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Home » 30 Minute Meals » Our Favorite Macaroni Salad

Our Favorite Macaroni Salad

Created: May 14, 2020 Updated: September 12, 2022 by Lyuba Brooke 91 Comments

127.5K shares
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You can’t have a BBQ party or a potluck without some delicious Macaroni Salad. No need to get it at the store because it is so easy to make with a few simple ingredients. This is our favorite Macaroni Salad full of red onions, celery, bell peppers, herbs, and of course, delicious creamy dressing.

There are a few more BBQ sides you will need for the backyard party so don’t forget the Southern Potato Salad, Cajun Corn Salad, and Italian Tortellini Salad. 

side view of prepared macaroni salad in a glass bowl with a wooden spoon

MACARONI SALAD

It’s officially the start of the barbecue season and we are ready to have our weekly cookouts. Okay, so there is nothing official about when to start the season but I say if the weather is warm and sunny, it’s the start. The weather has been absolutely beautiful and I fire up my grill every weekend.

No matter what you’re grilling for the summer gathering, you need to have some sides to go with those big, juicy grilled steaks, burgers, and hot dogs. Family and friends expect to see the classics like potato salad, coleslaw, and of course, pasta salad. It’s the quintessential summer cookout sides that many people take very seriously.  

To satisfy everyone’s preference, I like to have a few different options but never do I NOT have a macaroni salad. It’s a staple at every BBQ, every potluck, every summer picnic, or a day at the park. This is our favorite recipe that features fresh vegetables, tender macaroni, fresh herbs, and of course, creamy dressing. 

ingredients in a metal mixing bowl laid in side by side: macaroni, chopped pepper, chopped onions, chopped celery, green onions and herbs

MACARONI SALAD VS PASTA SALAD

Now, the big question is, will you serve pasta salad or macaroni salad at your next cookout? What is the difference between pasta salad and macaroni salad?

Simple answer: mayonnaise or no mayonnaise.

Traditionally, the difference between the two was in the way you dressed the salad. Macaroni salad featured small pasta like ditalini or small elbow macaroni and creamy, mayonnaise based dressing. Pasta salad, on the other hand, would have larger pasta like rotini or fusilli and dressed with an oil and vinegar based dressing. 

ingredients for the dressing in a mixing bowl with a whisk

INGREDIENTS IN MACARONI SALAD

Ingredients in macaroni salad could truly be endless. I’ve seen some recipe that have everything but the kitchen sink in it, or maybe I just didn’t notice the kitchen sink. In my family, we like to keep it pretty simple to let pasta shine and get some help from fresh, crunchy vegetables and smooth, creamy dressing. 

Pasta – of course you should start with pasta. Choose a smaller pasta like elbow macaroni or ditalini. (I don’t love orichette in a macaroni salad because they tend to stick together and don’t mix evenly with the dressing.)

Vegetables – let’s start with the classics, you should definitely throw in some red onion, bell pepper, and celery. All three will give the salad a pleasant crunch and a burst of sweetness.

Herbs – I like to add some green onions, fresh parsley, and fresh dill weed as well. My grandmother never served a salad without fresh herbs (and sometimes green onions) in it and it always brightened up the flavors. 

Dressing – I love this macaroni salad dressing! It’s a simple mix of mayo, sour cream, Dijon mustard, white wine vinegar, brown sugar, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. 

pouring dressing into the mixing bowl of cooked pasta and vegetables

Pickles or No Pickles?

My husband hides the jar of pickles whenever I’m getting ready to make macaroni salad. He insists that sweet pickles or relish overpower every other flavors in the salad and I agree. When I add sweet pickles, that is all I can taste and it changes the flavor of the dressing too. 

I’ve even surveyed several friends and family, to see if they like pickles or relish in macaroni salad and most of them said that they prefer without. So if you’re with us, put away the jar of pickles for another time. But, if you truly love those macaroni salad with pickles, feel free to add about 1/2 cup of finely diced sweet pickles. 

How To Extend Life Of Fresh Herbs:

Fresh herbs truly provide the best flavor but I know it can be a pain to buy a bunch of parsley and dill weed for one recipe. Personally, I can totally use up a bunch of parsley in a week but I do have a couple of tricks that will help extend their life. 

You can either freeze them, or keep them fresh in the refrigerator. To freeze herbs, make sure to wash them first and spread them out on a paper towel to dry off the water. Mince them and place in a freezer zip-lock bag. Get all the air out, seal, and freeze. 

The best way to keep the herbs fresh for about a week to ten days is to store them in the refrigerator, in a zip-lock bag. Wrap the whole bunch in a damp paper towel first and then place it in the bag. Close and keep in the refrigerator. 

mixing macaroni salad in a metal mixing bowl

HOW TO MAKE MACARONI SALAD

This is a really easy recipe that you can make in 30 minutes. Cook pasta according to the box instructions and dice the vegetables and herbs while it’s cooking. Whisk ingredients for the dressing together and check you Instagram because pasta is still cooking. When pasta is finally ready, drain it and let it cool so it’s not scalding hot. 

