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Cold Tuna Pasta Salad
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Cold Tuna Pasta Salad is an old fashioned recipe that is perfect for picnics, potlucks, or anytime you need a delicious and easy to make side dish. The combination of pasta, tuna, peas, onions, mayonnaise and miracle whip comes together to make the all time best pasta salad.
This easy side dish recipe is perfect during the summer months, at backyard barbecues, church functions, baby showers, or anytime you're craving an easy to make side salad.
WHAT INGREDIENTS DO YOU NEED TO MAKE COLD TUNA PASTA SALAD
With easy ingredients you’ll be amazed to see just how basic and easy this vintage recipe is. It uses a small secret ingredient (miracle whip) to make it completely crave worthy.
No matter where you serve this recipe I guarantee it will be a huge hit!
Here’s what you’ll need to get started:
- large elbow macaroni, cooked per package directions
- canned peas, drained
- Albacore Tuna, in water
- yellow onion, finely chopped
- miracle whip
- mayonnaise
- salt
- ground black pepper
INGREDIENT SUBSTITUTIONS AND ADDITIONS
MEAT: Canned Albacore Tuna is called for in this recipe. However, not everyone likes tuna. You could easily swap out the tuna for rotisserie chicken that is chopped up or shredded.
MAYONNAISE: If you don't like mayonnaise, or want to cut down on calories and fat opt for plain greek yogurt instead. It's easily interchangeable with mayonnaise. You might want to do a taste test first before serving and adjust the salt and pepper if using plain greek yogurt.
ONIONS: As long as you add onions to this recipe it won't matter what kind they are. My go to favorites are yellow sweet onions and green onions. However, if you prefer a less noticeable onion taste in this cold tuna pasta salad, you can easily use a red onion instead.
HOW TO MAKE THIS EASY TUNA PASTA SALAD
FIRST STEP: Bring water and oil to a boil. Add noodles and cook per package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool.
SECOND STEP: Place cooled and drained noodles in a large mixing bowl. Add peas, tuna, yellow onion, miracle whip, mayonnaise, salt, and ground black pepper. Stir to combine.
THIRD STEP: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate 1 hour, or until ready to serve.
FOURTH STEP: Serve and enjoy!
Tuna Pasta (Cold)
Ingredients
- 16 ounces large elbow macaroni cooked per package directions
- 1 15-oz can peas drained
- 1 can Albacore Tuna in water
- ½ medium yellow onion finely chopped
- 2 tbsp miracle whip add 1 additional tbsp if desired
- 1 cups mayonnaise *as this recipe sits it will dry out
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
Instructions
- Bring water and oil to a boil. Add noodles and cook per package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool.
- Place cooled and drained noodles in a large mixing bowl. Add peas, tuna, yellow onion, miracle whip, mayonnaise, salt, and ground black pepper. Stir to combine.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate 1 hour, or until ready to serve.
- Serve and enjoy!
Comments
Gina says
My mom made this from time to time when I was growing up. Once in a blue moon I'll make it myself and it takes me back!
Teri A Acedo says
Does it have too have Miracle Whip? Not a big fan.
Layne Henderson says
Hi, Teri - you could use just mayo or plain Greek yogurt instead. Enjoy!
Gerald Felsing says
Add celery for addition taste.
Jane Papiese says
My recipe calls for chopped up sweet pickles! Yummy!