Healthy Macaroni Salad (with Tuna)

This Healthy Macaroni Salad with Tuna is something my Mom often made while we were growing up, so it's one of my favorite comfort foods. This Healthy Macaroni salad recipe is a perfect side dish for BBQs, picnics, and summer potlucks, or a hot day, and I love that it's only 4 simple ingredients!

This simple tuna macaroni salad is like a tuna sandwich, but instead of bread, it's encased in macaroni. Maybe I think of it that way because I love tuna sandwiches! But what surprised me most is that my kids absolutely love this cold pasta salad! Because apparently, they don't even like tuna. It's interesting how kids won't eat something unless it's offered by someone other than their parents.

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🥘 Ingredient Notes
📖Variations & Substitutions
🔪How to Make Easy Macaroni Salad (with Tuna)
Expert Recipe Tips
🥗What to Eat with Tuna Macaroni Salad
👪 Serving Size
Calories in Tuna Macaroni Salad
🔢WW Points
🌡️ Storing
❔ Recipe FAQs
🥗More Side Salad Recipes!
📋 Healthy Macaroni Salad (with Tuna) Recipe

Had I been the one to introduce this simple macaroni salad recipe (with tuna) to them, I'm guessing they wouldn't have eaten it. However, since Grandma made it, they were all over it! But I guess I shouldn't be surprised- my kids pretty much love everything that their Grandma makes. And although it may have tuna in it, tuna is simply a supporting character - macaroni is still the star of the show! And what kid doesn't love macaroni?

In fact, my kids love macaroni more than almost any other food. Macaroni and cheese was not only my son's very first solid food, but it was also one of his first words. Macaroni is pure comfort food. And this is the best tuna macaroni salad and the ultimate summer way to enjoy macaroni!

🥘 Ingredient Notes

This healthy Tuna Macaroni Salad (without peas) is a simple salad that can be thrown together last minute or made ahead. It's served cold, so it's perfect for feeding a crowd or bringing along to a potluck, picnic, or BBQ! The bonus is... it only has 4 ingredients:

Ingredients in Healthy Tuna Macaroni Salad in white bowls, labelled.

Macaroni noodles. I use Smart pasta because it tastes better and tends to cook faster than whole wheat, but you still get 4X as much fibre as white pasta! Although it’s not quite as healthy as the whole wheat, you are still getting those additional benefits. And if you’re not a fan of whole wheat, it’s a good alternative. This will make your healthy tuna pasta salad even healthier than if you used white macaron
Low-fat mayonnaise (I use Hellman's ½ the fat because I think it tastes the best)
Canned tuna. You need to make sure your canned tuna is packed in water, not oil. And it's easier to use flaked tuna, as opposed to chunk tuna. If you use chunk then just be sure to break it up with a fork before you add it to the salad.

📖Variations & Substitutions

Mayonnaise - you can use full fat (if you prefer) or a homemade mayonnaise or any type or brand you like (i.e., Miracle Whip)
Pasta - you can use regular macaroni, another type of pasta, whole wheat macaroni, or smart pasta (see below)
Onions - you can also substitute red onion, if you don't like green onions. Or use celery instead of onion.
Add-ins - red bell pepper, green pepper, dill pickles

🔪How to Make Easy Macaroni Salad (with Tuna)

Macaroni being cooked in a pot of boiling water.

Step 1: Boil pasta in a large pot, as per package directions, until al dente. * I add a teaspoon of olive oil to the water I boil it in, as I find this is the best way to prevent it from sticking.

Step 2: Drain cooked pasta and cool. Refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes. * If you are in a hurry, you can rinse the macaroni with cold water to cool it faster!

Step 3: Place macaroni in a bowl in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to cool.

Macaroni with tuna, mayonnaise and onions in a glass bowl with a wooden spoon.

Step 4: Drain the tuna and add it to the cooled macaroni in a large bowl, along with ½ cup mayonnaise and chopped green onions.

Tuna mixed together with other ingredients in a large glass bowl with a wooden spoon.

Step 5: Stir until incorporated. Garnish with additional chopped onion, if desired. Serve cold. *You're going to want to refrigerate it for a couple of hours.

