Old-School Tuna Macaroni Salad
Old-School Tuna Macaroni Salad
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt, or as needed
- 2 pounds Mueller's Elbows macaroni, (two 16-ounce boxes)
- 6 eggs
- 2 tomatoes, diced
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cans canned tuna, drained
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon Cajun seasoning, or to taste
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise, or to taste
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard, or to taste
- 1/4 cup sweet pickle relish, or to taste
Instructions
- 1
Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a rolling boil over high heat.
⏱️ 10 min
- 2
Add 1 tablespoon of kosher salt to the boiling water.
⏱️ 1 min
- 3
Carefully add the two boxes of Mueller's Elbows macaroni to the boiling water. Stir gently to prevent sticking.
⏱️ 1 min
- 4
Gently place the 6 eggs into the boiling water with the macaroni. Cook the macaroni and eggs together according to the macaroni package directions, typically 7-10 minutes, until the macaroni is al dente and the eggs are hard-boiled.
⏱️ 10 min
- 5
While the macaroni and eggs are cooking, dice the 2 tomatoes and 1 small onion into small, uniform pieces.
⏱️ 7 min
- 6
Once cooked, carefully drain the macaroni and eggs using a colander. Rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool the eggs.
⏱️ 3 min
- 7
Peel the hard-boiled eggs. Place them in a small bowl and use a fork to break them into small, chunky pieces.
⏱️ 4 min
- 8
In your largest mixing bowl, combine the drained elbow macaroni, chopped hard-boiled eggs, diced onions, and diced tomatoes.
⏱️ 3 min
- 9
Add the drained canned tuna to the macaroni mixture.
⏱️ 1 min
- 10
Season the mixture with black pepper, lemon pepper seasoning, and Cajun seasoning. Adjust amounts to your taste.
⏱️ 1 min
- 11
Add the mayonnaise, yellow mustard, and sweet pickle relish to the bowl.
⏱️ 1 min
- 12
Mix all the ingredients thoroughly with a large spoon or spatula until everything is well combined and coated.
⏱️ 3 min
- 13
Taste the macaroni salad and adjust seasonings, mayonnaise, mustard, or relish as needed.
⏱️ 1 min
- 14
For best flavor, cover the bowl and refrigerate the tuna macaroni salad for at least 1 hour before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
⏱️ 60 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Old-School Tuna Macaroni Salad
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt, or as needed
- 2 pounds Mueller's Elbows macaroni, (two 16-ounce boxes)
- 6 eggs
- 2 tomatoes, diced
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cans canned tuna, drained
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon Cajun seasoning, or to taste
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise, or to taste
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard, or to taste
- 1/4 cup sweet pickle relish, or to taste
Instructions
- 1
Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a rolling boil over high heat.
⏱️ 10 min - 2
Add 1 tablespoon of kosher salt to the boiling water.
⏱️ 1 min - 3
Carefully add the two boxes of Mueller's Elbows macaroni to the boiling water. Stir gently to prevent sticking.
⏱️ 1 min - 4
Gently place the 6 eggs into the boiling water with the macaroni. Cook the macaroni and eggs together according to the macaroni package directions, typically 7-10 minutes, until the macaroni is al dente and the eggs are hard-boiled.
⏱️ 10 min - 5
While the macaroni and eggs are cooking, dice the 2 tomatoes and 1 small onion into small, uniform pieces.
⏱️ 7 min - 6
Once cooked, carefully drain the macaroni and eggs using a colander. Rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool the eggs.
⏱️ 3 min - 7
Peel the hard-boiled eggs. Place them in a small bowl and use a fork to break them into small, chunky pieces.
⏱️ 4 min - 8
In your largest mixing bowl, combine the drained elbow macaroni, chopped hard-boiled eggs, diced onions, and diced tomatoes.
⏱️ 3 min - 9
Add the drained canned tuna to the macaroni mixture.
⏱️ 1 min - 10
Season the mixture with black pepper, lemon pepper seasoning, and Cajun seasoning. Adjust amounts to your taste.
⏱️ 1 min - 11
Add the mayonnaise, yellow mustard, and sweet pickle relish to the bowl.
⏱️ 1 min - 12
Mix all the ingredients thoroughly with a large spoon or spatula until everything is well combined and coated.
⏱️ 3 min - 13
Taste the macaroni salad and adjust seasonings, mayonnaise, mustard, or relish as needed.
⏱️ 1 min - 14
For best flavor, cover the bowl and refrigerate the tuna macaroni salad for at least 1 hour before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
⏱️ 60 min