Macaroni salad is a classic and comforting dish that is quick and easy to make, but any dish can use a few tricks to make it even better. One addition that pairs well with the creaminess and flavors of macaroni salad is canned tuna, but if you're tempted to reach for the fancy oil-packed stuff, another kind actually produces the best results.

Oil-packed tuna is the best choice for some dishes, but the oil can affect macaroni salad’s consistency, giving it a greasy taste and mouthfeel. Therefore, the common and cheap water-packed tuna suits macaroni salad best, especially albacore, since it usually tastes less metallic and milder in flavor than other options.

Other popular additions to macaroni salad include red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar, which adds some extra flavor and acidity to the mild noodles. To kick up your sauce, try adding whole milk, dijon mustard, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, sour cream, and/or veggies like celery, shallots, and scallions for textural contrast.