Tuna Macaroni Salad with Zesty Homemade Dressing
On April 28, 2025
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With tuna, eggs, and a zesty dressing you won’t find anywhere else, you can make this Tuna Macaroni Salad in just minutes for your next BBQ!
Tuna Macaroni Salad with Zesty Homemade Dressing
With my creamy Tuna Macaroni Salad recipe, you can turn everyday ingredients into a BBQ salad so good, nobody will remember what else was on the menu. Full of contrasting-yet-complementary tastes and textures, each bite of this salad is a new flavor journey. Tender pasta, flaky tuna, and crisp, diced veggies get a bath in a zesty, creamy, homemade dressing. And if you think all those flavors are a mouthful to say, wait until you experience an actual mouthful.
What is tuna macaroni salad?
When you get your first bite of this Tuna Macaroni Salad, you’ll feel like you’re attending the wedding of the best sandwich-style tuna salad and the best macaroni salad you’ve ever had. To be honest, that’s exactly what it is.
This is a variation of my Classic Macaroni Salad, but with the added sweet, mild flavor of the tuna. Oh, and I brought a little Zesty Gold touch to the dressing. It’s simple but delicious, and once you know what you need for it, you can make it right in your own backyard.
What kind of tuna goes in salad?
This recipe is made with canned tuna, not fresh (check out my Grilled Ahi Tuna or Sesame Crusted Tuna Steak recipes if you’re looking for fresh tuna options). I prefer white albacore for its firm texture and mild flavor that won’t overwhelm the other ingredients. However, any canned tuna you have on hand will work beautifully. Just be sure to drain it thoroughly before adding to your salad.
Ingredients for this Recipe
Nobody will believe when they get a scoop of this stuff, but the salad and dressing take just 8 ingredients each. And the best part is, they’re all items you’ve probably got in your fridge or pantry already. Just in case, here’s what you need to have to get started:
- 16 ounces elbow macaroni noodles (cooked al dente)
- 3 hard-boiled eggs (chopped)
- 2 cans white albacore tuna (drained and rinsed)
- ½ cup celery (diced)
- ½ cup orange bell pepper (diced)
- ½ cup carrots (shredded)
- ¼ cup red onion (diced)
- ¼ cup sweet pickles (diced, you can also use sweet pickle relish)
Homemade Dressing
- 1 ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons Hey Grill Hey Zesty Gold BBQ Sauce
- 2 Tablespoons sweet pickle brine
- 1 Tablespoon sugar
- 1 Tablespoon salt
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
- ½ teaspoon celery seeds
You can make your own Zesty Gold BBQ Sauce at home following this recipe, or grab some in the Hey Grill Hey Store here. You can also just use dijon mustard. Keep it mind, though, you’ll lose some of the flavors bold found in Zesty Gold.
If you want to go full from-scratch with your salad, check out my recipe for Smoked Hard-Boiled Eggs. These bad boys chop up great and add an extra layer of smoky flavor to your salad.
Variations and Substitutions
Recipes are meant to be guidelines, not gospel. While this tuna macaroni salad is killer as-is, sometimes you want to branch out, or just need to work with you’ve got what you’ve got. Here are some tweaks that won’t destroy the flavor balance:
- Veggie Variations: A lot of tuna mac salad recipes call for frozen peas. If that’s your thing, toss in a half cup. Just make sure they’re fully thawed first. No orange bell pepper? Any color works fine, or you can add a little heat with a jalapeño.
- Dressing Adjustments: Some recipes call for lemon juice for brightness, but between the tang of the mayo and red wine vinegar, and everything Zesty Gold brings to the party, this dressing already packs plenty of punch.
- Pickle Preferences: I’m not always team sweet pickle, but I am with this recipe. The sweetness provides the prefect balance against the salty tuna. But if dill pickles are what you’ve got, they’ll work too. Just know you’re heading into a more savory direction.
Remember, this is your recipe, so don’t be afraid to make it your own.
How to Make Tuna Macaroni Salad
You’ve read all about how delicious this Tuna Macaroni Salad is. Ingredients have been gathered. Now it’s your turn to make it in just 4 easy steps. Seriously, just 4 steps, and one of them is eating. You got this.
- Cook the pasta. First up, the salad comes together quick so you’ll want to have your elbow macaroni noodles cooked and ready. You can follow the package instructions of whichever pasta you have on hand. I recommend shooting for al dente noodles for this recipe. This way the noodles have room to soften as the salad sets.
- Make the dressing. Next, combine the mayo, red wine vinegar, Zesty Gold sauce, and sweet pickle brine in a medium-size bowl before adding in the sugar, salt, pepper, and celery seeds. Mix together with a whisk until everything is incorporated, and the sugar and salt dissolve fully.
- Mix the salad. In a separate, large bowl, add the cooked and drained pasta, drained tuna, all those diced and aromatic veggies, and your chopped sweet relish. Then, slowly pour your prepared dressing over the salad, gently tossing everything with a wooden spoon. You want to ensure everything is incorporated, but be careful not to break up your noodles.
- Set, serve, and enjoy. You can serve your salad right away, but the flavors brighten if you let it set for 15-20 minutes in the refrigerator. Serve your salad alongside any of your favorite grilled burgers or smoked chicken at your next cookout or potluck. And, of course, enjoy!
