Macaroni Salad Recipe (Easy!) (2024)

EASY Macaroni Salad

• MORE HERBS AND SPICES! No flat, boring Macaroni Salad recipe here! The dressing is laced with dill, parsley, garlic powder, paprika, and red pepper flakes.
• HALF YOGURT DRESSING: The dressing isn’t overly heavy, but still luxuriously creamy thanks to using half sour cream or yogurt and half mayo.
• A LITTLE SWEET, A LITTLE TANGY: Sweet pickle juice and sugar add subtle sweetness balanced by red wine vinegar and a kiss of Dijon.
• CUSTOMIZABLE: Make the dressing as sweet or tangy as you like and add your favorite veggies to make it YOUR Best Macaroni Salad.
• MAKE AHEAD FRIENDLY: The easy Macaroni Salad recipe can be made ahead of the time without losing creaminess by reserving some of the dressing.

Macaroni Salad Ingredients

This Macaroni Salad recipe is made with easy-to-find ingredients. Let’s take a closer look at what you’ll need (full recipe in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post):

• Macaroni: The namesake of the salad! This pasta is often referred to as elbow macaroni.
• Bell peppers: Choose between a red, yellow or orange bell pepper for their crunchy sweetness.
• Sweet pickles: Please use SWEET pickles and not dill. The recipe also uses some of the pickle juice in the dressing.
• Celery: Slice each celery stalk in half lengthwise, and then chop.
• Carrots: Shred the carrots on the small holes of a grater (see video).

• Mayonnaise: This is the creamy base of the dressing and binds all of the ingredients together. Please use real mayonnaise and not Miracle Whip.
• Sour cream or Greek yogurt:This adds a delightful tanginess to the dressing and makes it much lighter than using all mayonnaise.
• Pickle juice: Use ¼ cup juice from sweet pickle jar used above.
• Red wine vinegar: The tanginess cuts through the creaminess and balances the sweet pickles, bell peppers and sugar.
• Dijon mustard: Just one tablespoon adds a subtle tanginess without making the dressing taste remotely like mustard.
• Fresh herbs: The most important part! A combination of parsley and dill creates a subtle likeness to ranch. You may substitute with one third the amount of dried herbs.
• Seasonings: Garlic powder, paprika, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper round out the depth of flavor.

Macaroni Salad recipe Substitutions and variations

There is no right or wrong way to make this easy Macaroni Salad as long as it’s right for YOU! Try using a different pasta, mixing up the vegetables, adding olives, etc.

• Use a different pasta: Any medium pasta shape can work such as rotini, cavatappi, farfalle, and even tortellini.
• Mayonnaise: Use avocado-based mayo or vegan mayo for a healthier spin.
• Vinegar: I prefer red wine vinegar but apple cider vinegar may be used.
• Swap mustard: If you don’t have Dijon mustard, swap it for any mustard such as yellow deli mustard, spicy brown mustard, French, whole grain, etc.
• Add cheese: Add cubes of cheddar, Gouda, Colby, Pepper Jack, White cheddar, Havarti, feta, or even blue cheese.
• Add bacon: Thick cut bacon, turkey bacon, vegan bacon or even salami may be used. Reduce the salt called for in the recipe, then salt to taste.
• Add ham: Any type of cubed ham may be used. Reduce the salt called for in the recipe, then salt to taste.
• Add chicken: Add cooked cubed chicken, shredded chicken or rotisserie chicken.
• Add olives:Add a handful of black olives for a salty, delectable tanginess.
• Add pickled jalapenos: For a spicy, tangy kick. Start with just a little and stir in more to taste – you don’t want to ruin your Macaroni Salad by making it too spicy!
• Load up on veggies: Add any veggies you have lying around or swap in your favorites.
• Omit the mayo: If you really can’t stomach mayonnaise, use a vegan mayo, all sour cream, or full-fat plain Greek yogurt instead.
• Make it dairy-free: Swap the sour cream for your favorite dairy-free/vegan sour cream or Greek yogurt substitute. Mayonnaise is dairy-free but not vegan as it is made with egg yolks, vinegar, and seasonings
• Make it vegan: Use vegan mayo like Vegainase, vegan sour cream or yogurt.

How to MAke Macaroni Salad

This Best Macaroni Salad recipe is easy to make in just a few steps. Let’s take a closer look below (full recipe in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post):

• Step 1: Cook macaroni. Cook macaroni noodles in heavily salted water according to package directions. Drain, rinse with cold water, then drizzle with a little olive oil to prevent the pasta from sticking together.

• Step 2: Make dressing. Whisk the dressing ingredients together in a medium bowl.

• Step 3: Chop salad ingredients. Combine the salad ingredients in a large bowl.

• Step 4: Combine. Pour the dressing over the salad and stir until well combined. Best if chilled at least one hour.

• Step 5: Adjust to taste. Add vinegar for tangier or sugar for sweeter.

TIPS FOR making the best Macaroni Salad

• Don’t overcook the pasta: No one wants a mushy Macaroni Salad! Cook the macaroni just until al dente (i.e., is soft with a bit of a bite to it). After the pasta is cooked, rinse it with cold water to prevent it from continuing to cook and soften.
• Toss macaroni with olive oil: After the pasta is drained, immediately toss it with some olive oil. If you skip this step, it can dry together and tear when tossed.
• Let the macaroni cool: For pasta salads with creamy dressings, you must let the pasta cool completely before adding the dressing or it will separate.
• Customize ingredients: The Macaroni Salad ingredients and measurements are simply suggestions. Add/swap any ingredients for your favorite veggies or add protein to make it a complete meal. See variation ideas above.
• Use only half of the dressing if serving later: Gently toss the easy Macaroni Salad together with HALF of the dressing if not serving immediately. If you use all of the dressing initially, the macaroni will soak up the dressing and it will taste dry.
• Season to taste: Always adjust the finished Macaroni Salad recipe to taste AFTER it has chilled as the some of the flavors meld, build or mellow upon chilling.

How to serve this Macaroni Salad Recipe

This Macaroni Salad is a show stopping side dish perfect for any summer gathering! Here are some dishes it pairs well with:

• Beef: Flank Steak, Sirloin Steak, Steak Kabobs, Skirt Steak, Barbecue Ribs, Brisket
• Grilled chicken: Teriyaki Chicken, Marinated Grilled Chicken, Grilled Barbecue Chicken, Barbecue Chicken Kabobs
• Seafood: Grilled Shrimp, Jerk Shrimp, Cedar Plank Salmon, Grilled Salmon in Foil
• Sandwiches and burgers: BBQ Brisket Sandwiches, BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches, French Dips, Philly Cheesesteaks, Italian Beef Sandwiches, Cubano Sandwiches, Best Burgers, and BBQ Burgers
• Side dishes: Baked Beans, Strawberry Spinach Salad, Cucumber Tomato Salad, Corn Salad, and Cornbread.
• Fruit: Grape Salad, Watermelon Salad, Fruit Salad, Pina Colada Fruit Salad, Tropical Fruit Salad or Berry Salad in Honey Mascarpone.

How to store Easy Macaroni Salad

Cover leftover Macaroni Salad with plastic wrap or transfer it to an airtight container.

Tools Used in This Recipe

See Favorite Tools

Did You Make This Recipe?

Tag @CarlsbadCravings and Use #CarlsbadCravngs

Leave a Review, I Always Love Hearing From You!