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.
Laura
This is an excellent and easy recipe. The dressing is the best I have tasted.
Karen H
This was DELICIOUS! I substituted French Onion Dip for the sour cream. Great flavor!
Maryann
Love this recipe. Though I leave the sugar out in the dressing. But overall it’s the best I’ve found!
Stefanie M
Excellent! This was my first attempt at Macaroni Salad. So easy and the dressing was perfect! I doubled it to serve at our 4th of July party today. My husband gave it two thumbs up!
KimN
We love vegetables, so I doubled all the veggies. And instead of the crushed red pepper, you could use three or so radishes.
KimN
Great dressing. We love vegetables, so I doubled all the veggies.
Deborah
Just finished making this for July 4th fireworks party, cookout, bbq TODAY as our dish to share. My first time making Mac salad. My husband usually makes it and is very picky about his macaroni salads and he loved this recipe. He chopped and I assembled. He wanted to add carrots so he shredded one which just adds a bit more crunch. Excellent!!
Debbie Macchio
Made exact to recipe today, family raved about it! Love!
Connie Stewart
Great recipe! Made this on a whim and wouldn’t you know, my celery was gross so I just subbed with English cucumber. The dressing was amazing! Thank you for sharing!
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
We’re so happy you enjoyed it, Connie! Thanks for the review 😊
Jovana
My first time making macaroni salad. I halved the recipe, because I knew my kids wouldn’t like it. They are so picky. Even halving it made quite a bit. I probably got about a cup. My husband ate the rest lol! Making it for the Fourth of July this week! It was really good thank you!
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Sounds like it was a big hit for you, Jovana! Thanks for giving it a try ❤️
Lisa Seltzer
This was absolutely the perfect macaroni salad. Doubled the recipe and followed it exactly. Just the perfect blend of flavors. Will make again & again.
Marny Douglas
l am making your macaroni salad for the 1st
time. it is the closest to my grandma’s.
l am doing it for 52 guest so l will give you an up to date on Tuesday the 2nd. of July 2024
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Thanks for choosing our recipe, Marny! We hope it’s a huge hit! 😊
Deanne
This is the perfect summer salad. It gave the right proportions for dressing and macaroni. Sometimes I find it hard to get the right balance. Thanks for the Recipe.
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
We’re so happy you like the salad, Deanne ❤️
Linda
If you double the receipe do you double all ingredients
Sam
Yes, you would need to double everything. Enjoy! 🙂
Cait
Hi there! Recipe looks amazing, can’t wait to try it! Just wondering if it’s possible to use sweet relish instead of gherkins, and how much might be required. Thanks so much!
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Hi Cait! That should work fine. It would be an even substitution 😊
JuanitaOlson
This was wonderful and I added banana peppers and a little of the jar juice for extra spice.
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Yum! Love that idea 😋
GlynT
It is not summer to me until I have made this. Nobody else in my house eats macaroni salad, but I make this anyway..just for me…because it is that good.
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
More for you! We’re so happy you love it so much 🥰
Kathryn
Made this today, fantastic!!
Jen M
So delicious! Thank you for the recipe, I love it! I choose to use 1 cup of mayo instead of adding sour cream but definitely going to give it a try with the sour cream too.
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
We’re so happy you enjoyed it, Jen! 🥰