Tuna pasta salad made with lots of tuna fish, shell pasta, celery, onions, and spices. This southern tuna macaroni salad is the perfect side dish for any occasion!
Hey y’all! It’s officially potluck season. You know, when everyone and their mama is having a potluck for no specific reason, just to eat! I personally love going to potlucks, because it gets me out of the house, and gives me the opportunity to socialize, and of course EAT!!
Southern Style Tuna Macaroni Salad: The Perfect Potluck Dish!
One of my favorite side dishes to make for potlucks is my southern tuna macaroni salad. This tuna pasta salad always gets praised, and most people really don’t realize how effortless, and cheap my tuna macaroni salad is to make.
First, and foremost, I make my southern tuna macaroni salad without peas. Peas ISSA NO! No peas in my tuna macaroni salad, it is just not my thing. I also refuse to use miracle whip! So no, this ain’t no tuna salad with miracle whip recipe y’all. I prefer to use Best Foods aka Hellmans mayonnaise for my tuna macaroni salad!
This tuna pasta salad isn’t the only picnic-ready salad recipe we have. Check out these other popular salads:
As far as seasoning my southern tuna macaroni salad, I keep it simple. I use salt, pepper, and a little bit of garlic powder. Since this dish already has onions & dill relish, I don’t have to add too much to it!
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Watch me make this Southern Macaroni Salad, and print the recipe below! Don’t forget to subscribe to I Heart Recipes on YouTube to catch all my recipe uploads!
Southern Tuna Macaroni Salad
Ingredients
- 4 cups uncooked shell pasta elbow macaroni will work as well
- 16 oz canned tuna drained
- 4 boiled eggs crumbled
- 1 1/2 cup mayonnaise I use Best Foods/ Hellmans
- 1 small red onion diced
- 3 ribs celery diced
- 1/4 cup chopped green onion
- 1/4 cup dill relish
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp coarse black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
Optional for garnishing
- paprika
- fresh chopped parsley
Instructions
- Cook the shell macaroni pasta until it’s nice and al’ dente, then drain the water.
- Rinse the pasta under cold water, then set to the side.
- In a large mixing bowl toss in the mayonnaise, dill relish, tuna, onions, and celery. Mix the ingredients, then toss in the salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Make sure that everything is well combined, then add in the cooked macaroni pasta.
- Fold the ingredients until everything is well combined, then cover the bowl, and refrigerate for a at least 1 hour.
- Put the macaroni salad in your desired serving dish.
- Optional: Add paprika and parsley on top.
- Serve and enjoy!
Video
Want more pasta salad recipes? Check out my others!
Hi, I will love to try this recipe but how many cans of tuna to use?
See what happens when I rush? LOL. I used 16 oz 🙂
Looks delicious, will try for Super Bowl Sunday. However, your recipe doesn’t include how much tuna or list it in ingredients
I apologize! I used 16 oz of canned tuna 🙂
Hey Rosie, you forgot about the tuna in your recipe
I apologize! I used 16 oz of canned tuna 🙂
Oops! Looks like you forgot the tuna in the ingredients list! One can or two? Drained or undrained? Thanks Rosie!
Jennie
I apologize! I used 16 oz of canned tuna 🙂
PINNED on 2 different boards! Will be back to review as soon as I make it! Thanks for posting luv!
Thanks Kenya!
Made it for Super Bowl and it was delicious! Was out of dill relish, so I used sweet salad cubes and added dried dill. Also didn’t have celery, so I used celery salt instead. Will make this again!
On the Southern Macaroni Salad, you didn’t list amount of tuna, was included in the recipe, didn’t state amount.
I apologize! I used 16 oz of canned tuna 🙂
You missed out Tuna. Didn’t say the size can of tuna/s on your webpage.
I apologize! I used 16 oz of canned tuna 🙂
In the tuna & macaroni salad it does not tell you how many cans of tuna to use & what kind,the tuna in water or the tuna in oil
It does, I updated it. It’s up to you whether you want in oil or water. 🙂
Rosie, I love the recipe. My concern is something else. I use to be able to get your recipe by Email but u don’t offer that anymore. I kept them all in my email folder but now I can’t. Can you help by adding Email as another way to share again?
Hi Pat, I do still send out emails. You should have gotten one on Friday for this recipe. If not, please check your spam folder, or you may have to sign up again. The form is at the top of my blog 🙂
WOW! That is a great pic of Tuna Salad! WE made this and it is wonderful! Thank you so much for sharing. We added- 1 TBSP Ranch Powder. YUUUMMMMMY
Thanks for trying Angie!
This salad is very delicious! I used tuna in oil because it’s more flavorful, and I drained the tuna.
Hi Rosie,
I just found you tonight, I gotta say that I love you already, no Miracle Whip. Haha. It’s past midnight, but I’m sure I’ll be power pinning your recipes for the next 2 hours. Be well!!!
Hi Rosie! I am a college student trying to learn how to feed myself with food I make myself. This recipe has a lot of servings which is great for families, but I’m only one person haha. Do you know how many days this dish can stay in the fridge? I really appreciate it!
Love, love, love your site. You are definitely a true down home chef. Haven’t had this in years – since my children grew up and moved away. Your changes are great!
I just made tonight. It was a hit! The only thing I eliminated was celery because I forgot to buy it. I already took off my ___ and we all know once that’s off there is no going back out to the store LOL.
Thanks for the recipe!! Its all gone so now I have to make more for Thanksgiving in 2 days 🙂
LOL!! Glad that you liked the recipe!
This turned out absolutely delicious. I forgot to buy green onions, so, I doubled up on the other onion. It is fantastic. Rosie, you are a fantastic cook. Thank you!
We absolutely loved this recipe! I ended up using 1/2 mayo & 1/2 Greek yogurt, as I didn’t have enough mayo, but still tasted wonderful. Thank you for sharing your recipe!
Have made this for serveral occasions now, gets better everytime. Great recipe. Ingredients compliment the tune perfectly.
Why to lay down the rules at the beginning…….lol Thats the main reason i am making this today
Thanks
Merry Christmas to all