This Simple Macaroni Salad Recipe is filled with all the classic ingredients, tossed in a creamy sauce and perfect for summer potlucks and parties!
I love making this macaroni salad to go along with my Crispy Fried Chicken for a delish summer dinner.
If there’s one thing I love about going to potlucks and parties, it’s all the different types of salads available. I could pretty much eat only side dishes and be totally happy.
Simple Macaroni Salad Recipe
This classic Macaroni Salad is always the first thing to go, and people are always asking for the simple recipe, so here it is!
Macaroni Salad Ingredients
Macaroni salad is comprised of three main components: macaroni noodles, add-ins and the dressing.
The best part about macaroni salad, in my opinion, is that you can add in whatever you like to make it completely unique to your taste. Here are some of my favorite add-ins…
- Chopped Celery
- Diced Red Onion
- Finely Chopped Red Bell Pepper
- Frozen Peas (they defrost when added)
- Cubed Sharp Cheddar Cheese (you can also use shredded cheese)
- Hard Boiled Eggs
- Diced Ham
- Cooked Bacon
- Shredded Carrots
- Pickles
As you can see, there are several options available for sprucing up your macaroni salad. Feel free to toss in whatever you like!
How To Make Macaroni Salad
BOIL MACARONI Start by boiling your elbow macaroni noodles until they are tender to the bite. Quickly drain the noodles then run cool water over them to stop them from cooking any further.
COMBINE ADD-INS Gather all your macaroni salad add-ins and toss them in a large bowl with the cooled and drained noodles.
MAKE THE DRESSING Whisk together the creamy sauce and stir everything together. Keep the salad chilled until ready to serve.
Creamy Macaroni Salad Dressing Recipe
Now that you have your noodles and all your add-ins in the bowl, it’s time to whisk up that super easy, finger-licking good dressing!
- Whisk together mayo, white vinegar (you can also use apple cider vinegar for a little added sweetness), sugar, dijon mustard (I like one with a little more kick to it), salt, pepper and just a little bit of sweet pickle relish.
- Pour the dressing into the salad bowl and stir to coat the ingredients evenly.
- Chill the mixture until ready to serve, make sure to stir again before serving.
So easy!!
What Can I Use As A Mayo Substitute?
Instead of using all mayo, you can use half plain greek yogurt and half mayo. Or you can try using half sour cream and half mayo. I wouldn’t recommend omitting all of the mayo because that is what helps keep this macaroni salad nice and creamy.
Can Macaroni Salad Be Made Ahead?
YES! In fact, I think this salad tastes even better the second day, once the flavors have had a chance to blend together. Store the salad in an air-tight container in the fridge and make sure to stir again before serving.
More Simple Pasta Salad Recipes to Make
Looking for more pasta salad recipes for your next bbq or potluck? I’ve got you covered with these delicious recipes…
I’m confident you’re going to get RAVE reviews with this simple and easy Macaroni Salad Recipe at all your potlucks!
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Simple Macaroni Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb. elbow macaroni noodles, uncooked
- 1/4 cup diced celery
- 1/4 cup diced red onion
- 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
- 1/2 cup frozen peas
- 1 cup cubed sharp cheddar cheese
For the Dressing:
- 1 cup mayo
- 1/4 cup distilled vinegar
- 3 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp dijon mustard
- 2 tbsp sweet pickle relish
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the noodles according to package instructions, then drain and rinse with cool water. I like to add a few ice cubes to the noodles while running cool water over them to help cool the noodles faster. Drain and add pasta to a large bowl.
- Add in the diced celery, red onion, red bell pepper, peas and cheese.
For the Dressing:
- Whisk together the dressing ingredients in a small bowl until smooth and creamy.
- Pour the dressing into the large bowl and stir to coat evenly. Keep the salad covered and refrigerated until ready to serve. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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Coconut Cake Recipe
Mandy
I made this recipe as a side dish for my bake chicken thigh and I love it. I cannot wait to hear my family comments. I did not add celery because I did not had but I add some green onions from my garden. Thank you for sharing.
Kristi N Brennan
This was really good but VERY sweet. I think half the sugar would have been about perfect
Shawn
I’m wondering if you used Miracle Whip instead of Mayo? That might be where the extra sweetness came from?
Lenora Blackburn
This was an absolute hit. I added cubed ham… about a cup and I used honey mustard.
This will always be my go to salad. So simple and quick to make.
LuAnn
Did you use honey mustard in place of the mayo or in place of all the dressing ingredients? TIA
Judy Valera
Made this recipe for a church gathering. Everybody loved it!!!!!
Jen
Can you do lemon juice instead of vinegar and if so how much?
Dianna
My add in is 4 chopped hard-boiled eggs and substitute pickle juice for the vinegar!!!
Kristi N Brennan
This was really good but VERY sweet. I think half the sugar would have been about perfect
Cathy G
This is the best dressing for macaroni salad!
Thanks for posting this recipe.
Cathy G
BTW, I used the “1/2 mayo, 1/2 sour cream” recommendation.
Kaye Beal
Every recipe I have tried of yours has been a winner. Thank you! You are my go to girl!
Randee
Could you leave out the relish? We don’t like it, so it’s never on hand.
Shawn
Yes, you can leave it out. It will change the overall taste of the recipe, but if you’re not a fan of relish, I don’t think you’ll miss it.
Milton
We made this recipe just as directed. We loved it and had to share the recipe with other family members that ate with us. The leftovers were gone with a day.
It will become a summer staple in our house
Karen
Hey there,
How many people do you think this will serve?
Josie
Made this as the recipe called for, no meat. I did make it for another meal and I added cooked scallops and shrimp for a total meal along with some french bread. This was served to some ladies after a trail ride. It worked beautiful and was great. It held up nicely for a late start on eating and the ladies were delighted with a lite type meal. Thank you very much for another great recipe.
