Macaroni Salad Recipe

Post author:Melissa Haines
Post published:July 6, 2023
Post comments:15 Comments

Macaroni Salad is one of those classic salads that makes an appearance at every family or holiday picnic. It’s the perfect summer side dish for grilled hamburgers and hot dogs. Come on in and I’ll share an Easy and Delicious Macaroni Salad Recipe…

Classic Macaroni Salad

Macaroni salad is a potluck side that is easy enough to find at your local deli, but the homemade version is so easy and so much better. I know that you and your guests will love it so much and you’ll love how easy it is to make. You probably won’t buy the store-bought version again.

Sides are so key to any potluck. The main meat might be a signature recipe, but the sides are really the star of the show. If you are out and about looking for more side dishes to take center stage then I think you’ll love this recipe for Creamy Cucumber Salad, Cold Spaghetti Salad, this old fashioned Seven Layered Sald, or KFC Coleslaw (copy-cat)

Classic Macaroni Salad
What I love about this macaroni salad
Key Equipment
Expert Tip
Recipe Variations
What to Serve with Macaroni Salad
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
More Salads You Might Enjoy
Serving Size
Here’s a quick video on how I made this delicious Macaroni Salad
Recipe for Homemade Macaroni Salad…

What I love about this macaroni salad

it is a classic recipe that comes from the old church potlucks and is handed down
this is a tried and true old-fashioned recipe handed down for generations. This is a truly classic recipe to share with your friends and family
homemade from scratch is always so much better
it is a recipe that you can put your own touches to by adding in different vegetables for a new twist and flare
you can make this side salad ahead of time for your potluck

Ingredients

elbow macaroni noodles – uncooked. Elbow noodles are a classic to macaroni salad for a reason. They truly are the best noodle to pair with this dressing. Here’s one quick tip: When you cook them cook them a little bit past al dente for a softer noodle
sweet onion – chopped. I use a white sweet onion like Vidalia for this recipe
celery – chopped. Celery adds a crunchy texture to this side
green pepper – chopped. Bell pepper also adds crunch and a delicious flavor to this dish
carrots -grated. I grated my own carrots, but you can buy carrots at the grocery store that have already been grated. I’m always in favor of shortcuts that save you time and energy
sweet pickled relish. I once had someone ask if I use dill relish. I never thought to specify, but it is sweet relish in this dish

Dressing Ingredients

salt – regular table salt is perfect for this recipe. I would not substitute with kosher or sea salt in this particular case. If you do decide to use another salt, be sure to adjust the measurements. For example, if you use kosher salt then you’ll need to add a little bit more to equal the same flavor as table salt
ground black pepper – this spice adds a little bit of heat to this macaroni salad, but not too much
mayonnaise – use mayonnaise and not Miracle Whip. Mayonnaise has a nice mild flavor that allows the other flavors to shine through
apple cider vinegar – although there are many other vinegars to choose from, apple cider is the very best for this recipe. If you absolutely can not find apple cider vinegar, then use white vinegar
granulated sugar – between this and the sweet relish, sugar gives the balance of tang and sweetness that this recipe is famous for
yellow mustard – just plain old yellow mustard is all you need for this recipe

Key Equipment

For this side salad, the only equipment you’ll need are mixing bowls and mixing utensils

How to Make Macaroni Salad

The full recipe is in the printable card found below

Step One

Cook, rinse, and drain the noodles
let the noodles completely cool

Step Two

In a large bowl, combine the noodles, celery, onion, carrots, pepper, and relish and mix well

Pour the dressing over the mixture and mix well

Step Three

cover and refrigerate for a couple of hours or overnight

Expert Tip

Cook these elbow noodles a little more than al dente to make sure you have a soft noodle for this side salad

Do not cook too long though, or your noodles will get starchy

Recipe Variations

Although I really think this macaroni salad is perfect as-is, some people like to add ingredients, like these:

red onion
green onion
paprika
boiled egg
tomatoes

What to Serve with Macaroni Salad

How long will Macaroni Salad last in the refrigerator?

If covered and stored in the refrigerator, macaroni salad will last up to five days.

Should I rinse the macaroni noodles for Macaroni Salad?

Yes. Rinse with cold water. It helps stop the noodles from cooking more and cools the noodles for mixing.

Make Ahead and Storage

You can make this macaroni salad a few days in advance

Store in the refrigerator covered until you are ready to serve. Toss the salad to coat the noodles with the dressing before serving

Storing Leftovers

Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days

More Salads You Might Enjoy

More Top Recipes

Serving Size

This macaroni salad is enough to serve a crowd, so it’s perfect to take to your summer potluck

You can double the recipe to serve an even larger crowd or half it to feed fewer people

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Here’s a quick video on how I made this delicious Macaroni Salad

Recipe for Homemade Macaroni Salad…