Creamy Macaroni Tuna Salad
Creamy Macaroni Tuna Salad
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 2 cups elbow macaroni, dry
- 1/2 cup chicken stock, for pasta water
- 4 large eggs, hard-boiled, peeled, and smashed
- 4 cans Bumble Bee Chunk White Albacore Tuna, drained
- 1/2 yellow onion, grated, excess water squeezed out
- 2 celery stalks, finely diced
- 2 Roma tomatoes, cubed
For the Dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sweet relish
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon Creole seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt, plus more as needed
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, plus more as needed
Instructions
- 1
Place the large eggs in a saucepan and cover with cold water by 1 inch. Bring the water to a rolling boil over high heat. Once boiling, remove the pan from the heat, cover, and let stand for 10-12 minutes. Drain the hot water, then cool the eggs under cold running water or in an ice bath. Once cooled, peel and smash the eggs with a fork in a small bowl.
⏱️ 15 min•🌡️ 212
- 2
In a large pot, bring 6 cups of water and the 1/2 cup chicken stock to a boil. Add 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Add the elbow macaroni and cook according to package directions until al dente, typically 7-9 minutes. Drain the pasta thoroughly and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down. Set aside.
⏱️ 10 min•🌡️ 212
- 3
While the pasta cooks, grate the yellow onion using a box grater. Transfer the grated onion to a cheesecloth or a fine-mesh sieve and squeeze out as much excess liquid as possible. This step helps to mellow the onion's flavor.
⏱️ 5 min
- 4
Finely dice the celery stalks and cube the Roma tomatoes. Set aside with the other prepared ingredients.
⏱️ 5 min
- 5
Open and thoroughly drain the 4 cans of Bumble Bee Chunk White Albacore Tuna. Flake the drained tuna into a large mixing bowl.
⏱️ 2 min
- 6
Add the smashed hard-boiled eggs, grated and squeezed onion, diced celery, and cubed tomatoes to the bowl with the flaked tuna. Add the cooled, drained macaroni to the bowl.
⏱️ 3 min
- 7
In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sweet relish, Dijon mustard, Creole seasoning, and lemon pepper until well combined. Taste the dressing and adjust seasonings if necessary.
⏱️ 2 min
- 8
Pour the prepared dressing over the salad ingredients in the large mixing bowl. Gently fold everything together with a large spoon or spatula until all ingredients are evenly coated. Taste the macaroni tuna salad and adjust salt and black pepper as needed.
⏱️ 3 min
- 9
Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the salad to chill thoroughly. Serve cold and enjoy!
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Creamy Macaroni Tuna Salad
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 2 cups elbow macaroni, dry
- 1/2 cup chicken stock, for pasta water
- 4 large eggs, hard-boiled, peeled, and smashed
- 4 cans Bumble Bee Chunk White Albacore Tuna, drained
- 1/2 yellow onion, grated, excess water squeezed out
- 2 celery stalks, finely diced
- 2 Roma tomatoes, cubed
For the Dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sweet relish
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon Creole seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt, plus more as needed
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, plus more as needed
Instructions
- 1
Place the large eggs in a saucepan and cover with cold water by 1 inch. Bring the water to a rolling boil over high heat. Once boiling, remove the pan from the heat, cover, and let stand for 10-12 minutes. Drain the hot water, then cool the eggs under cold running water or in an ice bath. Once cooled, peel and smash the eggs with a fork in a small bowl.
⏱️ 15 min•🌡️ 212 - 2
In a large pot, bring 6 cups of water and the 1/2 cup chicken stock to a boil. Add 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Add the elbow macaroni and cook according to package directions until al dente, typically 7-9 minutes. Drain the pasta thoroughly and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down. Set aside.
⏱️ 10 min•🌡️ 212 - 3
While the pasta cooks, grate the yellow onion using a box grater. Transfer the grated onion to a cheesecloth or a fine-mesh sieve and squeeze out as much excess liquid as possible. This step helps to mellow the onion's flavor.
⏱️ 5 min - 4
Finely dice the celery stalks and cube the Roma tomatoes. Set aside with the other prepared ingredients.
⏱️ 5 min - 5
Open and thoroughly drain the 4 cans of Bumble Bee Chunk White Albacore Tuna. Flake the drained tuna into a large mixing bowl.
⏱️ 2 min - 6
Add the smashed hard-boiled eggs, grated and squeezed onion, diced celery, and cubed tomatoes to the bowl with the flaked tuna. Add the cooled, drained macaroni to the bowl.
⏱️ 3 min - 7
In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sweet relish, Dijon mustard, Creole seasoning, and lemon pepper until well combined. Taste the dressing and adjust seasonings if necessary.
⏱️ 2 min - 8
Pour the prepared dressing over the salad ingredients in the large mixing bowl. Gently fold everything together with a large spoon or spatula until all ingredients are evenly coated. Taste the macaroni tuna salad and adjust salt and black pepper as needed.
⏱️ 3 min - 9
Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the salad to chill thoroughly. Serve cold and enjoy!