Macaroni Salad is a family favorite with an irresistible combination of crunchy, salty, and tangy flavors. We love it for picnics and potlucks!
When the warm weather comes around all I can think about is having our meals outside. We have a good 6 months of snow on the ground up here in Northern Idaho.
Once it thaws, I’m looking for any excuse to get outside, and dining out on the back deck is one of my favorite things to do. We fire up the grill as often as possible and serve super easy side dishes like this pasta salad. Everyone loves it!
This recipe is a classic. For as long as I can remember, my grandmother would have this alongside all of the other awesome BBQ recipes. I honestly can’t remember a summer holiday or gathering where this wasn’t present.
It’s popular because it’s simple and easy to make, it stores well for several days and everyone loves it. You can’t go wrong bringing this to your next potluck.
Here are some commonly asked questions
What is macaroni salad?
Macaroni salad is a popular side dish that typically consists of cooked macaroni, mayonnaise, and other ingredients such as onions, celery, or green peppers. It is most often served at barbecues or picnics as a delicious and filling addition to the main meal.
How long does macaroni salad last?
Macaroni salad is best enjoyed fresh, but it will keep in the fridge for up to a week. Be sure to store it in an airtight container to prevent it from drying out or absorbing the flavors of other foods in your fridge.
How can I customize my macaroni salad?
There are many ways to customize your macaroni salad depending on your tastes and preferences. You can add in different herbs, spices, or other ingredients such as shredded cheese, bacon, or sun-dried tomatoes. You can also use different types of pasta noodles, such as spiral or elbow macaroni.
What does Macaroni salad taste like?
Macaroni salad has a creamy, mayonnaise-based dressing that is often flavored with onions, celery, or green peppers. The pasta noodles are usually tender and slightly chewy. Some versions of the dish also contain shredded cheese, bacon, or sun-dried tomatoes.
Ingredients in Macaroni Salad
- elbow macaroni
- celery – finely diced
- green bell pepper – finely diced
- red bell pepper – finely diced
- red onion – finely diced
- hard-boiled eggs – chopped
Dressing
- mayonnaise
- Dijon mustard
- red wine vinegar
- pickle juice
- granulated sugar
- salt and pepper to taste
Can this be made with another type of noodle?
Yes, you can make this using any small noodle shape. We have made it using bowties (or farfalle), cavatappi, penne, fusilli, conchiglie, ditalini, anelli. I must say that I prefer the stronger noodles for this salad recipe so they don’t fall apart with all the mixing.
Also keep in mind that once you change the type of noodle, it is no longer technically a macaroni salad. But it will still taste the same.
Macaroni Salad Recipe
- Cook and drain the pasta according to the instructions on the box, and rinse in cold water.
- While the pasta is cooking, chop the vegetables and eggs.
- Add the pasta, cut vegetables, and eggs to a large bowl, and stir to combine.
- In a medium bowl, mix the mayo, mustard, red wine vinegar, pickle juice, sugar, salt, and pepper for the dressing.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to combine.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator to chill for at least 1 hour before serving.
- Store the leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
How much macaroni salad for 20?
A serving of macaroni salad is 1/2 cup or 3.5 oz when served with other foods in the same setting. So for 20 people, you would need to have at least 10 cups of prepared pasta salad to have enough for the crowd. If you have more than 20 people, just divide the number of people in half to get the number of cups you will need to have once it is prepared.
Can macaroni salad be made the day before?
Since this recipe needs time to chill in the fridge before serving, that makes it the perfect dish to make ahead of time. We like to prepare as much as possible the day before when we are having a larger party. It really saves sanity when it comes to prep. This recipe can be made the night before and kept refrigerated until ready to serve the next day.
Can macaroni salad be frozen?
This salad may be frozen. The dressing should be kept separate from the pasta. However, if you’ve already combined them, store them in a resealable freezer bag for up to four months. To thaw, leave it in the fridge overnight.
Products I love when making Macaroni Salad…
This recipe is SUPER EASY and delicious – and if you’re like me, then you maybe already have some of these items on hand OR maybe you have never made a recipe like this before, & you might be a bit nervous – but you’re going to love it. I have made a list below of the things I absolutely can’t live without when it comes to making this delicious recipe. (you can also SHOP MY FAVORITES in my store)
If you love this easy side dish recipe, you’re going to love these other great side dishes too. Please click each link below to find the easy, printable recipe!
More Great Side Salad Recipes
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Macaroni Salad
Ingredients
- 16 oz elbow macaroni
- 4 stalks celery finely diced
- 1 green bell pepper finely diced
- 1 red bell pepper finely diced
- ½ cup red onion finely diced
- 2 hard boiled eggs chopped
Dressing
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- ½ teaspoon pickle juice more to taste
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook and drain the pasta according to the instructions on the box, rinse in cold water.
- While the pasta is cooking, chop the vegetables and eggs.
- Add the pasta, cut vegetables and eggs to a large bowl, stir to combine.
- In a medium bowl, mix the mayo, mustard, red wine vinegar, pickle juice, sugar, salt and pepper for the dressing.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to combine.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator to chill for at least 1 hour before serving.
- Store the leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate. Please double-check with your own dietary calculator for the best accuracy. We at Yummi Haus cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site.
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