Macaroni Salad is one of those dishes that just says summertime. This is the perfect blend of elbow macaroni, crisp fresh veggies and the best creamy dressing.

Macaroni Salad pairs so well with BBQ meats, hot dogs, and hamburgers, it’s the perfect creamy, refreshing side dish. 

Macaroni salad mixed with creamy dressing

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Easy Macaroni Salad

Macaroni salad is a staple American pasta salad made with tender pasta, hardboiled eggs, crunchy veggies, and a creamy dressing. You’ll find it served throughout the year to cool down grilled meats sizzling on the BBQ or to pair with a BLT Sandwich on a picnic. A perfect, minimal prep recipe for those hot summer months! 

We love to serve this easy Macaroni Salad with Grilled Steak or Juicy Burgers and Grilled Corn on the Cob for the perfect summer menu.

Ingredients for Macaroni Salad

  • Elbow Macaroni – Elbow macaroni is the most classic choice for macaroni salad. While you can get away with swapping in rotini or penne, nothing compares to the creamy dressing getting stuck in tiny crooks of macaroni noodles! 
  • Red Bell Peppers – We like to use red bell peppers for their subtle sweetness. If you can’t get your hands on them, any other color will do. Don’t like bell peppers? No problem – see the substitutions below.
  • Red Onion – Red onion works best for its pop of color and strong flavor. You can also use green onions or chives instead.
  • Celery – Fresh celery adds just the right amount of sweet crunch. 
  • Hardboiled Eggs – You can snag premade hard-boiled eggs or whip up your own using my guide on perfect boiled eggs
Ingredients for macaroni salad with elbow macaroni and vegetables

Substitutions

  • Veggies – Feel free to swap out any of the veggies with cherry tomatoes, cucumber, peas, grated carrots, or boiled corn kernels. Black olives are also a fun add-in
  • Protein – you can swap out the eggs with baked chicken breast, cooked shrimp, diced baked ham, or diced roast turkey
  • Cheese – add diced cheddar cheese, or try other cheeses such as mozzarella, feta, parmesan, Colby jack, or gouda cheese.
  • Pickles – try adding some diced dill pickles for a bit of tanginess. Sun-dried tomatoes are also a nice way to add tang.

The Best Macaroni Salad Dressing

This is our go-to combination for a creamy and tangy dressing with a hint of sweetness.

  • Mayonnaise – Creamy, full-fat mayo is your best bet. You can use half mayo and half Greek yogurt if you like it a little on the tangier side. 
  • Apple Cider Vinegar – Apple cider vinegar adds just the right amount of tang to cut through the fat of the mayo. You could substitute half of the vinegar with pickle juice for extra tanginess. If you substitute with white vinegar, you may need to add a little sugar to balance the acidity.
  • Sweet Pickle Relish – Use the same sweet relish as you would for hot dogs in this recipe. You can also chop up dill pickles and add sugar to taste.
  • Mustard – Regular yellow mustard or Dijon mustard works best!
  • Salt & Pepper – Finish the pasta salad with as much or as little salt and pepper as suits you! 
  • Fresh Herbs (Optional) – If you’d like, add in some minced fresh parsley, dill, or green onion for an extra pop of color and flavor. 
Ingredients for creamy dressing with mayo and relish

How to Make Macaroni Salad

  • Prepare the Pasta – Cook elbow macaroni according to the package instructions. Drain it through a colander and rinse the pasta under cold water and set it aside. 
  • Make the Dressing – In a separate bowl, combine all the dressing ingredients and whisk until smooth and creamy.
  • Toss the Salad – Place the macaroni, veggies, and eggs into a large bowl. Pour in the dressing, stir to combine, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Chill the salad in the fridge for a couple of hours or serve immediately. Enjoy! 
Step by step how to make macaroni pasta salad dressing and pasta salad

What can you serve with Macaroni Salad?

This Macaroni Salad is the perfect side dish for easy gathering, especially because you can make it ahead (more on that below).

Make-Ahead 

You will love that this salad keeps well and tastes great the next day. You can make the salad a couple of hours or up to a day ahead of time. keep it covered and stored in the refrigerator. The best part is that it will continue to develop its flavors as it marinates. Just make sure to give it a good stir before serving to redistribute the dressing.

Can I freeze it? Pasta does not freeze well and turns mushy when thawed, so I don’t recommend freezing macaroni salad.

Ingredients prepped ahead for salad with pasta, bell pepper, celery, egg and onion in a bowl

Why is my macaroni salad bland?

Your macaroni salad is likely bland if you don’t add enough salt to the mix or balance the flavors of the dressing correctly. If you find yourself with flavorless macaroni salad, add more of your favorite ingredients and seasonings and keep tweaking it until you’re happy. Also, make sure you don’t overcook the pasta.

