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    Home » Recipes » Lunch » Lunch Salads

    Quick Tuna Macaroni Salad

    Published: Jul 30, 2020 · Updated: May 13, 2021 by Neil 8 Comments

    44 shares
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    Two bowls of tuna macaroni salad one in front of the other. Pin title text overlay at top.

    Quick tuna macaroni salad is a twist on the classic family favourite. Easy to make and made with healthy veggies this is a lower calorie, lower fat version too!

    Two bowls of tuna macaroni salad one in front of the other with forks to the left hand side and salt and pepper cellars in the background.

    Quick tuna macaroni salad. A delicious quick and easy lunch!

    Folks, who remembers all those gloopy shop bought pasta salads that you once thought were a healthy lunch option?

    Well I used to think so too. Until I examined the list of ingredients. Ouch!

    It wasn't until I began to pay attention to what I was eating in a bid to loose weight that I discovered shop-bought salads are often packed with so much fat, sugar, calories and salt.

    A bowl of tuna macaroni salad with salt and pepper cellars behind and the main bowl of salad in the background.

    Usually the problem is the dressing. 

    Often there's so much full fat dressing that it completely obscures the taste of the salad itself! 

    Well I think that's enough said.

    What I've got here for you today is a tasty healthier home made tuna macaroni salad that will take just 20 minutes for you to make.

    A bowl of served tuna macaroni salad with the main serving bowl of salad in the background.

    I've kept the recipe as close to the classic old fashioned recipe as possible with peas added.

    I have removed the hard boiled egg though. There's nothing to say you couldn't also add that back in if you wanted to. Just be aware the nutritional label will then be invalid.

    You'll get four servings from this quick tuna macaroni salad therefore it's perfect for packed lunches, or even dinner for the whole family.

    The chopped red onion and fresh red pepper add an amazing crunch. Whilst the very small amount of reduced fat mayonnaise dressing is plenty to go round the whole dish.

    Not only is this a great all year round recipe but it's the perfect summer recipe. I hope yours is going well!

    Birds eye view of two bowls of tuna macaraoni salad with forks to the left hand side and salt and pepper cellars at the top.

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    • Salmon macaroni salad is an easy and delicious to make fish pasta salad recipe. Made in just 20 minutes it serves four and is perfect as a lunch or dinner option!

    Quick tuna macaroni salad is a twist on the classic family favourite. Easy to make and made with healthy veggies this is a lower calorie, lower fat version too! Click to Tweet

    Quick Tuna Macaroni Salad Recipe

    If you're making this macaroni tuna salad the day before and storing it in the fridge, I recommend removing it and allowing it to come back to room temperature before serving. It's much tastier that way!

    I’d love to hear what you think of my recipe in the comments below and please do rate my recipe 5* if you like it! 🙂

    Two bowls of tuna macaroni salad one in front of the other with forks to the left hand side and salt and pepper cellars in the background.
    Print Recipe Save Recipe Saved Recipe!
    5 from 5 votes

    Quick Tuna Macaroni Salad Recipe

    Quick tuna macaroni salad is a twist on the classic family favourite. Easy to make and made with healthy veggies this is a lower calorie, lower fat version too!
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time10 mins
    Total Time20 mins
    Course: Dinner, Lunch
    Cuisine: International
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 382kcal
    Author: Neil

    The following links and any links in the recipe card below are affiliate links.

    This means that if you click on it and then buy that product I’ll get a small commission (at no extra cost to you of course).

    If you do click through then thanks for being a part of Neil’s Healthy Meals!

    Equipment

    • Saucepans
    • Kitchen scale
    • Chopping board
    • Measuring spoons
    • Kitchen knives

    Ingredients

    • 250 g macaroni
    • ½ small red onion finely chopped
    • 1 red pepper diced
    • 2 x 160g tins of tuna in spring water
    • 5 tablespoon reduced fat mayonnaise
    • Salt and freshly grated pepper
    • 100 g frozen peas
    Metric - US Customary

    Instructions

    • Begin to cook the macaroni in a pan of boiling water as per the packet instructions.
    • Whilst the macaroni is cooking quickly chop the red onion and red pepper.
    • Drain the tuna then mix it with the mayonnaise and the chopped onion and pepper.
    • Approximately 2 minutes before the end of the macaroni cooking add the frozen peas into the same pot.
    • When the pasta and peas are cooked, drain the pot and immediately add the tuna mayonnaise mixture in. Stir well to combine all the ingredients.
    • Season to taste.
    • Serve warm. Or serve cold. If putting in the fridge until later be sure to remove so the pasta can return to room temperature.
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    Nutrition

    Calories: 382kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 33mg | Sodium: 347mg | Potassium: 435mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1171IU | Vitamin C: 49mg | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 3mg

    Nutrition Facts
    Quick Tuna Macaroni Salad
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 382 Calories from Fat 54
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 6g9%
    Saturated Fat 1g6%
    Cholesterol 33mg11%
    Sodium 347mg15%
    Potassium 435mg12%
    Carbohydrates 55g18%
    Fiber 4g17%
    Sugar 6g7%
    Protein 27g54%
    Vitamin A 1171IU23%
    Vitamin C 49mg59%
    Calcium 37mg4%
    Iron 3mg17%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Katerina

      July 30, 2020 at 12:18 pm

      5 stars
      My kids love tuna and macaroni but I've never thought of putting these together. This is such a great idea for a weekday dinner - I am absolutely adopting it! I might skip the onion as that's sometimes hard to sell to kids but otherwise I can see this is going to be a hit around here. Thanks so much for sharing, Neil, I hope you've been well!

      Reply
      • Neil

        July 31, 2020 at 5:24 am

        Tuna and macaroni are such an amazing combination together Katerina. I really think your kids would love this. My tuna macaroni bake was a recipe my mum used to make when I was a kid and I absolutely loved it!

        Reply
    2. Shashi

      July 31, 2020 at 10:25 am

      5 stars
      My mom used to make a tuna and macaroni salad that always had me craving seconds - then I came to the US and those store bought salads just didn't cut it so I totally understand. Besides, homemade healthier options like this tuna macaroni salad are more my style. Such a fantastic recipe when I'm craving some tuna and mac comfort! Hope you and lady Lynne have a great weekend!

      Reply
      • Neil

        August 01, 2020 at 7:22 am

        I know Shashi. Every time I've bought store bought tuna macaroni salad I've been disappointed at the taste, and then I've looked at the recipe ingredients and thought "yuck"! Homemade is so much better (and healthier!). The weekend has just begun here so we're heading out. Hope you guys are well too! 🙂

        Reply
    3. David @ Spiced

      July 31, 2020 at 2:40 pm

      5 stars
      You make such a good point about store-bought pasta salads, Neil. They're often so covered in mayo that you can barely eat them. I love homemade versions! I've never added tuna to our cold pasta salads before, though...I'll have to try that. Talk about a fun way to turn a side dish into a main dish!

      Reply
      • Neil

        August 01, 2020 at 7:24 am

        Thanks David. Yes you should try adding tuna to your cold pasta salads. I think you'll love it and especially Robbie too! Take care and enjoy your weekend. 😀

        Reply
    4. laura

      August 03, 2020 at 9:18 pm

      5 stars
      We love these types of salads, too, Neil! And, I totally agree with you, the store-bought ones are so delicious precisely because they are not so good for you. Your version looks delicious and it's so much healthier.love how easy, too! I'm a fan!

      Reply
      • Neil

        August 04, 2020 at 5:56 am

        Thanks Laura. Here's hoping you're getting decent weather at the moment to enjoy plenty of salads like these! 🙂

        Reply

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