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.
Priscilla
Very yummy I added a splash of banana pepper juice (maybe 1 tablespoon) and it definitely made it next level 😋🍴
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Yum! We’ll have to try that next time 😋
Chris
good, but kinda sweet
Pattianne
Thank you so much for this delicious recipe! My family devoured it!!
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
We’re so happy it was a hit, Pattianne 🥰
Linda Hodge
I made this for Te Wiki o te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week) shared lunch at our school (it was a hit). Traditionally, staff bring dishes that reflect the Māori culture. But I wanted to do something different and I personally enjoyed the combination of the flavours in this macaroni salad. I will definitely be making this again.
Ngā mihi
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
We’re so happy it was a hit, Linda! Thanks for using our recipe 🩷
Rich
Just made this for my wife’s bunco group, doubling the recipe and following the it without any changes except for leaving out the crushed red pepper. When I make this again, I’ll add an extra egg.
Carolyn
This is a winner! The dressing has a lot of ingredients that thankfully I had on hand. This will be my go-to recipe for macaroni salad from now on!
Sharon
I made this today for visiting family and everyone loved it. Great recipe! The only change I made was using a bit VB less sugar. I will definitely make this again.
Patty
The best macaroni salad I’ve ever had! Thank you
Becca
Doubled this for a tailgate. I doubled and I made exactly as is, except for I used orange peppers instead of red. I got asked for the recipe and have shared!
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Sounds like it was a hit for you, Becca! Thanks for trying our recipe 🥰
Carol Martin
Made this tonight – so easy and delicious, and it’s pretty, too. I made the dressing exactly as written and it was perfect.
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
We’re so happy it was a hit for you, Carol! 🩷
Katrina
I just made this today. Its great! I wouldn’t change anything.
Becky
This is the best macaroni salad I have ever made. I fixed it for a grape harvest party and several people asked for the recipe.
Megan
Hands down, GREAT recipe. I’ve made it twice now and it is truly perfection. 10x better than store bought or deli bought in my opinion! I followed the recipe exactly and even my pickle-hating husband loved it; he couldn’t even tell.
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
So glad the recipe is such a hit for you, Megan! 🩷
Sylvie Leblanc
I was not a macaroni salad until I came across this one. To me it’s the best so far and this is were I’am stopping to look for the best one! Thank you!
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
We’re so happy you found our recipe, Sylvie! Thanks for the review 🩷
Debbie
This is a great recipe except the pickle juice and the pickles overwhelms the flavor. Next time I make this, I’m going to use half the pickle juice and half the pickles.