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.
Kris
Can you use sweet relish if you don’t have the pickles?
Sam
Yup! Enjoy 🙂
Ellen T.
Yum! I made this for a barbecue, doubled the recipe, and it was delicious! I omitted the red onions, personal preference, and followed the rest of the recipe. Easy, so very good, was perfect for a crowd, and ten times better than store bought (yuck). Thanks!
Brenda
I made this salad for a corn roast everybody loved it and said it was the best macaroni salad they have every had, I did not use boiled eggs.
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe it is so delicious it is my go too macaroni salad from now on.
Sam
I’m so glad everyone enjoyed it so much, Brenda! 🙂
Midge
This is a step up from the hohum mac salad, will be using this from now on, also at times adding tuna. Will say made it to recipe but did add peas. Will also be putting bacon (I know bad for you) but feel it will add another taste. Thank you 🙏🏻
Sam
Thank you so much for trying my recipe, Midge! I’m so glad you enjoyed, thank you for letting me know how it turned out for you! 🙂
Kate
I’ve made this delicious recipe many times in the last two years. I double it (and it makes an enormous bowl of macaroni salad when doubled!) when I bring it to potlucks and there is never any leftover 🙂 my dad is always making a special request for this one and he can’t stop eating it. I’m allergic to potatoes so I’m always looking to please everyone with an especially good macaroni salad so I can take part and please the die hard potato salad salad lovers too. This one is a keeper!
Sam
I’m so glad everyone enjoyed it so much, Kate! 🙂
Marilyn Logan
This was a delicious salad. The dressing was just perfect. Nice for a change. I added a can of tuna to the bowl but you could also add chicken or even some diced ham. Thanks for the recipe.
Sam
I’m so glad you enjoyed it so much, Marilyn! 🙂
Karen
Can you omit pickle juice? We don’t like pickles in this house so I don’t wanna buy a jar just to use a bit of the juice in the recipe, the rest would go to waste 🙁
Sam
Hi Karen! You can omit the pickle juice. It just adds a nice flavor. 🙂
Vicki
This was delicious! I didn’t have any celery so I added fresh cucumber. I made the dressing exactly as posted. I will probably use the cucumber instead of celery again because it was delicious and I like cucumber better than celery. Thanks for sharing!
Darcy
Absolutely delicious! Best macaroni salad I’ve ever tasted. Thank you for sharing!
Sam
I’m so glad you enjoyed it so much, Darcy! 🙂
Tracy
I have never really like macaroni salad, but this totally won me over. I could eat the whole bowl! The dressing also works well for potato salad.
Sam
I’m so glad you enjoyed it so much, Tracy! 🙂
Joey Cecchini
Greetings Sam, my Mom, God bless her soul had the best recipe ever for Macaroni Salad. I’ve never been able to locate some of her recipes after she passed . I’ve been married 20 yrs and my wife makes a great Macaroni Salad. Thursday night my wife helped me make your Macaroni Salad for a potluck at my job. We followed your recipe item for item,
Oh My Goodness, There is a new leader in the clubhouse. Both my wife and I believe your recipe is the best Macaroni Salad we have ever made or shared together, my co-workers also commented on how delicious it was. Whenever I make someone’s recipe I always respect the person that made the recipe and follow it as it us written. Thank you very much for sharing this recipe with us all to enjoy, I’m sure my mom would have also loved this very delicious Macaroni Salad.
Sam
I’m so glad you enjoyed it so much, Joey! 🙂
Vicki
This was delicious! I didn’t have any celery so I added fresh cucumber. I made the dressing exactly as posted. I will probably use the cucumber instead of celery again because it was delicious and I like cucumber better than celery. Thanks for sharing!
Sam
I’m so glad you enjoyed it so much, Vicki! 🙂
Barb
I wanted a cold dinner tonight since it’s been such a hot day. This was my first time trying this salad and it was delicious! I loved that it had lots of dressing, since so many macaroni salads are dry. I served it with cold chicken. It was lovely. Thank you for sharing it.
Sam
I’m so glad you enjoyed it so much, Barb! 🙂
JEFF R
I’ve made it many times….modified a few ingredients but it’s a great tasty Macaroni Salad!
Sam
I’m so glad you have enjoyed it so much, Jeff! 🙂
Lu
What about substituting miracle whip if you don’t have mayonnaise?
Sam
The flavor will definitely be different but it will work. 🙂
Donna
How much diced cheese would you substitute for the boiled eggs? I think I’d like it better!
Jennifer
Followed everything except the chili pepper flakes. Fantastic salad!!!
Sam
I’m so glad you enjoyed it so much, Jennifer! 🙂
Jp
I really love this recipe ,I did not have celery stalks but did have celery seed and it turned out yummy ,will definitely make again ❣️Thanks
Kelly Miller
I use baking soda in my pot when boiling fresh eggs. The shells typically slide right off.
Tania
Amazing flavors in this salad. Just made 2 pounds of it for an after funerAl gathering tomorrow. I added some grated carrot and also some pickle relish because we were out of the sweet pickles. My husband taste tested it and declared that though he has never like Mac salad he loved this one and would definitely like me to add this to mu recipe box. Thank you for sharing.
Sam
I’m so glad everyone enjoyed it so much, Tania! I’m honored to have a place in your recipe box. 🙂
Marcella
I almost never write a review but this recipe deserves a comment. Best macaroni salad!! The dressing is so flavorful and tasty. Yummy, can’t wait until dinner!
Sam
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment Marcella! I’m so glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
Gary ward
Best recipe for sure! This should be commercially made so you could buy at any grocery store it would sell for $7.99lb all day long!
Carol S.
OMG soooooo yummy! I followed the recipe exactly except I used the roasted red peppers from a jar instead of fresh because I had them on hand. Best mac salad I ever had – this recipe is a keeper!!
Sam
I’m so glad you enjoyed it so much, Carol! 🙂
Sammye
Loved this macaroni salad! It was so good! Served it to my family and they raved over it!!
Jeff
This macaroni salad literally changed my life.
I have always preferred potato salad, but my wife has always preferred macaroni salad. The problem, however, was that her macaroni salad was, well, yuck.
After years of what I now refer to as “the macaroni wars” we were on the verge of divorce. Seriously, I just couldn’t take her macaroni salad anymore, and she refused to have my delicious potato salad.
Then, things changed. Your recipe was like a marriage-saver sent from heaven. She made this recipe and it is the best macaroni salad I have ever tasted.
We’re now happy again.
Sometimes, a good macaroni salad does more than just satisfy an appetite.
It changes the world for the better.
Thank you!
Sam
🤣 I’m so glad I could help! 🙂
Ruth Cline
This is exactly the recipe I was looking for. Just like I grew up with at home! I’ve been craving it and will make it soon.
Thanks so much for the recipe!
Sam
I hope you love it, Ruth! 🙂
Kim
This is the best macaroni salad I’ve ever made!! Great recipe!
Christine
😂🤣😂