Expert Recipe Tips

Cool the pasta completely. Warm pasta will absorb the mayo and make the salad oily and dry. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or rinse with cold water to cool quickly before adding the other ingredients.
Break up tuna thoroughly. Use flaked tuna or break up chunk tuna with a fork before adding it to the salad so it mixes evenly throughout and doesn’t form clumps.
Chop green onions small. Finely chop the green onions so they blend in well without overpowering the texture or flavor of the salad.
Season to taste (if needed). Although this is a simple recipe, a pinch of salt and black pepper can enhance the flavor.
Refrigerate before serving. For the best flavor, refrigerate the assembled salad for at least 2 hours. This helps the flavors meld and makes it extra refreshing on hot days.
Use a teaspoon of oil in the pasta water. Adding a teaspoon of olive oil while cooking the macaroni can help prevent it from sticking—especially helpful if you plan to chill it for a while before assembling the salad.
Use a gentle hand when mixing. To keep the texture pleasant and avoid mashing the pasta, gently fold the ingredients together using a large spoon or spatula.
Serve cold. This salad is best served cold. If it’s been out for a while or at room temp, chill it again for 20–30 minutes before serving.
Make-ahead tip. If prepping in advance, wait to mix in the green onions and tuna until just before serving for the freshest taste and texture.

Simple tuna macaroni salad in a red serving bowl with a jar of dry macaroni in the background.

🥗What to Eat with Tuna Macaroni Salad

I love this Cold Tuna Macaroni Salad recipe because you can make it ahead or throw it together last minute. We often have macaroni salad with tuna on hot days with Maple BBQ Pork Loin Steaks, BBQ Beer Butt Chicken, or Fried Chicken (shown) and grilled veggies. It's also great for feeding a crowd or bringing it along to a potluck!

And if you are looking for more sides that pair well with Beer can chicken, check out my Sides for Beer Can Chicken post.

Fried chicken on a plate with bowl of macaroni salad in the middle

👪 Serving Size

This Macaroni Salad with Tuna recipe makes 8 servings. However, you can half, double, or triple the recipe by clicking on the serving number and selecting the number of servings you'd like. The ingredient quantities will automatically adjust.

Calories in Tuna Macaroni Salad

If I'm going to eat macaroni, I want to make it as healthy as possible. This Tuna Mac Salad recipe has 204 calories per serving and is Weight Watchers friendly at 6 WW points.

I use a light mayonnaise with half the fat (Hellman's is my favorite), and since whole wheat pasta takes such a long time to cook (and I find it a bit too dense), I prefer to use “smart pasta”.

🔢WW Points

This easy recipe is 6 ww points!

🌡️ Storing

This easy macaroni salad recipe will last up to 3-4 days in the fridge (in an airtight container), but I only like to keep it a day or two at most. It's best fresh. If you want to prep it in advance, then I recommend you add the tuna and green onions closer to serving.

❔ Recipe FAQs

Can I make this macaroni salad ahead of time?

Yes! You can make it a day in advance. However, for the freshest flavor and texture, it’s best to add the tuna and green onions shortly before serving.

Why does my macaroni salad dry out in the fridge?

Pasta absorbs liquid over time, so your salad may seem drier after refrigeration. If that happens, simply stir in a little more mayonnaise before serving.

What type of pasta works best besides elbow macaroni?

Other small pasta shapes like shells, rotini, or bow tie (farfalle) also work well. Just choose a shape that holds sauce and mixes easily with the other ingredients.

Why is my salad bland? How can I add more flavor?

Try adding a splash of lemon juice, a pinch of salt and pepper, or even a bit of Dijon mustard or dill. Chopped pickles or capers also boost flavor!

So, if you're looking for simple macaroni salad recipes (that are healthy), then give this a try!

And if you're looking for additional tuna recipes, give my Tuna Burgers (with canned tuna), Open Faced Tuna Melts (no mayo), Easy Tuna Casserole (with macaroni), or my Tuna Stuffed Tomatoes a try too.

🥗More Side Salad Recipes!

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