Tuna Pasta Salad Easy Recipe
A great thing about Tuna Pasta Salad is you can serve it as a side dish or a lighter summer weeknight meal.

Salads are an easy fix for weeknight meals not to mention a light meal idea for the summer season. If you have been eating light for a while now, you may be craving a little comfort food and a good Tuna Pasta Salad will be sure to satisfy that craving!
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Salad Ingredients
- 1 box Macaroni noodles boiled and drained
- 1 2 oz. jar pimentos, undrained
- 2 celery stalks chopped
- 3 (5 oz.) cans Tuna, drained
- ½ Cup finely shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. pepper
Dressing Ingredients
- 1 Cup mayonnaise
- 4 Tbsp. vinegar
- 1 tsp. Dry mustard
- 3 Tbsp. sugar
Optional Ingredients
- You can substitute sweet bell peppers for the celery
- If you don’t want the crunch, substitute celery salt for celery and leave out the regular salt
- Green peas
- Red onion
- Boiled eggs
- Sweet pickle relish

Making the recipe
This recipe is super easy and doesn’t make a big mess in the kitchen!
Dressing Directions
In a small bowl mix together the mayonnaise, vinegar, dry mustard and sugar. Whisk together well and set aside.
Salad Directions

Step 1
In a large saucepan, boil the noodles al dente according to the macaroni noodle package directions. Drain in a colander.

Step 2
Pour the drained noodles into a large bowl. Add the salt, pepper, chopped celery, pimentos, cheese and tuna. Stir well to blend.
Note: I prefer tuna packed in oil for the flavor it adds.
Step 3
Now pour the dressing over the tuna noodle mixture and stir well. You want the creamy dressing to touch everything and get inside those macaroni noodles too.
Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour to allow the flavors to marinade. This recipe can be made a day ahead. Refrigerate leftovers.
Serve and enjoy!

Tuna Pasta Salad is a nice weeknight meal in the summer and you can take leftovers for lunch the next day which is what we always do. Leftovers stretch the budget so this meal is a win win in my house!

Tuna Pasta Salad Easy Recipe
Serve this quick and easy Tuna Pasta Salad as a side dish or a main course. Good any time of the year, especially for summer lighter meals.
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients
- 1 box (8 oz.) Macaroni noodles boiled and drained
- 1 2 oz. jar pimentos, undrained
- 2 celery stalks chopped
- 3 (5 oz.) cans Tuna, drained
- ½ Cup finely shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. pepper
Dressing Ingredients
- 1 Cup mayonnaise
- 4 Tbsp. vinegar
- 1 tsp. Dry mustard
- 3 Tbsp. sugar
Instructions
In a small bowl mix together the mayonnaise, vinegar, dry mustard and sugar. Whisk together well and set aside.
In a large saucepan, boil the noodles al dente according to the macaroni noodle package directions. Drain in a colander.
Pour the drained noodles into a large bowl. Add the salt, pepper, chopped celery, pimentos, cheese and tuna. Stir well to blend.
Now pour the dressing over the tuna noodle mixture and stir well. You want the creamy dressing to touch everything and get inside those macaroni noodles too.
Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour to allow the flavors to marinade.
This recipe can be made a day ahead. Refrigerate leftovers.
Notes
I prefer tuna packed in oil for the flavor it adds.
Leftovers are great to take for lunch the next day.
Nutrition Information
Yield 8 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 100Total Fat 5gSaturated Fat 3gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 2gCholesterol 19mgSodium 397mgCarbohydrates 6gFiber 1gSugar 0gProtein 8g
Nutrition information is estimated and may not be exact based on uncontrolled variables in home kitchens used by each individual cook.



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This is one of my comfort food that I can’t get enough of this tuna pasta salad. Have you also tried substituting the tuna perhaps some chicken, bacon or ham?
I totally agree, Marie. Easy recipes are always the best especially for working mothers. You’re right. This Tuna Pasta Salad is a great match for a roasted beef or BBQ. Gosh! Now, I’m craving .
This is a great side to bring to a BBQ or family reunion! I’m all about easy, throw-together recipes.