Mix pasta with vegetables and herbs and then pour in the dressing. Give it a good mix to make sure that all the ingredients are evenly coated with dressing. Cool mixed salad in the refrigerator for at least two hours before serving. 

MAKE IT AHEAD

Pasta and macaroni salads are wonderful recipes to make ahead. I actually prefer to make macaroni salad the night before because all the ingredients have a chance to mix and mingle and marinate with each other. Pasta soaks up all those tasty flavors and tastes so much better a few hours after you make it. 

Just make sure to keep it refrigerated until you’re ready to serve it You don’t want to leave a creamy salad out at room temperature for a long time.

Store all the leftovers in the refrigerator too. When properly stored in an air-tight container, in the refrigerator, macaroni salad should last 3 to 4 days. 

top view of prepared creamy macaroni salad in a glass bowl with wooden spoon spicking out

MORE BBQ SIDES RECIPES TO TRY

Loaded Baked Potato Salad

Cucumber Salad

Cheddar Bacon Ranch Tortellini Salad

Classic Coleslaw

spoonful of prepared macaroni salad

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PIN THIS RECIPE

mixing macaroni salad in a metal mixing bowl

Macaroni Salad

This is our favorite Macaroni Salad full of red onions, celery, bell peppers, herbs, and of course, delicious creamy dressing.
5 from 23 votes
Print Pin SaveSaved! Rate
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Cool in the refrigerator:: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 28 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 451kcal
Author: Lyuba Brooke

Ingredients

  • 1 lb uncooked macaroni pasta
  • 1/2 cup diced red onion
  • 1 medium red bell pepper
  • 3 short celery ribs
  • 1/4 cup diced green onion
  • 2 tbsp minced fresh parsley
  • 1 tbsp minced fresh dill weed

Dressing:

  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1 tbsp Dijon Mustard
  • 2 tbsp white wine vinegar
  • 1 1/2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp salt more or less to taste
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Cook pasta in salted water according to box instructions.
  • Drain cooked pasta and let it cook until no longer scalding hot.
  • Dice all vegetables and herbs while pasta is cooking and whisk all ingredients for the dressing in a separate bowl.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine pasta vegetables, and herbs and mix.
  • Pour dressing into the bowl with the pasta and mix everything together until dressing is evenly incorporated throughout.
  • Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or transfer the salad into a food storage container with a lid. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 451kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 509mg | Potassium: 217mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 696IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @willcookforsmiles and tag #willcookforsmiles

long collage of two images of side view of macaroni salad in a glass bowl and spoonful of salad

LYUBA

ABOUT LYUBA

I’m Lyuba Brooke, mother of 2, the cook, recipe developer, photographer, and author behind willcookforsmiles.com. I share many classic and original recipes, cooking tips, and tutorials. My passion is sharing delicious meals for everyone to try. Read more...

127.5K shares

Filed Under: 30 Minute Meals, 4th Of July, BBQ, Father's Day, Pasta, Popular Posts, Side Dishes

All images and text ©Lyubov Brooke for ©Will Cook For Smiles. Please do not use my images without prior permission. If using my posts in collections and features, please link back to this post for the recipe. Disclaimer: Nutrition information shown is not guaranteed to be 100% accurate as most ingredients and brands have variations.

Comments

  1. Amy says

    January 14, 2023 at 11:36 am

    Hii 🙂 I’d love to make this for a weekend party tomorrow. Can I sub the white wine vinegar for the seasoned rice vinegar I have on hand? I know it’s seasoned but will there be a huge difference?

    Reply
    • lyuba says

      January 16, 2023 at 10:35 am

      Hi Amy! Sorry I didn’t see this sooner. The vinegar itself won’t have too much of difference unless your pallet is quite sensitive but the seasoned part I’m not sure about. I don’t know what kind of flavor it will add. Did you try it? Let me know!

      Reply
  2. Shirley Parada says

    December 24, 2022 at 4:39 am

    Wonderful dressing! This is delicious and
    is a real keeper.

    Reply
  3. lise lacoste says

    December 15, 2022 at 4:26 pm

    Bonjour c’est la première fois que je vais essayé ta recette de macaroni pour Noêl est vraiment plus complète que celle que je fais, je me demande s’y je rajoute des crevettes, j’aimerais avoir ton opinion

    Reply
  4. Beth Shook says

    October 16, 2022 at 7:10 pm

    This is a really good macaroni salad, will use again.

    Reply
    • LyubaB says

      October 18, 2022 at 11:10 am

      Thank you, Beth!

