Sarasota's This Is Grandma's Tuna Macaroni Salad

"Sarasota's This Is Grandma's Tuna Macaroni Salad" is a nostalgic and comforting classic that brings a modern twist to a timeless favorite. Perfect for potlucks, picnics, or family gatherings, this creamy tuna macaroni salad combines the tender bite of elbow macaroni with savory chunks of canned tuna, crisp celery, and the bold tang of red onion. A blend of mayonnaise, yellow mustard, sweet pickle relish, and apple cider vinegar creates an irresistible dressing that’s both creamy and zesty, while diced hard-boiled eggs add an extra layer of richness. Finished with a sprinkle of paprika for a pop of color and flavor, this easy-to-make dish is best served chilled, allowing the vibrant ingredients to meld together beautifully. Quick to prepare yet big on flavor, it’s a crowd-pleaser that tastes just like grandma used to make! Keywords: tuna macaroni salad, creamy tuna salad, classic macaroni salad recipe, picnic side dish, nostalgic comfort food.

Nutriscore Rating: 68/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 2 cups elbow macaroni
• 10 ounces canned tuna
• 1 cup celery
• 0.5 cup red onion
• 0.25 cup sweet pickle relish
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
• 3 large hard-boiled eggs
• 0.5 teaspoon paprika

Directions

Step 1

Cook the elbow macaroni according to the package instructions in salted boiling water until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain, rinse under cold water, and set aside to cool.

Step 2

While the macaroni cools, finely chop the celery and red onion. Dice the hard-boiled eggs into small chunks.

Step 3

In a large mixing bowl, combine the mayonnaise, yellow mustard, apple cider vinegar, sweet pickle relish, sugar, salt, and black pepper. Mix well to form a creamy dressing.

Step 4

Add the cooled macaroni, canned tuna (make sure to drain it well), chopped celery, red onion, and diced eggs to the bowl with the dressing. Gently fold everything together until evenly coated.

Step 5

Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary (add more salt, pepper, or a splash of vinegar for tanginess).

Step 6

Transfer the salad to a serving bowl and sprinkle paprika on top for color and flavor.

Step 7

Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to let the flavors meld together. Serve chilled.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1187.3g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	3206.2

Total Fat 195.6g	0%
Saturated Fat 21.2g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.8g
Cholesterol 993.5mg	0%
Sodium 3763.8mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 233.4g	0%
Dietary Fiber 11.6g	0%
Total Sugars 29.4g
Protein 124.0g	0%

Vitamin D 717.0IU	0%
Calcium 191.1mg	0%
Iron 14.8mg	0%
Potassium 1409.3mg	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: 55.2%

Protein: 15.5%

Carbs: 29.3%