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.
Elizabeth K
First time making this salad and it is delicious. Since my picky husband liked it you know it is a hit! Thanks for sharing!
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
So glad it was a hit, Elizabeth–especially with the picky husband! 😉 Enjoy!
Roxanne L Eaves
Made this for a picnic and got raves!
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Thanks for using our recipe, Roxanne! We’re so happy everyone enjoyed it 🩷
Laura
I made this recipe with the sweet pickles and then again with the dill pickles. My personal preference is with dill pickles. The sweet pickles are too sweet for me. Again, my personal preference. I love the dressing for the salad, it adds a lot flavor. I will definitely make this again!
Precious
I love Macon salad and I would love to learn more recipes
Greta
Absolutely Perfect! Easy yo make, and all of our guests loved it! (next time I will make more, so I can enjoy the leftovers!)
Linda Fearn-Williams
This is the best macaroni salad I’ve ever made and I’ve been cooking a long time! My husband said that it could be a meal on it’s own. Thank-you for such a great recipe!
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
We’re so happy you like it, Linda! We’ve definitely eaten it as dinner before–no shame in that 😉
Dan
Great recipe, everyone loved it.
Clovia
The Macaroni salad was of exceptional quality and flavor. It was well-received by my family and I highly recommend it.
Karen Fean
I was craving macaroni salad so I bought some, trash!
I found this recipe and made it exactly as stated, and it is awesome! So incredibly good, thank you for sharing the recipe
Wendy
Oh my goodness this was delicious! I added green onions (cuz my hubby likes them) and about a cup of green peas (cuz I like them). But that did not take away from the flavor of the sauce mixture. I almost couldn’t wait that hour it needed in the fridge after tasting it on the spoon after mixing it with the other ingredients. This will be my ‘go to’ for macaroni salad for that cool summer meal. For years I’ve made a mayo/sour cream and salsa sauce mix for macaroni salad that I do in the summertime. Now I have an alternative – after all, summer weather can last a looong time!
Thank you!
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
We are so happy you enjoyed it, Wendy! It really does make the perfect summer meal 😋
Jewels
I love this recipe!! I’ll be making this all summer long. I double the recipe and my family eats it up in a few days.
Marty Feldkamp
Very good, followed recipe exactly. Thank you!
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Thanks for the five star review, Marty! Enjoy ☺️
Diane
Fun to make and tasted delicious. I’ll definitely make this more often. Thank you for sharing.
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Thanks for giving it a try, Diane! We’re so happy you enjoyed it 😊
Sugarfoot
Excellent recipe. Made it for my husbands lunches. Absolutely delicious.
Nichelle Miller
I made this so far 2 times. it is wonderful. I can’t think of another maccaroni salad that has tasted this good! it is a keeper and my family loves it! Thank u for this great recipe.
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
We’re so happy it’s a hit! Thanks for commenting, Nichelle 😊
GiGi
Served this to about 100 people. No complaints, only compliments even from those that really didn’t like maccaroni salad.
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Sounds like it was a huge hit! We’re so happy you chose our recipe 🩷
Elizabeth A. Tracy
luved this recipee, but am not telling my add ins, as I feel I should write my own book. Was fabous, will make aginn, triple it🥰 Tiz