This is a classic, tasty, and oh-so easy macaroni salad recipe! Made with classic ingredient staples including celery, red pepper, and onion and dressed up in a simple creamy mayo-based dressing, this is guaranteed to be a hit at every cookout and potluck this year!
Be sure to check out the easy video that shows step-by-step how to make this recipe!
We have had a non-stop week of rain here.
Zach’s first two softball games of the season have been rained out and I’m beginning to forget what the sun looks like (I’m only slightly dramatic I promise 😉). I am completely over it. I’m ready for summertime sunshine and cookout weather, and with Memorial Day weekend just around the corner I’m taking the opportunity to prepare and share my all-time favorite macaroni salad recipe, even if it is grey and gloomy outside.
I’ve shared a few of my summertime salads, including my favorite broccoli salad and ramen noodle salad, but this one may just be my favorite.
Macaroni salad is a party/potluck/cookout staple, no get-together is complete without a giant chilled bowl, and today I’ll show you how I make my favorite recipe and the perfectly creamy, slightly sweet dressing that goes along with it.
What Ingredients are in Macaroni Salad?
Different macaroni salads contain different ingredients, but my staples include:
- Elbow macaroni (obviously 😉)
- Sweet pickles
- Red pepper
- Celery
- Red onion
- Hard boiled eggs or shredded or diced cheddar cheese
- A homemade mayo-based macaroni salad dressing
You can obviously add your favorite additional add-ins or make substitutions (I know some people prefer sliced green onions to red onion and some people like to add paprika to their dressing), but this if my favorite combination and I really recommend you try it out exactly this way at least once for yourself.
The dressing I just mentioned is what really sets it apart from other potluck recipes you might have tried. It provides just the right amount of creaminess — the noodles are coated in just enough sauce and are neither dry nor are they drenched in the dressing. It’s also just slightly sweetened thanks to the addition of some sweet pickle juice and a pinch of sugar.
How long can you keep Macaroni Salad?
Macaroni salad will keep for up to five days when stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. This is a great salad for making in advance (I actually recommend chilling for at least an hour before serving) and serving at picnics and potlucks, but try not to leave it out at room temperature (or worse, in the heat!) for very long as the salad dressing base will not keep well in the heat.
This macaroni salad recipe is a favorite to serve alongside my favorite BBQ pulled chicken and a plate full of deviled eggs (you’re already going to be boiling eggs anyway, might as well make enough for deviled eggs while you’re at it!).
When I shared my deviled egg recipe, so many of you shared your favorite methods for cleanly peeling fresh eggs, and I appreciated those tips so much and have tried many of them. I’d love to keep the conversation going here if you would share your favorite egg-peeling methods in the comments!
How Do You Make Homemade Macaroni Salad?
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Macaroni Salad
Ingredients
- 8 oz dry macaroni noodles (227g)
- ½ cup finely diced sweet gherkins usually 4-6 sweet gherkins for me (80g)
- ¾ cup finely diced red bell pepper about ½ pepper (100g)
- ⅓ cup thinly sliced celery about 1-2 stalks (55g)
- ⅓ cup finely diced red onion (45g)
- 2 large hard boiled eggs, finely diced
Macaroni Salad Dressing
- ¾ cup mayonnaise I use olive oil mayo (175g)
- ¼ cup sour cream (70g)
- 2 Tablespoons sweet pickle juice
- 1 Tablespoon red wine vinegar*
- 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper optional
Instructions
- Prepare macaroni noodles according to package instructions. Drain and rinse immediately with cold water, then drizzle with a teaspoon of olive oil and gently stir so the noodles don't stick together as they sit.
- In a large bowl, combine macaroni noodles, sweet pickles, red pepper, celery, red onion, and eggs. Stir until well-combined. Set aside and prepare your dressing.
For the dressing
- To prepare your macaroni salad dressing, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, red wine vinegar, sweet pickle juice, sugar, dijon mustard, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and crushed red pepper (if using) in a medium-sized bowl. Whisk until ingredients are well-combined.
