Creamy Tuna Macaroni Salad with Red Pepper
This colorful, make-ahead tuna macaroni salad is creamy, crunchy, and perfectly balanced with red bell pepper, celery, and red onion. Start with one can of tuna—or go for two if you love it extra hearty—and keep it chilled until ready to serve. A quick stir of mayo before serving keeps it irresistibly creamy every time!
Ingredients
Method
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add macaroni and cook according to package instructions. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, drained tuna, celery, red onion, and diced red bell pepper. (Add the second can of tuna here if you want a meatier salad.)
- Stir in the mayonnaise until all ingredients are evenly coated. Add more if needed. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Add optional lemon juice or smoked paprika if desired.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let flavors meld. Note: If making ahead, the pasta will absorb some of the mayonnaise. Stir in a little extra mayo before serving to keep it creamy.
Notes
This recipe is highly flexible—feel free to adjust the amount of tuna, onion, celery, red bell pepper, or mayonnaise to suit your taste.
