Healthy Tuna Macaroni Salad

This healthy tuna macaroni salad recipe is a healthy take on a classic macaroni salad. It’s a creamy macaroni salad made with simple ingredients and it is just as flavorful as the classic favorite and perfect for a side dish, healthy lunch or a main course.

This tuna macaroni salad is a healthy pasta salad that is refreshing twist on the traditional macaroni salad that often contains excessive amounts of mayonnaise. Instead, this version combines protein-rich Greek yogurt with just the right amount of mayonnaise and fresh vegetables to create a lighter and healthier and creamy dressing.

This is the perfect salad to serve with grilled onion burgers or Bubba burgers at your next summer party or to bring to a potluck.

Here is what you will need

This is a brief summary of the ingredients needed to make this tuna macaroni salad recipe and a convenient shopping list from my Instacart affiliate link. For a printable recipe card with exact measurements and detailed instructions, scroll down to the recipe card section.

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How To Make this healthy macaroni salad recipe

Prepare the ingredients: cook the pasta according to the package directions, drain and rinse it in cold water. While the pasta is cooking, drain and rinse off the tuna, chop up the vegetables into bite-sized pieces.

Tip! If you are not serving the salad within an hour after making it, the salad may be dry, adjust the texture with more dressing. Try adding a little at a time until it’s how you like it.

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

The full list of ingredients to make this tuna macaroni salad recipe is above. Below are notes about some of the ingredients along with ideas for substitutes.

Pasta – I usually cook with whole wheat pasta, but I find in this recipe that smaller-sized white pasta works best in this salad. We like the baby shells or elbow macaroni because the little nooks and crannies hold onto the dressing. You can also use a larger pasta such as gemelli or fusilli pasta.

Gluten-free pasta such as chickpea pasta, lentil pasta or whatever your favorite is can be substituted in this recipe.

Tuna – I like to use a high-quality solid white albacore to make this salad. When choosing tuna, look for a brand that follows responsible fishing practices and check the ingredient label for additives.

Vegetables – You can use any combination of vegetables that you like. If you don’t care for bell peppers, leave them out and add more celery or carrots.

Mayonnaise – I like to use mayonnaise with avocado oil or olive oil, but any kind will work in this tuna mac salad recipe.

Plain Greek yogurt – Adds creaminess and flavor and it lightens up this macaroni salad. If you prefer more mayonnaise, you can use less yogurt or vice versa if you prefer yogurt over mayonnaise. I like using equal amounts of each.

Greek yogurt can be substituted with Icelandic yogurt, regular yogurt or sour cream.

Serving Suggestions

Healthy macaroni salad with tuna can be served as an easy meal with a side salad or it can be served as a side with Caramelized Onion Burgers, Spinach Feta Turkey Burgers or Grilled Jerk Chicken Breasts.

Make Ahead Instructions

This healthy tuna pasta salad recipe is the perfect recipe to make ahead of time. You can make it one to two days before serving it by mixing the cooked pasta together with the diced vegetables and leaving the dressing off.

Store the unassembled salad in the refrigerator in an airtight container for no longer than two days. About 15 to 20 minutes before serving the salad add the dressing.

How to store leftover tuna macaroni salad

Store leftover tuna macaroni salad in the refrigerator for up to 5 days an airtight container.

If your refrigerated salad appears to be dry, try adding a small amount of mayonnaise or Greek yogurt to it. This should help improve its texture.

Recipe Variations

Vegetarian Macaroni Salad – leave out the tuna.

Chicken Macaroni Salad – Instead of tuna, use 1/4 cup of shredded chicken.

Vegan Macaroni Salad – For a vegan and dairy-free version, replace the mayonnaise with vegan mayonnaise, the Greek yogurt with a plant-based yogurt, and the honey with maple syrup.

Gluten-Free Macaroni Salad – Replace traditional wheat pasta with gluten-free pasta.

Macaroni Salad add-ins – Try adding in any combination of these; thawed frozen peas, chopped hard-boiled eggs, fresh herbs, black olives, cherry tomataoes, pickle relish or chopped pickles.

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