion, optional
Green Pepper, optional
Sharp Cheddar Cheese, cubed
Salt
Ground Black Pepper
How to Make Pasta Salad with Tuna
Step By Step Instructions
- Bring cold water to a boil. Cook seashell (or macaroni) pasta according to package instructions; drain and let cool.
- In a large bowl, gently mix cooked pasta with mayonnaise, drained tuna, peas, onion (optional), green pepper (optional), cheddar cheese cubes.
- Taste and season with salt and ground black pepper.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve. Tastes best after letting the tuna pasta salad flavors meld together in the refrigerator for a few hours.
For the full ingredient amounts and recipe instructions for pasta salad with tuna, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
How long will tuna pasta salad last in the fridge?
Storage Instructions
Placed in an airtight container or a bowl that’s covered tightly with plastic wrap, tuna pasta salad can be stored for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.
FAQs
- Seashell pasta is also called small shells. Macaroni pasta works too!
- The original old fashioned macaroni salad recipe calls for canned peas that are drained. Feel free to use this type instead of frozen peas, if desired.
- I prefer Albacore tuna in this tuna macaroni salad, but chunk light tuna (in water or oil) works too.
- Substitute mild cheddar cheese or any other cubed cheeses that you prefer.
- Did you know that the grocery store sells cheddar cheese in cubes? To save time, go ahead and buy these instead of cutting your own cheese.
- Onions and green pepper are optional in this tuna macaroni salad.
- Making this ahead? I always think pasta salad needs more moisture if it sits in the refrigerator over night. To prevent a dry pasta salad, add more mayonnaise.
- Check out our Amazon Store for our favorite pantry essentials (like tuna) and kitchen gadgets.
What goes with tuna salad?
- Chips or pretzels
- Fresh veggies and dip
- Fruit salad
- Cottage cheese
- Applesauce
- Side salad
- Deviled eggs
- Cheese and crackers
- Pickled beets
- Cucumber and onions
- Pickles
Ways to Use Canned Tuna
What mixes well with tuna?
- Diced red bell pepper
- Celery
- Onion or red onion
- Fresh herbs (especially fresh dill)
- Cooked pasta
- Mayo, Miracle Whip or Greek Yogurt
- Fresh lemon juice
- Olives
- Cucumber
- Capers
- Hard Boiled Eggs
- Pickle Relish
- Cheese
Tuna Pasta Salad – An Old Fashioned Macaroni Salad with Tuna
Ingredients
- 16 ounces seashell pasta (small shells) or elbow macaroni
- 2 cups Hellman's mayonnaise
- 12 ounces albacore tuna, drained and chunked
- 1 – 2 cups frozen peas, slightly thawed
- 1 small onion, minced (optional)
- 1 green pepper, chopped (optional)
- 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, cubed
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package instructions; drain and cool.
- Gently stir in mayonnaise, drained tuna, peas, onion, green pepper, and cheese cubes with the macaroni.
- Taste, and season with salt and black pepper.
Notes
- Seashell pasta is also called small shells. Macaroni pasta works too!
- The original old fashioned macaroni salad recipe calls for canned peas that are drained. Feel free to use this type instead of frozen peas, if desired.
- I prefer Albacore tuna in this tuna macaroni salad, but chunk light tuna (in water or oil) works too.
- Substitute mild cheddar cheese or any other cubed cheeses that you prefer.
- Did you know that the grocery store sells cheddar cheese in cubes? To save time, go ahead and buy these instead of cutting your own cheese.
- Onions and green pepper are optional in this tuna macaroni salad.
- Making this ahead? I always think pasta salad needs more moisture if it sits in the refrigerator over night. To prevent a dry pasta salad, add more mayonnaise.
- Love peas? Try our Old Fashioned Pea Salad recipe.
Nutrition
