Best Macaroni Salad Recipe (2024)

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This Easy Macaroni Salad Recipe is my go to dish to bring to potlucks, BBQ’s, parties and more. It is loaded with lots of delicious veggies, cheese and more!

The mayonnaise is the secret to making the salad creamy. You can certainly try reduced fat or light versions but I don’t recommend it. You want this easy salad recipe to be really creamy and sometimes the light version make it taste watered down.

Why I Love this Recipe
How to Serve this Salad:
What ingredients are in macaroni salad?
What do you put in your pasta salad?
How long can you eat macaroni salad?
Ingredients:
What Type of Mayonnaise to Use?
How to make Macaroni Salad Recipe:
How to store Pasta Salad.
Simple Macaroni Salad Additions:
Expert Tips for this Recipe:
How to Store leftovers:
What to serve with pasta salad recipe
When do you serve this pasta salad?
Easy Macaroni Salad Recipe Recipe
More Cold Easy Pasta Salad Recipes:

Why I Love this Recipe

I love to make this Easy Macaroni Salad. It’s super easy and everyone always loves this easy summer salad. This Easy Macaroni Salad is budget friendly and makes feeding a crowd a breeze!

It’s creamy and delicious. The veggies combined with the cheese really make this simple side dish hearty and tasty.

It is the perfect compliment to hot dogs with the Best Coleslaw, BBQ Ranch Grilled Chicken, and more! We even like it with Jalapeno Poppers Burger Sliders Recipe.

How to Serve this Salad:

I love to serve this salad in a pretty glass bowl. The layers of this salad look gorgeous in the glass.

The bowls with the lid are really handy for taking to BBQ’s or wherever you might be going. You might also like the plastic bowls with lids for outdoor parties and such.

What ingredients are in macaroni salad?

Traditional Southernmacaroni salad has mayonnaise, cheese, vinegar and a few veggies. You can easily add or omit the ingredients you do not like.

A very simple version is just tomato and cheese with the mayo or Italian dressing. Cheddar cheese cubed is what is traditionally in this salad.

You can mix it up with pepper jack or other cheeses though for something different. Classic Macaroni Salad uses elbow macaroni but you can use what you prefer or have on hand.

What do you put in your pasta salad?

This recipe calls for onion, green pepper, green peas and more. However, feel free to make it your own. This simple salad is just as tasty with only a few ingredients or load it up with veggies like carrots, pickles, sweet pickle relish, if you prefer.

Hard boiled eggs are also good in the salad and add protein. I also like green pepper or red bell pepper. Sweet pickle is also in many traditional Southern style pasta salads.

Whatever you choose, it is the perfect Summer side dish. You can also use mustard sugar and black pepper instead of the vinegar.

How long can you eat macaroni salad?

Pasta salad recipe with mayo will keep in the fridge for 3-5 days.

However, if the salad has been left out for more than 2 hours, discard it. This is due to the mayonnaise in the macaroni salad.

Ingredients:

elbow macaroni noodles
cheddar cheese
red onion
celery stalks
red bell pepper
frozen peas
mayo
apple cider vinegar
fresh dill
sugar
Dijon mustard
salt and pepper

For the full list of ingredients and the recipe card, scroll down to the recipe card.

What Type of Mayonnaise to Use?

I recommend that you use a whole egg creamy mayonnaise for this recipe. It tends to be more creamier than other types of mayonnaise.

Also, use a full fat instead of a reduced fat option.

How to make Macaroni Salad Recipe:

Step 1 – Boil macaroniaccording to package instructions. You want the pasta to still be firm so cook until al dente. Immediately rinse under cold water and drain so it isn’t sticky and prevents it from over cooking. Drain well.

How to store Pasta Salad.

You will love this Macaroni Saladdressing. It is so good and truly makes this macaroni salad amazing. Since this pasta salad has mayonnaise in it, you’ll want to store this pasta salad in the refrigerator.

Simple Macaroni Salad Additions:

You can also substitute some of the mayo with sour cream. It will make it the sauce more tangy so just keep that in mind. You might want to try half mayo and half sour cream.
Stir in some cherry tomatoes cut in half.
Top with shredded parmesan cheese.

Expert Tips for this Recipe:

Make sure that you do not over cook the pasta. Over cooked pasta will make this macaroni salad mushy. Watch the pasta closely when cooking, cook to al dente and rinse with cold water immediately to stop the cooking process.
Ensure that you refrigerate this salad before. Chilling the salad gives it time for the flavors to meld together.

How to Store leftovers:

You can store leftover pasta salad for up to five days. Simply, scoop it out of the bowl and transfer it into an airtight container.

Add the lid, and keep it in therefrigeratoruntil you’re ready to eat it.

What to serve with pasta salad recipe

This pasta salad recipe is perfect to serve with your favorite grilling recipes. I love serving this recipe at barbecues, picnics and any outdoor event.

Here are a few of my favorite recipes that I love serving with this easy macaroni salad.

Shish Kabob Recipe
Grilled Teriyaki Chicken Recipe
The Best BBQ Chicken Recipe
50 Healthy Grilling Recipes

When do you serve this pasta salad?

Traditionally, pasta salad was a Spring and Summer side dish recipe. Since it’s cold, it’s refreshing to serve with it’s warm outside.

Over the last few years, I have started serving this pasta salad in the Fall and Winter plus over the holidays.

This recipe is such a crowd pleaser, it’s the best side dish to serve year round!

Review

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Easy Macaroni Salad Recipe

4.93 from 668 votes

This Easy Macaroni Salad recipe is the perfect side dish to bring to Summer BBQ’s, parties and more! Easy macaroni salad is loaded with veggies, cheese and more. You will love the creamy dressing.

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 12 minutes mins

Chill 1 hour hr

Total Time 22 minutes mins

Servings 12

Cuisine American

Course Side Dish

Calories 291

Author Carrie Barnard

Ingredients

▢ 1 lb elbow macaroni
▢ 6 oz cheddar cheese cubed
▢ 1/2 red onion minced
▢ 4 celery stalks diced
▢ 1 red bell pepper diced
▢ 1 cup frozen peas
▢ 1/2 cup mayo
▢ 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
▢ 1/4 cup fresh dill
▢ 2 tablespoons sugar
▢ 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
▢ 1 teaspoon salt
▢ 1 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

Cook the elbow macaroni until al dente. You want them still firm. Immediately run the pasta under cold water so it isn’t sticky and prevents it from over cooking. Drain well.
In a large mixing bowl, toss together cooked pasta with the cubed cheese, onion, celery, bell pepper, and peas.
In a small mixing bowl, mix together mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, dill, sugar, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper.
Pour the mixture over the pasta and toss until everything is well coated. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and chill at least 1 hour before serving. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Calories 291kcal, Carbohydrates 34g, Protein 9g, Fat 12g, Saturated Fat 4g, Cholesterol 18mg, Sodium 422mg, Potassium 196mg, Fiber 2g, Sugar 4g, Vitamin A 910IU, Vitamin C 15.8mg, Calcium 124mg, Iron 1.1mg

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More Cold Easy Pasta Salad Recipes:

Classic Italian Pasta Salad Recipe
Easy Pasta Salad Recipe
Deviled Egg Macaroni Salad
Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
Easy Ramen Noodle Salad Recipe
Check out 21 Easy Cold Pasta Salad Recipes for more ideas.

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