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!
Quick tuna macaroni salad is a delicious, quick, and easy healthy lunch option.
It's perfect for busy days when you want something tasty without spending too much time in the kitchen.
Folks, who remembers all those gloopy shop bought pasta salads that you once thought were a healthy option for lunch?
I certainly do. I used to grab them off the shelves, believing they were good for me.
However, everything changed when I decided to examine the list of ingredients on those packaged salads.
Ouch! I was shocked by what I found.
It wasn't until I began paying closer attention to my diet in a bid to lose weight that I discovered the truth.
Shop-bought salads are often packed with excessive amounts of fat, sugar, calories, and salt.
It was this realization led me to seek out healthier alternatives, like making my own healthy and quick tuna macaroni salad at home!
Usually, the problem with these shop-bought salads is the dressing.
Often there's so much full fat dressing that it completely obscures the taste of the salad itself!
This overload of dressing not only masks the flavours but also adds unnecessary calories and fat.
Well, I think that's enough said about the pitfalls of store-bought salads.
It's time to focus on a better alternative.
What I've got here for you today is a tasty, healthier homemade tuna macaroni salad.
The best part is that it will take just 20 minutes for you to make.
This quick and easy recipe ensures you can enjoy a delicious meal without compromising on health.
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!
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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! 🙂
Quick Tuna Macaroni Salad Recipe
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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
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.
Katerina
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!
Neil
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!
Shashi
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!
Neil
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! 🙂
David @ Spiced
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!
Neil
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. 😀
laura
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!
Neil
Thanks Laura. Here's hoping you're getting decent weather at the moment to enjoy plenty of salads like these! 🙂