Sharon
Delicious and easy.
Made it today to go with dinner. Used 1/2 mayo and 1/2 sour cream
Thank you!!
Sara
Can I use dill relish instead of sweet?
Mary
I have used both…I believe it’s a matter of preference for taste.
Linda Bennett
I made it yesterday for Thanksgiving. It is gone today. Will make it again & again. Loved it!
Mitch
Took me an hour, but I’m not experienced. Tasted really good 🙂
Jarman C Bryant
This made my simple salad into THe Bomb Salad. Thank you for this recipe. I might try this on cereal. LOL
Miriam
Wben I use regular plain yogurt I either stir in the whey or pour it off. For this salad, I think I’d pour off the whey.
In any case, I wouldn’t substitute yogurt for all of the mayo.
Art Lindsey
Why not just appreciate the recipe and write your own recipe on macaroni salad on your own website! You people who reply without making it and you who make it totally different and reply are idiots!
Miriam
If I substitute yogurt for some of the mayo, is there any reason it has to be Greek?
I find Greek yogurt bland (and needlessly expensive); my preference is for Dannon regular lowfat plain yogurt, which I find tangy.
Shawn
I prefer Greek yogurt for it’s consistency. You could also use plain regular yogurt, but the dressing will be much thinner.
Michelle K Drozdibob
Miriam, if you want to used Dannon regular yogurt for past of the dressing, Early in the day pour it into a sieve lined with a coffee filter. Let it sit in the fridge over a bowl. Much of the excess liquid will strain off, then just discard that. It makes a nice, thicker yogurt for any of your sauces. I do this for tzaziki sauce for Greek/meat and veggie dishes. Shawn, BTW, been cooking for a LONG LONG time and for the past several years, this is my go-to mac salad recipe! Love it and your videos!
John Michael Johnson
Can I send you a salad recipe simular but better?
Shawn
Definitely! Send it to: shawn@iwashyoudry.com Thanks!
Donna
Can you share John Michael Johnson’s recipe???
Art Lindsey
I say hell no! Get your own website idiot!,
Les
Have you ever tried plain yogurt instead of mayo?
Shawn
I would use plain Greek Yogurt in place of the mayo, but I probably wouldn’t replace it all with the yogurt, maybe just half. The mayo helps give it that creamy texture.
Les
I wish there was something else that could give it the same creaminess Without using mayo. We have one kid who’s allergic to egg so he can’t eat it.
Jody
Use a vegan mayo
Priscilla
Vegan Mayo! It tastes just exactly the same and no eggs in it
Linda Smith
no sugar, relish or vinegar in mine, and I add diced spam, diced boiled eggs, diced tomatoes and add a little milk it the dressing is to thick.
Shawn
Omitting the sugar, relish and vinegar would make the dressing much thicker… but I’m glad you were able to make it work with what you had on hand!
Danielle
Any suggestions for a mustard substitute or can I just omit completely?
Shawn
You can omit it.
Lisa
This recipe is great! Only thing I added was an extra 1/2 cup mayo, and extra black pepper; just because I like it! The recipe itself is very delicious!!! Thanks
Linda
Another great add-in is black olives!
Shawn
Love that idea! My kids adore black olives!
Tammy
So good!!!! Summer Favorite!
Shawn
Woohoo! So glad you enjoyed it!
Miriam
I don’t like sweet macaroni salad. Can I omit the sugar?
Shawn
You could omit the sugar, although I don’t find this salad really sweet. I think the sugar balances out the acidity in the mustard, pickles and vinegar. Mix up the dressing without the sugar and give it a taste. If you think it needs a little something to balance out the acidity, try adding in a little sugar at a time until it tastes to your liking.
Joe
What does the distilled vinegar and sugar do to this receipe?
Shawn
The vinegar helps give the dressing it’s consistency as well as help flavor it.
Lindsay
The BEST macaroni salad! This will be my go-to recipe from now on. I can’t wait to share it with friends and family.
Shawn
That’s great to hear! So glad you enjoyed it Lindsay!
Emily E
Would we be able to omit the cubed sharp cheddar cheese? Will that take away from the recipe?
Thanks!
Shawn
You can leave it out, no problem!
Emily E
Would we be able to omit the cubed sharp cheddar cheese? Will that take away from the recipe?
Thanks!
Ronda Gerrells
What do you think about using bacon bits instead of ham.
Shawn
The recipe doesn’t call for ham, but I’m sure bacon bits would be a lovely addition!
Art Lindsey
Really! Ham? Didn’t you make or even read the recipe?
Christine Friedrichs
What happens if made more than a day in advance?
Shawn
In my opinion the dressing gets a little too thin if made too far in advance. You could always mix the dressing separately and add just before serving!
Emily
This is the best classic macaroni salad I’ve ever had, let alone made. Already in my recipe database. Can’t wait to try more of your stuff!
Shawn
So glad you enjoyed it Emily!
Susie
Can you omit the pickle relish?
Shawn
Yes, you can. It will change the flavor of the dressing though.
Kim
I found the dressing far too thin.
Marc
Hi Shawn! Made this recipe to go with some chicken avocado burgers and we really loved it! I had it the next day with lunch and it still held it’s creaminess. It was so smooth and delicious! It’ll be in the summer rotation for sure 🙂
Sharing with my friends today!
Shawn
Sweet! So glad you enjoyed the recipe Marc!
Susan
Can you use Salad Dressing(Miracle Whip) instead of Mayo or Yogurt and make it sort of sweet and no mustard but eggs,peas,ham,sweet relish or chopped sweet pickles
Shawn
Hi Susan, you can definitely substitute Miracle Whip for mayo if that’s what you prefer! Enjoy!
Danielle
Sounds delish !