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tuna macaroni salad recipe with Sweet Pickle Relish Confetti
- Total Time: 65 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Diet: General
Description
This classic tuna macaroni salad features elbow macaroni, canned tuna, and a creamy mayonnaise-based dressing with a sweet pickle relish confetti, celery, and red onion. It’s an easy, budget-friendly, and family-friendly meal perfect for weeknights.
Ingredients
- 16 oz elbow macaroni
- 2 5 oz cans canned tuna, albacore or chunk light, packed in water or oil
- 1 cup mayonnaise, full-fat or light
- 0.5 cup sweet pickle relish confetti
- 1 cup celery, finely diced
- 0.25 cup red onion, finely minced
- 1 Tbsp mustard, Dijon or yellow
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook Macaroni: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add macaroni and cook until al dente (10-12 minutes). Drain immediately and rinse well with cold water until cool to stop the cooking process.
- Drain and Flake Tuna: Open and thoroughly drain the two cans of tuna, pressing out excess liquid. Flake the tuna well with a fork until it is light and airy.
- Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, gently combine the cooled macaroni, flaked tuna, sweet pickle relish confetti, finely diced celery, and minced red onion.
- Whisk Dressing: In a separate small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, mustard, salt, and pepper until smooth and creamy.
- Dress and Chill Salad: Pour the whisked dressing over the macaroni mixture. Gently fold until all ingredients are evenly coated. (If it looks dry, splash in 1-2 Tbsp milk or pickle juice.) Cover the bowl and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes for flavors to meld.
Notes
For an extra tangy kick, add 1 Tbsp of pickle juice to the dressing. If the salad looks dry, splash in 1-2 Tbsp milk or pickle juice. For quicker macaroni cooking, use an Instant Pot for 3-4 minutes on high pressure, then quick release and rinse with cold water.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups (approx 200 g)
- Calories: 350 calories
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg