My Tuna Macaroni Salad has comfort written all over it!
Mainly because it’s a dish that I ate growing up, but also because it contains pasta. And mayo. And sweet peas! Oh my!
Do these ingredients say comfort to you, too?
We knew it was summer when Mom made her potato salad and tuna macaroni salad (although she didn’t call it that – it was macaroni salad – straight and to the point). After a long day of swimming and making whirlpools, or using our 10 speeds to hunt for tar-bubbles on recently paved roads, it was always a thrill to walk into the house and be treated to the sight of Mom’s big sauce pot on the stove. This pot, decorated with the dents and dings of many years of good cooking, and a few years of kids’ shoddy stacking, filled with rolling water ready to receive the Gioia elbows set beside it, was a sight for our chlorine-induced sore eyes.
To be delighted to one of Mom’s summer salads along with Dad’s grilled burgers, undoubtedly topped with a slice of red onion and a nice smear of ‘special sauce’ – mayo, ketchup and mustard, was a great ending to a perfect day.
Although elbow macaroni is our typical pasta of choice for this salad, these days we have to make do with what we have.
Enter: Gemelli.
Gemelli is a fun, S-shape pasta twisted into a spiral – a nice alternative to the usual elbow. Perfect for casseroles and salads, this is a shape I like to keep on hand.
This Tuna Macaroni Salad is sure to please! Made with STAPLE INGREDIENTS, my hunch is you already have everything you need for this classic recipe:
- Gemelli pasta (or Elbows)
- Sweet onion
- White tuna packed in water
- Good mayonnaise
- Salt and black pepper
- Sweet peas
Ahhhh – the perfect dish to share wherever you happen to find yourself this summer…….socially distanced picnics and barbecues, Zoom potlucks and FaceTime family reunions… 🙂
I love that it’s warm-weather food time!
Let the little parties begin!
Buon Appetito!
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Tuna Macaroni Salad
- Category: Salad
Ingredients
1 lb. Gemelli pasta (or Elbows)
1 medium sweet onion, chopped
3 cans white tuna packed in water, drained
1 – 1 1/2 cups good mayonnaise
salt and black pepper, to taste
2 cans sweet peas, drained
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.
- Add the pasta, cook until al dente, about 7 minutes.
- Rinse under cold water and drain.
- In a large bowl, mix together the macaroni, onion and tuna.
- Stir in the mayonnaise, salt and pepper.
- Gently mix in the sweet peas.
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.
That’s all it takes! Thanks, friend!
This would be so perfect to go with all the family BBQs we are hoping to host this summer! Everybody loves a macaroni salad, and I always have canned tuna on hand!
This salad is requested for every BBQ! Thanks, Leanne!
This reminds me of my mom’s tuna noodle casserole, which always contained peas so we’d have to eat our veggies :). It’s the ultimate comfort food! I can’t wait to try this!
Your mom was a smart cookie! 😉
Your posts always transport me to a place of the past. I love it! This salad definitely screams summer comfort food!
I love revisiting dishes I grew up eating – and I am totally down for starting to eat this one now! Delicious, Annie!
I love tuna macaroni salad and yours looks perfect! It’s so great to have in the fridge over the Summer to just grab anytime. Great Summer memories for me, too 🙂
You’re absolutely right! I do find that leftovers don’t last too long! 😉 The best memories! 🙂
I grew up eating a hot version of this, but I love the idea of it as a cold pasta salad – especially with gemelli! One of my favorite pasta shapes.
Can you believe I’ve never thought to make this hot?! I need to try that!! 🙂
This recipe definitely says ‘comfort’ to me! I know we’d love this one and it’s perfect to enjoy all summer long for barbecues, picnics and more! Love it! Happy weekend ahead! XOXO
It comes together so easily and tastes so great! Thanks, friend! Have a great weekend! XOXO
I would have a hard time sharing Annie! Anything tuna and I’m in. I can’t wait to add this one to our summer party list. Hoping summer get togethers can start some time soon.
I hope so too! This will be a nice addition to your summer-fare! Happy weekend, my friend!
Love it! Brings you right back! Now, I want some…
Mhmmmm…good stuff!
Yum, Yum!! Looks and sounds wonderful! Can’t wait to add to my “Annie” recipe collection!
I’ll be in touch soon my friend. 🙂
Ohhh, I love it! Thanks Cindy! Looking forward to hearing from you! I’m sure your countdown has begun! 🙂
Love this post! I literally choked up reading thinking about our childhood summers together!! One of our favorite salads!!! Great pictures!! Xoxo❤️
Thanks, Nicole… Those are some special memories! XO 🙂