Mom's Cold Tuna Salad

Cool, creamy, and bursting with classic flavors, Mom's Cold Tuna Salad is the ultimate nostalgic comfort food. Perfect for picnics, potlucks, or a quick weeknight dinner, this easy recipe combines tender elbow macaroni with protein-packed tuna, crunchy celery, and sweet pickle relish for a delightful contrast of textures. Creamy mayonnaise ties it all together, while chopped hard-boiled eggs and a hint of red onion elevate each bite. Ready in just 30 minutes, this refreshing tuna pasta salad is best served chilled, making it an excellent make-ahead option. Garnished with fresh parsley for a pop of color, this versatile dish works beautifully as a light main course or a side dish alongside crackers or veggies. Simple, satisfying, and irresistibly delicious!

Nutriscore Rating: 64/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:15 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 2 5-ounce cans canned tuna (in water)
• 2 cups elbow macaroni
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 2 stalks celery
• 0.5 medium onion red onion
• 2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
• 2 large hard-boiled eggs
• 0.5 teaspoons salt
• 0.25 teaspoons black pepper
• 1 tablespoon fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)

Directions

Step 1

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the elbow macaroni and cook according to the package directions until al dente, about 7-8 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside to cool completely.

Step 2

While the pasta is cooling, finely dice the celery and red onion. Peel and chop the hard-boiled eggs into small pieces.

Step 3

In a large mixing bowl, combine the drained tuna, cooked and cooled macaroni, diced celery, red onion, chopped eggs, and sweet pickle relish.

Step 4

Add the mayonnaise, salt, and black pepper to the bowl. Mix well until all ingredients are evenly coated and combined. Taste, and adjust seasoning if necessary.

Step 5

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to chill and allow the flavors to meld together.

Step 6

Before serving, give the salad a quick stir and garnish with freshly chopped parsley, if desired.

Step 7

Serve cold as a standalone dish or alongside crackers, bread, or fresh vegetable sticks.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(719.9g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2780.9

Total Fat 186.7g	0%
Saturated Fat 19.0g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.8g
Cholesterol 667.8mg	0%
Sodium 2322.9mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 214.8g	0%
Dietary Fiber 8.8g	0%
Total Sugars 16.4g
Protein 56.4g	0%

Vitamin D 213.4IU	0%
Calcium 82.0mg	0%
Iron 9.9mg	0%
Potassium 433.6mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 60.8%

Protein: 8.2%

Carbs: 31.1%