Macaroni Salad pairs so well with BBQ meats, hot dogs, and hamburgers, it’s the perfect creamy, refreshing side dish. This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
Easy Macaroni Salad
Macaroni salad is a staple American pasta salad made with tender pasta, hardboiled eggs, crunchy veggies, and a creamy dressing. You’ll find it served throughout the year to cool down grilled meats sizzling on the BBQ or to pair with a BLT Sandwich on a picnic. A perfect, minimal prep recipe for those hot summer months! We love to serve this easy Macaroni Salad with Grilled Steak or Juicy Burgers and Grilled Corn on the Cob for the perfect summer menu.
Ingredients for Macaroni Salad
Elbow Macaroni – Elbow macaroni is the most classic choice for macaroni salad. While you can get away with swapping in rotini or penne, nothing compares to the creamy dressing getting stuck in tiny crooks of macaroni noodles! Red Bell Peppers – We like to use red bell peppers for their subtle sweetness. If you can’t get your hands on them, any other color will do. Don’t like bell peppers? No problem – see the substitutions below. Red Onion – Red onion works best for its pop of color and strong flavor. You can also use green onions or chives instead. Celery – Fresh celery adds just the right amount of sweet crunch. Hardboiled Eggs – You can snag premade hard-boiled eggs or whip up your own using my guide on perfect boiled eggs.
The Best Macaroni Salad Dressing
This is our go-to combination for a creamy and tangy dressing with a hint of sweetness.
Mayonnaise – Creamy, full-fat mayo is your best bet. You can use half mayo and half Greek yogurt if you like it a little on the tangier side. Apple Cider Vinegar – Apple cider vinegar adds just the right amount of tang to cut through the fat of the mayo. You could substitute half of the vinegar with pickle juice for extra tanginess. If you substitute with white vinegar, you may need to add a little sugar to balance the acidity. Sweet Pickle Relish – Use the same sweet relish as you would for hot dogs in this recipe. You can also chop up dill pickles and add sugar to taste. Mustard – Regular yellow mustard or Dijon mustard works best! Salt & Pepper – Finish the pasta salad with as much or as little salt and pepper as suits you! Fresh Herbs (Optional) – If you’d like, add in some minced fresh parsley, dill, or green onion for an extra pop of color and flavor.
How to Make Macaroni Salad
Prepare the Pasta – Cook elbow macaroni according to the package instructions. Drain it through a colander and rinse the pasta under cold water and set it aside. Make the Dressing – In a separate bowl, combine all the dressing ingredients and whisk until smooth and creamy. Toss the Salad – Place the macaroni, veggies, and eggs into a large bowl. Pour in the dressing, stir to combine, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Chill the salad in the fridge for a couple of hours or serve immediately. Enjoy!
What can you serve with Macaroni Salad?
This Macaroni Salad is the perfect side dish for easy gathering, especially because you can make it ahead (more on that below).
Picnics – Bring macaroni salad along on picnics to serve with any of our Best Sandwich Recipes like a classic Tuna Salad Sandwich or Crispy Chicken Sandwiches. Backyard BBQs – Serve macaroni salad alongside BBQ favorites like Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Smoked Ribs, or Shish Kabobs. Potlucks – Macaroni salad is one of the best dishes to bring to a potluck – it’s so easy to batch cook for a large crowd.
Make-Ahead
You will love that this salad keeps well and tastes great the next day. You can make the salad a couple of hours or up to a day ahead of time. keep it covered and stored in the refrigerator. The best part is that it will continue to develop its flavors as it marinates. Just make sure to give it a good stir before serving to redistribute the dressing. Can I freeze it? Pasta does not freeze well and turns mushy when thawed, so I don’t recommend freezing macaroni salad.
Why is my macaroni salad bland?
Your macaroni salad is likely bland if you don’t add enough salt to the mix or balance the flavors of the dressing correctly. If you find yourself with flavorless macaroni salad, add more of your favorite ingredients and seasonings and keep tweaking it until you’re happy. Also, make sure you don’t overcook the pasta.
How do you moisten dry macaroni salad?
If your macaroni salad gets a little dry in storage, you can rehydrate it by adding a bit more dressing or stir in a splash of water or olive oil to rehydrate the noodles. This is a common issue, as pasta soaks up moisture when stored in the fridge. This is a crowd-pleasing Macaroni Salad and it’s so easy. I hope it becomes a new favorite for you. If you put something unique into your pasta salad recipe, I’d love to hear about it in the comments.
More Tasty Salad Recipes
If you enjoyed this easy pasta salad recipe, you’ll love these reader favorites that are perfect for potlucks and parties.
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title: “Macaroni Salad Recipe” ShowToc: true date: “2024-10-18” author: “Jo Halliday”
Be sure to try my Italian Pasta Salad and my Ambrosia Salad recipes next!
Macaroni Salad
When it comes to summer recipes, classic macaroni salad is a must. It’s an easy make-ahead recipe, and there are endless add-on options! (See my suggestions below for ideas!) This is a perfect side dish recipe for BBQ’s, Potlucks, or just to have in the fridge for on-and-off snacking during the hot summer months!
About the Dressing
This dressing has the best flavor profile, with flavors that complement each other perfectly. The base of the dressing is mayo, followed by sour cream and sweet relish which adds a little tang. Apple cider vinegar gives it some zing, and Dijon mustard is a perfect flavor enhancer. Honey adds a nice offset to the acidic components, and garlic salt and pepper are the best simple seasonings to finish with.
The Veggies
The veggies used in this recipe not only add a pop of color, but they add little crunch as well. Included here are celery, bell peppers, carrots, and red onions.
How to Make It
See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
Combine dressing ingredients and set in the fridge to chill. Boil macaroni in salted water until just al dente and rinse with cold water. Drain well. Combine pasta, celery, bell peppers, carrots, onions, and toss with the dressing. Transfer to a clean serving dish and chill for 1-2 hours (or up to overnight), prior to serving. Garnish with paprika and green onions and serve!
Add-Ons
Optional add-ons include: Hard boiled eggs, pepperoni, olives, peas, sharp cheddar (cubed or shredded), chopped bacon, diced ham, diced pickles, and tuna.
Make-Ahead Method
This can be made 1-day ahead of time. I would consider making a half portion of additional dressing, as the pasta absorbs the dressing as it sits. You can add the additional dressing prior just before serving, or right when you make it.
Storage
Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days.
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Colander– For draining the pasta. This is the one I have! Large glass serving bowl– I love having these 3 to pick from based on what I’m serving. Silicone Spatula– Makes it easy to gently combine the ingredients.
