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Southern Tuna Macaroni Salad

2/1/19

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!

Tuna macaroni salad is a quick and delicious summer salad recipe that's perfect for potlucks and picnics.

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!!

Creamy tuna macaroni salad is a delicious potluck recipe.

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.

This creamy tuna macaroni salad is a cheap and easy dish to bring to a family gathering.

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:

  • Cilantro Ranch Pasta Salad
  • Summer Pasta Salad
  • Deviled Egg Macaroni Salad
This tuna macaroni salad is a simple recipe that comes together quickly.

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!

Don’t forget to save & share this recipe on Pinterest!

Southern Tuna Macaroni Salad Recipe from I Heart Recipes

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!

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Southern Tuna Macaroni Salad

This delicious tuna macaroni salad is the perfect dish for a summer potluck. It’s a crowd-pleaser!
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword Tuna Macaroni Salad
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 10 servings
Author I Heart Recipes

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!

seafood macaroni salad
Seafood Macaroni Salad
Cold spaghetti pasta salad
Cold Spaghetti Salad
Italian Pasta Salad
Italian Pasta Salad

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Comments

  1. Cheryl says

    February 1, 2019 at 4:08 pm

    Hi, I will love to try this recipe but how many cans of tuna to use?

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      February 1, 2019 at 5:04 pm

      See what happens when I rush? LOL. I used 16 oz 🙂

      Reply
  2. Patricia Turner says

    February 1, 2019 at 4:29 pm

    Looks delicious, will try for Super Bowl Sunday. However, your recipe doesn’t include how much tuna or list it in ingredients

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      February 1, 2019 at 5:04 pm

      I apologize! I used 16 oz of canned tuna 🙂

      Reply
  3. Blessful says

    February 1, 2019 at 4:31 pm

    Hey Rosie, you forgot about the tuna in your recipe

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      February 1, 2019 at 5:05 pm

      I apologize! I used 16 oz of canned tuna 🙂

      Reply
  4. Jennie says

    February 1, 2019 at 4:43 pm

    Oops! Looks like you forgot the tuna in the ingredients list! One can or two? Drained or undrained? Thanks Rosie!
    Jennie

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      February 1, 2019 at 5:05 pm

      I apologize! I used 16 oz of canned tuna 🙂

      Reply
  5. Kenya says

    February 1, 2019 at 4:47 pm

    PINNED on 2 different boards! Will be back to review as soon as I make it! Thanks for posting luv!

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      February 1, 2019 at 5:05 pm

      Thanks Kenya!

      Reply
      • Kenya says

        February 3, 2019 at 7:32 pm

        5 stars
        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!

        Reply
  6. Mattie Grier says

    February 1, 2019 at 4:59 pm

    On the Southern Macaroni Salad, you didn’t list amount of tuna, was included in the recipe, didn’t state amount.

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      February 1, 2019 at 5:05 pm

      I apologize! I used 16 oz of canned tuna 🙂

      Reply
  7. Nina M Moore says

    February 1, 2019 at 5:00 pm

    You missed out Tuna. Didn’t say the size can of tuna/s on your webpage.

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      February 1, 2019 at 5:05 pm

      I apologize! I used 16 oz of canned tuna 🙂

      Reply
  8. Sandra says

    February 1, 2019 at 5:06 pm

    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

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      February 1, 2019 at 5:12 pm

      It does, I updated it. It’s up to you whether you want in oil or water. 🙂

      Reply
  9. Pat says

    February 2, 2019 at 5:57 am

    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?

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      February 2, 2019 at 4:27 pm

      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 🙂

      Reply
  10. Angie says

    February 2, 2019 at 7:58 am

    5 stars
    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

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      February 2, 2019 at 4:27 pm

      Thanks for trying Angie!

      Reply
  11. Hattie Blackmon says

    February 2, 2019 at 8:23 pm

    This salad is very delicious! I used tuna in oil because it’s more flavorful, and I drained the tuna.

    Reply
  12. Georgia Ross says

    February 18, 2019 at 12:34 am

    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!!!

    Reply
  13. Vicky says

    July 3, 2019 at 6:09 pm

    5 stars
    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!

    Reply
  14. Jae says

    August 28, 2019 at 11:37 am

    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!

    Reply
  15. Beatrice says

    November 26, 2019 at 4:21 pm

    5 stars
    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 🙂

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      November 27, 2019 at 8:02 am

      LOL!! Glad that you liked the recipe!

      Reply
  16. Val says

    March 26, 2020 at 3:08 pm

    5 stars
    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!

    Reply
  17. Carol Hieter says

    June 13, 2020 at 7:40 pm

    5 stars
    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!

    Reply
  18. Danielle says

    August 30, 2020 at 10:42 am

    5 stars
    Have made this for serveral occasions now, gets better everytime. Great recipe. Ingredients compliment the tune perfectly.

    Reply
  19. Michael Black says

    December 25, 2020 at 11:06 am

    5 stars
    Why to lay down the rules at the beginning…….lol Thats the main reason i am making this today
    Thanks
    Merry Christmas to all

    Reply

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