Susie’s Tips for the Best Tuna Mac Salad
These recipe card instructions are all you need to deliver a side salad your friends and family will like. But guess what? Backyard BBQ Heroes don’t do “like.” Here are some tips to ensure you make a show-stealing salad everyone will love.
- Season the pasta water generously. Before cooking your noodles, salt your water heavily. A little more. Go until you feel uncomfortable, then add a pinch more salt. This crucial step seasons the pasta from within, creating a flavorful-but-firm foundation for your salad.
- Cook the noodles to al dente. Aim for noodles with a slight firmness, as they’ll continue to soften as they absorb the dressing. Properly cooked pasta maintains its shape and provides the perfect texture in each bite.
- Size matters for vegetables. Dice harder veggies like celery and peppers small for even distribution throughout the salad. Shred stronger-flavored ingredients like onions and carrots using a cheese grater to avoid overwhelming bites while maintaining their flavors.
- Let it settle. For best results, prepare your salad at least an hour before serving and refrigerate. This rest period allows all those wonderful flavors to blend and amplify.
Storage and Shelf Life
A great thing about this salad is the flavors intensify with time. When you store it properly, you can enjoy your Tuna Macaroni Salad again for several days. Because it stores easily, and tastes great next to so many smoked meats, I recommend making extra. Then you’ve got it on hand when that craving strikes. And trust me, it will strike.
How to Store Tuna Macaroni Salad
When you’re done enjoying it, place any remaining salad in an airtight container, then store in your refrigerator. Because of the ingredients like tuna and mayo, I also recommend keeping your salad chilled between servings.
How long does tuna salad last?
With proper storage, your salad will remain fresh and flavorful for 3-5 days. You’ll know it’s time to whip up a new batch when the noodles and veggies soften in texture. Until then, the flavors will continue to meld and intensify. Which, by the way, makes it an awesome option when you need a make-ahead side dish.
More BBQ Salad Recipes
After you see how simple it is to create this tuna pasta salad, and how much your family loves your well-rounded BBQ spread, you’ll be hooked. Luckily, you’ll find dozens of salad recipes here, as well as in the Hey Grill Hey App. For now, check out these popular options:
Sides
The Best Pasta Salad
Recipes
Classic Macaroni Salad
Chicken
Grilled Chicken Pasta Salad
Sides
Hawaiian Mac Salad
Easy Tuna Macaroni Salad Recipe
Follow the recipe card below to make this Tuna Macaroni Salad recipe, so you can wow the guests with your BBQ side skills at the next cookout or potluck. After you make it, be sure to tell me how much everyone loved it. And hey, a little 5-star rating never hurt nobody.
You can find out about new recipes, and get pro tips and tricks for making them perfect by following my Instagram and Facebook pages. I’ve also got full tutorials for all the most popular BBQ meats and sides over on my YouTube channel. Remember, with the help of Hey Grill Hey, you can make any recipe like a Backyard BBQ Hero.
Tuna Macaroni Salad
Ingredients
- 16 ounces elbow macaroni noodles cooked al dente
- 3 eggs hard-boiled and chopped
- 2 cans white albacore tuna
- ½ cup celery diced
- ½ cup orange bell pepper diced
- ½ cup carrots shredded
- ¼ cup red onion diced
- ¼ cup sweet pickles diced
Homemade Dressing
- 1 ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons Hey Grill Hey Zesty Gold BBQ Sauce recipe link in notes section
- 2 Tablespoons sweet pickle brine
- 1 Tablespoon sugar
- 1 Tablespoon salt
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
- ½ teaspoon celery seeds
Instructions
- Cook the pasta. Make the pasta according to the package ingredients, including draining it afterward.16 ounces elbow macaroni noodles
- Make the dressing. Combine the mayo, red wine vinegar, Zesty Gold sauce, and sweet pickle brine in a medium-size bowl before adding in the sugar, salt, pepper, and celery seeds. Mix together with a whisk until everything is incorporated, and the sugar and salt dissolve fully.1 ¼ cup mayonnaise, ¼ cup red wine vinegar, 2 Tablespoons Hey Grill Hey Zesty Gold BBQ Sauce, 2 Tablespoons sweet pickle brine, 1 Tablespoon sugar, 1 Tablespoon salt, 2 teaspoons black pepper, ½ teaspoon celery seeds
- Mix the salad. Add the canned tuna, cooked pasta, prepared veggies, and sweet relish to a large bowl. Slowly pour in the dressing, then gently toss with a wooden spoon until everything is combined.3 eggs, 2 cans white albacore tuna, ½ cup celery, ½ cup orange bell pepper, ½ cup carrots, ¼ cup red onion, ¼ cup sweet pickles
- Set, serve, and enjoy. For the best results let your salad set for about an hour in the refrigerator. Serve alongside any of your favorite grilled or smoked meats at your next cookout or potluck. And, of course, enjoy! Store any leftover salad in an airtight container in the fridge for an additional 3-5 days.
Notes
- Purchase in the Hey Grill Hey Store here
- Make your own following the recipe here
- Make your own following the recipe here
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
