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.
Robert Kasper
Everyone loved this salad. Made it for a few neighbors and everyone wants the recipe. Thank you, Shalom.
Sam
Hi Robert! I am so glad everyone enjoyed the macaroni salad so much. 🙂
Jessica
What kind of mayo… like: miracle whip, helmans, kraft?
Thank you:)
Sam
Hi Jessica! Whatever your favorite brand of mayo is you can use that. You can use miracle whip, but I personally am not a fan of it. 🙂
Jessica
Haha, me either lol 🙂
Thank you.
Sylvia Bailey
Such a good macaroni salad! Very refreshing. Love everything about it!!! Thanks for sharing.
Sam
Thank you so much, Sylvia! I am so glad you enjoyed the macaroni salad. 🙂
Karen
Thanks for sharing this recipe, Sam. Made it over the weekend and it was a hit. Think I’ll add more pickle juice next time and try green onions instead of purple.
Sam
You’re very welcome, Karen! I’m glad you enjoyed the macaroni salad! 🙂
Jen
I came across this recipe and it sounded better than so many others I’d read, so I decided to try it. Unsure if it would be good or not, I made the dressing part first to taste it before making a huge batch for my family only to have to toss it out if it wasn’t good. Yes, I am very picky when it comes to macaroni salad, my grandmother’s was the best ever and that’s what I compare all of them to. I have to say, this one comes pretty damn close to hers. I did make some adjustments though because there are some in my brood who don’t like bell peppers (me included, which is why my grandmother would leave them out just for me) and my mother’s tongue is way too sensitive to spice so I left out the chili flakes. But we also have some diabetics in the house (yeah yeah, we shouldn’t be eating the pasta to begin with, I know but we crave comfort food as well), so I left out the sugar and instead of sweet pickles, I used Bubbie’s bread and butter pickles instead.
This came out really good and I will be adding it to my recipe book! Thank you very much!!!
Sam
I am so happy to hear the macaroni salad was such a success for you, Jen!! Thank you so much for commenting and letting me know how it turned out, I really appreciate it 🙂
Anton
Thanks! Made it for the first time today and it turned out amazing!
Sam
I am so glad you enjoyed the macaroni salad, Anton! 🙂
Lillian Dibenedetto
Is that crushed red pepper in the.dressing pepper.flakes or more red bell pepper
Sam
Hi Lillian! You can choose to add a little crushed red pepper to your tastes if you desire. 🙂
Kim
To make perfect boiled eggs that peel cleanly every time…
Bring water to a boil in a deep saucepan. Add eggs that are at room temperature (keeps shells form cracking) and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove eggs with slotted spoon and immediately immerse in an ice water bath. Allow to cool 15 minutes and peel.
Kimberly El-Sadek
This macaroni salad was a hit at our 4th of July cookout and my friend requested it for her potluck today.
Sam
I am so happy to hear this! Thank you so much for commenting, Kimberly!
John
This is the greatest macaroni salad I ever had and the greatest thing about it is that I made it,I know ever I ingredient in it which means the world to me.A thousand times better than any store bought macaroni salad and I have had many. Thank You!
Sam
Thank you so much for commenting and letting me know how you enjoyed the macaroni salad, John! I appreciate it 🙂
Vivian
Nothing better then Macaroni Salad. I use all of the ingredients except Mayo. Eww. Miracle Whip only for this dish. Also can throw a can or two of drained tuna in it. Yum
Deanna Relph-Stach
Made your macaronie salad this evening, was quite delicious and a hit with everyone that had some. Thank you so much for the recipe and know that I will no doubt be making it in the future! Also note that I added Albacore white tuna, only wish I had read the comments before making it as I surely would have added the capers also. there is always next time, right. I Believe it was the best I have ever madeto date, much thanks to your recipe. Much appreciate! Best,
Deanna
Sam
Thank you so much, Deanna! I am so glad you enjoyed the Macaroni Salad! 🙂
Linda
Made this for a party last night. Great salad. I addd a small jar of capers. Loved the dressing. Thank you!
Sam
I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed the macaroni salad, Linda! Thank you for commenting 🙂
Lauren
Love it! I used a jar of pimentos instead of the fresh red pepper, just because we prefer them, and I used about a teaspoon of onion powder instead of the fresh onion because my husband doesn’t like raw onion. Great recipe! Will absolutely make it again.
Sam
Love the addition of the pimentos! So glad you enjoyed the macaroni salad, Lauren! 🙂
Bonnie romano
Third time making it . Love it easy
Sam
I am so glad you enjoy the macaroni salad so much, Bonnie! 🙂
Gwyn
This macaroni salad is delicious. My hubby, who does not like potato salad with sweet pickle, loved it along with my son. Thank you so much for the recipe.
Sam
I am so glad everyone enjoyed the macaroni salad, Gwyn! 🙂
Liza
Hey there Sam,
First time making macaroni salad and came across your recipe. I had to vary it slightly just based on what I had on hand…. white instead of red vinegar, no onion, green instead of red pepper, yellow instead of Dijon, tri-color penne instead of macaroni (the horror!) lol, and it was still amazing. My family all loved it including my mom who makes macaroni salad herself. I didn’t even taste it after I made it as I was letting the flavors meld and develop, and by party time, I was too busy, so my guests were the first tasters! Family approved 😉
Sam
I am so happy to hear this, Liza! Thank you so much for letting me know how it turned out for you! 🙂