      Reply
  5. Alicia says

    August 23, 2022 at 3:30 pm

    I love this pasta salad. I can be picky with dressing but this is delicious.
    The only thing I did different was to use a green bell pepper instead of celery (cause I can never find it in small bundles). And I love the flavor of peppers better anyway so win win.
    I’ve already made it twice and even my particular sisters like it.

    Reply
    • LyubaB says

      August 29, 2022 at 11:34 am

      I am glad you liked it, Alicia!

      Reply
  6. Cathy from Mississippi says

    August 21, 2022 at 4:52 pm

    5 stars
    After trying this recipe, I ditched all of my other Macaroni Salad recipes I don’t use the green onions, but that’s because my hubs is not a fan and feels that green onions take over every dish that its present in… We love this salad. If you’re on the fence about trying it, please go for it. This is delicious! I make it all the time now, and we’re having it with brisket tonight. Thanks for a fantastic recipe!

    Reply
    • LyubaB says

      August 23, 2022 at 10:58 am

      Thank you, Cathy! I am so glad you like it so much! Thanks for taking the time to stop by and tell me! 🙂

      Reply
  7. MaryKay says

    August 11, 2022 at 4:20 pm

    5 stars
    Like everyone, we all have our own recipe. But, I love to experiment with new. I wanted something different to take to a party tonight. This recipe is fabulous! Oh my goodness!!!!! I had my son try it and his response was, “oh yeah!’ Thank you for sharing. Love it

    Reply
    • LyubaB says

      August 15, 2022 at 11:58 am

      I am so glad you love it! Thanks for stopping by to let me know! 🙂

      Reply
  8. Mary says

    July 24, 2022 at 4:22 pm

    5 stars
    I’ve been making potato salad and pasta salad for so long that I don’t even use a recipe, but with so many rave reviews…I thought I’d branch out and try this. I’m so glad I did because it’s just fantastic. I had white balsamic vinegar and so cut back the brown sugar to just over a Tbl, left out the fresh dill and parsley and used a sprinkle of dried dill because it’s what I had. Also had a green pepper not a red one, but those are minor changes. I am having this for lunch and will have it for dinner with fresh Sockeye salmon and corn on the cob. I made enough to share with the neighbors, but I’m not so sure of their chances right now! LOL
    Thank you for a wonderful recipe. Mary

    Reply
    • LyubaB says

      July 25, 2022 at 11:19 am

      Aw thank you mary, I am so glad you liked it! Thanks for taking the time to come tell me 🙂

      Reply
      • Mary says

        July 25, 2022 at 3:06 pm

        5 stars
        The neighbors actually DID get some of this salad, and they like it too! Looks like a hit all the way around. Thanks again and try to stay cool. Mary

        Reply
  9. ColleenB.~TX. says

    July 24, 2022 at 3:51 am

    5 stars
    Super Fantastic! A go- 2 salad for them family Bar-Bee-Ques

    I did add in some finely diced ham along with grated carrot and a couple of hard boiled egg, finely chopped; decorated the top with sliced cherry tomatoes.
    Such a Great recipe for these Texas ; triple digit temperatures

    Reply
    • LyubaB says

      July 25, 2022 at 11:22 am

      So glad you liked the recipe!

      Reply
  10. Paula says

    July 9, 2022 at 7:04 pm

    5 stars
    Made a couple switches based on preferences and what we had on hand, but macaroni and potato salad are really all about the dressing, and this dressing is excellent! Added a couple pinches of cayenne because we like a little kick but great recipe!

    Reply
    • LyubaB says

      July 11, 2022 at 10:11 am

      I am so glad you liked it, Paula!

      Reply
  11. Dawn Shoff says

    July 5, 2022 at 1:30 pm

    Just made this. We chopped the veggies and put them together in a bag 2 days ago. Wow! They melded and are wonderful. I’m getting ready to put it in the fridge for later. Can’t wait to dig in!

    Reply
    • LyubaB says

      July 7, 2022 at 8:52 am

      Good idea! I am so happy you enjoyed the recipe! 🙂

      Reply
  12. Julie G. says

    July 2, 2022 at 12:36 pm

    5 stars
    This is the BEST recipe for macaroni salad! We all love it! I was looking for a recipe with dill in it, and happened upon this one. It has become my go-to. Since trying this recipe, I’ve become a picky macaroni salad connoisseur, and only want this macaroni as opposed to any others…lol! I love keeping it on hand throughout the summer months, and since it makes a good size batch, it makes plenty to share! Thank you SO much! 🙂

    Reply
    • LyubaB says

      July 5, 2022 at 9:36 am

      Thank you for the kind comment, Julie! I am so glad you like it!

      Reply
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Well, hey there!

I’m Lyuba Brooke, mother of 2, the cook, recipe developer, photographer, and author behind willcookforsmiles.com. I share many classic and original recipes, cooking tips, and tutorials. My passion is sharing delicious meals for everyone to try. Read More.

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