How do you moisten dry macaroni salad?

If your macaroni salad gets a little dry in storage, you can rehydrate it by adding a bit more dressing or stir in a splash of water or olive oil to rehydrate the noodles. This is a common issue, as pasta soaks up moisture when stored in the fridge. 

Creamy macaroni salad recipe in bowl

This is a crowd-pleasing Macaroni Salad and it’s so easy. I hope it becomes a new favorite for you. If you put something unique into your pasta salad recipe, I’d love to hear about it in the comments.

More Tasty Salad Recipes 

If you enjoyed this easy pasta salad recipe, you’ll love these reader favorites that are perfect for potlucks and parties.

Classic Macaroni Salad Recipe

4.96 from 114 votes
Macaroni Salad Recipe in bowl
Macaroni Salad is perfect for a summer menu. Paired with BBQ meats, hot dogs, and hamburgers, it's the perfect creamy, refreshing side dish.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 6 servings

Salad Ingredients 

  • 2 cups elbow macaroni, uncooked
  • 1 cup red bell peppers, diced
  • 1/2 cup red onion, diced
  • 1/2 cup celery, diced
  • 2 large hard-boiled eggs
  • 1 Tbsp chopped parsley, optional for garnish

Dressing Ingredients

Instructions

  • Cook the elbow macaroni in salted water according to the package instructions until it is aldente – it should be tender but firm to the bite. Drain and rinse the pasta under cold water to stop the cooking process and set it aside.
  • In a separate bowl, combine all the dressing ingredients together and whisk until smooth and creamy.
  • Place the macaroni into a large bowl. Add the diced bell peppers, red onion, celery, eggs, and any other desired mix-ins*.
  • Pour in the dressing and stir to combine. Garnish with parsley if desired and serve right away or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Notes

Variations & Substitutions:
  • Veggies – Add or replace any of the veggies with cherry tomatoes, cucumber, peas, grated carrots, boiled corn kernels, or black olives.
  • Protein – swap out the eggs with baked chicken breast, cooked shrimp, diced baked ham, or diced roast turkey
  • Cheese – add diced cheddar, mozzarella, feta, parmesan, Colby jack, or gouda cheese.
  • Pickles – try adding some diced dill pickles for a bit of tanginess. Sun-dried tomatoes also add a nice tang.

Nutrition Per Serving

348kcal Calories41g Carbs9g Protein16g Fat3g Saturated Fat9g Polyunsaturated Fat4g Monounsaturated Fat1g Trans Fat62mg Cholesterol627mg Sodium237mg Potassium3g Fiber5g Sugar1002IU Vitamin A33mg Vitamin C32mg Calcium1mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Classic Macaroni Salad Recipe
Amount per Serving
Calories
348
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
16
g
25
%
Saturated Fat
 
3
g
19
%
Trans Fat
 
1
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
9
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
4
g
Cholesterol
 
62
mg
21
%
Sodium
 
627
mg
27
%
Potassium
 
237
mg
7
%
Carbohydrates
 
41
g
14
%
Fiber
 
3
g
13
%
Sugar
 
5
g
6
%
Protein
 
9
g
18
%
Vitamin A
 
1002
IU
20
%
Vitamin C
 
33
mg
40
%
Calcium
 
32
mg
3
%
Iron
 
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Macaroni Salad
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $$
Calories: 348

Filed Under

Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook
4.96 from 114 votes (90 ratings without comment)

Leave a Comment

Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Ron
    September 7, 2024

    Not bad but too much vinegar and mustard that’s about all i taste

    Reply

  • Janice
    August 20, 2024

    This looks amazing!! How long will it last in the fridge though if you make it ahead as this would be great for work lunches?😁

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      August 20, 2024

      Hi Janice! I think it could last up to 5 days in an airtight container.

      Reply

  • Priya
    July 30, 2024

    Hey Natasha im from india I just love your recipes😘

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      July 30, 2024

      Thank you, Priya! I’m glad you’re loving them.

      Reply

  • Lauren Hughes
    July 30, 2024

    My daughter is anorexic but even she couldn’t resist this salad 🥹🥹 thank you so much

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      July 30, 2024

      I’m so glad she ate it and loved it!

      Reply

  • Jane
    July 28, 2024

    One of the very best pasta salads I have made. Thank you! Love your cookbook!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      July 28, 2024

      I’m so happy to hear that!

      Reply

  • Claudia
    July 26, 2024

    If you click on the link for the Chickpea salad, the creamy Avocado salad comes up? Am I doing something wrong?