- Pour dressing over your macaroni salad ingredients and toss until well-combined.
- For best flavor, cover bowl and allow macaroni salad to chill for at least one hour. Stir once more before serving and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
Mabeline Gidez
This is a most wonderful macaroni salad. The best I have ever had. My mom is a picky eater and she asks me to make it every week and has seconds. I cant make enough. Thank you for providing this recipe. I will try no other!
Sam
I am so glad you enjoyed it so much, Mabeline! 🙂
Zoi
Thank you! This is the best! This salad will be a new staple for us. The only change I made was to sub the sour cream with my homemade L. reuteri yogurt. Yum! I love your recipes!
Sam
So happy to hear it was such a success, Zoi! Thank you so much for commenting, I appreciate it 🙂
Dee
This is an absolutely DELICIOUS macaroni salad. I didn’t have elbow macaroni, so I used rotini instead. After it sat in the fridge for an hour, the macaroni absorbed so much of the dressing that it was a little dry when I brought it to the table. But I think that was only because there are so many nooks and crannies in the rotini and it just sucked up the dressing. That being said, I LOVED this, and will definitely make it again…using elbow macaroni next time.
Sam
I am so glad you enjoyed it so much, Dee! 🙂
Elisa
After trying for years, we finally found a foolproof method of cleanly peeling fresh eggs. Steam for 13 min, put in an ice bath, then peel away! Amazing!
Linda
This is the very best ! I skipped the eggs, because I’m not an egg fan, but what a wonderful macaroni salad! The dressing is awesome! Thank you for sharing your recipe.
Sam
I’m so glad you enjoyed, Linda! Thank you so much for commenting! 🙂
Kerry
Delicious! I made this today and my husband and I loved it. This will be my ‘go-to’ recipe for macaroni salad. Looking forward to making it for a crowd! Thank you so much!!
Sam
I am so glad everyone enjoyed it so much, Kerry! 🙂
JJ
Omitted the eggs but added a yellow/orange/red pepper. Outstanding!!
Sam
I am so glad you enjoyed it so much! 🙂
Cynthia Cummings
Absolutely delicious! Best dressing EVER! Thank you!
Sam
I am so glad you enjoyed it so much, Cynthia! 🙂
evellives
Made this recipe for our 4th of July celebration! It was a huge hit. So tasty and all of the ingredients came together so well! Thanks for the deliciousness!!
Sam
I am so glad everyone enjoyed it so much! 🙂
Donna
I wanted to make a macaroni salad of some sort. Found this recipe. Oh my gosh! It’s great. I wrote it down so I can make it again. It’s really good. Thanks for the recipe.
Sam
I am so glad you enjoyed it so much, Donna! 🙂
Kristal Tighe
This is best salad I have ever had, and so easy!
Sam
I am so glad you enjoyed it so much, Kristal! 🙂
Kelly
Fantastic! Quick and easy! Everyone loved it! Thank you!
Sam
I am so glad everyone enjoyed it so much, Kelly! 🙂
Diane
This is the best Macaroni Salad EVER! My family LOVES it. No leftovers, I had to make it twice! Tomorrow is the Fourth of July, I’m doubling it!!!!
Sam
I am so glad you enjoy it so much, Diane! 🙂
Dot Salzberg
Everyone in my family loves this recipe. I don’t add eggs or pickle juice. My grandchildren love it.
Sam
I am so glad everyone enjoyed it so much, Dot! 🙂
Kristin
Easiest way to do hard boil eggs is in the instant pot. Follow the 5-5-5 method: 5 minutes pressure cooking, 5 minutes natural pressure release, 5 minutes in an ice water bath to chill. They come out perfect every time and the shells just slip off.
Beverly Nash
I have been looking for the perfect macaroni salad and I found it!! I was so tired of the ole standby dressings…this one is absolutely my favorite go to. I did have to double it as allowing the salad to sit a couple hours in the refrigerator, to us, needed more dressing. I also added green peas (1/2 cup and a little cucumber…
Sam
I am so thrilled it was such a hit! Thank you for commenting, Beverly!