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 an easy summer dinner.
Macaroni salad is a cold pasta salad made with cooked macaroni, vegetables, and a creamy dressing, often served as a side dish for picnics and barbecues.
Why this macaroni salad is the best
This classic Macaroni Salad is always the first thing to go, and people are always asking for the simple recipe, so here it is!
✔ Ready in about 20 minutes
✔ Creamy, tangy, and perfectly balanced
✔ Perfect for BBQs, picnics, and potlucks
✔ Make-ahead friendly
✔ Easily customizable
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 – adds a nice crunch to the creamy salad
- Diced Red Onion – soak in cold water for 10 minutes to remove that strong flavor of raw onion
- Finely Chopped Red Bell Pepper – so you can easily grab it with a fork
- Frozen Peas (they defrost when added)
- Cubed Sharp Cheddar Cheese – you can also use shredded cheese
- Hard Boiled Eggs – a classic ingredient, but restricts how far ahead you can make the salad.
- Diced Ham – for added protein
- Cooked Bacon – a nice way to add a smoky flavor
- Shredded Carrots – adds nice color and texture to the salad
- Pickles – adds crunch and a pop of tart vinegar flavor
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.
Macaroni Salad FAQ
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 for up to 3 to 5 days and make sure to stir again before serving.
No. I wouldn’t recommend freezing macaroni salad. The mayonnaise dressing will separate when thawed and the noodles will get mushy.
Yes, rinse your macaroni noodles with cool water after boiling to stop the cooking process and rinse away any excess starches. This will help your salad be less gummy and give the dressing a better consistency when combined with the noodles.
If you feel like your pasta salad is dry, try mixing in more dressing until you reach the desired consistency you like. It could be that the noodles are absorbing that extra sauce, so keeping a little extra on hand is a great idea.
I love my macaroni salad dressing because it has a great combination of creamy mayo, tart vinegar and a punch of acidity from the mustard, with a little bit of sugar and salt to balance it all out. Remember to taste the dressing as you make it and adjust the seasonings to your liking.
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.
PRO TIP: I wouldn’t recommend omitting all of the mayo because that is what helps keep this macaroni salad nice and creamy.
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…
- Authentic Hawaiian Macaroni Salad – a creamy and tangy pasta salad.
- Greek Pasta Salad – cool and refreshing with a punch of flavor.
- Italian Pasta Salad – a classic combination of summer flavors with a delicious dressing.
- Shrimp Pasta Salad – creamy pasta salad with little shrimp and cucumbers.
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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Easy 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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Tried it yesterday. Left Bacon out . Wife loved it. Will be making again.