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      July 27, 2024

      Thank you for letting me know, Claudia. We’ll get that updated. The can click here for the Chickpea salad recipe.

      Reply

  • Michelle Knight
    July 18, 2024

    Ok so I’m in Spain at the moment on vacation. Found all ingredients accept apple cider vinegar so used white wine vinegar instead .. it’s in the fridge and am hoping it is good when we dig into it tomorrow..doubled recipe.. by the looks of ours I’d probably add more red onion just another slice chopped up and more red pepper /and celery.. we shall see tomorrow.. 🙂

    Reply

  • Victoria Martin
    July 1, 2024

    Can you use instead of just plain mustard, grained, mustard, or Dijon in the salad?

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      July 1, 2024

      Hi Victoria! Sure- just add it to taste since it can change the flavor a bit.

      Reply

  • Raylene
    June 16, 2024

    I have made this 3 or 4 times. It’s really good and not a heavy salad. I’ve enjoyed all your recipes I have tried. Thanks for all your hard work.🌺

    Reply

  • Corinne Bell
    June 5, 2024

    You’re recipes never fail!! I tasted this right after I made it and was like oh no I’m not gonna like it. But oh man!!! After it sits for a bit it’s delicious!! 🤤

    Reply

  • Kendra
    May 28, 2024

    I would love to see a video on this one ! We have a Macaroni salad competition in our family and i want to win!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      May 28, 2024

      That’s exciting! I hope you win and thanks for the suggestion too!

      Reply

  • Phyllis
    May 19, 2024

    You can keep out a small part of the dressing to add right before serving. Keeps it nice and creamy. Learned this from america’s test kitchen. Going to try this soon!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      May 19, 2024

      Thanks for the tip, good idea!

      Reply

  • S
    March 26, 2024

    can I use red wine vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar ??

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      March 26, 2024

      Hi S, I haven’t tested this with red wine vinegar to advise. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe.

      Reply

  • Lisa
    September 4, 2023

    This was so good. My first successful homemade macaroni salad. So excited! Mine soaked up all the dressing so I added extra mayonnaise when I took it out of fridge. Perfect.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      September 4, 2023

      Sounds great! Happy to hear that you enjoyed it, Lisa.

      Reply

  • Janice Quick
    July 27, 2023

    I made this recipe yesterday. It was really good, not too much mayo as other recipes call for.
    the only negative was for some reason it left an aftertaste for both me and my husband that we couldn’t identify.
    That didn’t keep us from going back for more though.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      July 27, 2023

      Hi Janice, I’m glad you enjoyed it! The only thing I can think to consider is maybe if you used miracle whip or a mayo substitute or some kind of ‘healthy’ mayo that might taste different than normal mayo? I’ve definitely tried several varieties and still just love the classic mayonnaise.

      Reply

  • Jan Drinkwater
    July 9, 2023

    I just made this macaroni salad and it is fantastic! I added sun dried tomatoes- Just yummy! Thank you

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      July 9, 2023

      That’s a good addition to the recipe, we’re so glad that you liked it!

      Reply

  • Mary
    July 9, 2023

    HI…I used celery, red onion and carrots, also added garlic powder, and a little milk to mayo dressing, make the pasta a little on the harder side as it sits in the frig it will absorb the juices and soften more…try to turn the salad in frig every couple of hours so the top absorbs flavors….

    Reply

  • Dorrine Fulk
    June 19, 2023

    I like putting my eggs in with the pasta save time and dishes.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      June 19, 2023

      Thank you so much for sharing that with me.

      Reply

  • Renee
    June 11, 2023

    This is really close to a recipe I use. Sometimes I will add either small boiled shrimp or little chunks of ham.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      June 11, 2023

      Good to know that you use a similar recipe. Sounds like a great idea too!

      Reply

  • Celine
    May 28, 2023

    We really didn’t care for it. I made it exactly as written. A little tart and felt like it was missing something. Maybe I expects it to be creamier and richer.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      May 30, 2023

      Hi Celine, I’m sorry to hear that. Did you change anything or make any substitutions in the dressing ingredients? Also make sure to have the right balance of dressing to the macaroni/salad so it stays creamy in consistency.

      Reply

    • Mary
      September 10, 2023

      I think I know why yours was too tart. Because I just made the mistake of reading the yellow mustard as 3 TBS instead of 3 tps. It was really tart. Luckily I caught it before I added it to the salad and I could fix it by dumping 1/2 of it out and adding mayo to the 1/2 that was left. It’s ok but not as good as the first time when I made it correctly.

      Reply

      • Jane
        July 28, 2024

        I did the exact same thing and just added more pasta and mayo. Came out delicious.

        Reply

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