Macaroni Salad
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure policy.
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?
If you enjoy watching these videos, please subscribe to my YouTube Channel to be notified each time I publish a video!
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
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Like this? Leave a comment below!
I made this for my family during dinner as a side and everyone loved this recipe and not one piece of macaroni was left
This is THE BEST recipe for Macaroni Salad that I’ve ever eaten, and I’ve made quite a few different recipes. Tastes just like my Grandma used to make! I add 2 cups of cubed Medium Chedder Cheese to it, and a total of 4 boiled Eggs. Tastes really great with the Cheese added!!
I made this for the very first time. It was delicious. Thank you for the recipe.
This is an excellent recipe! Some of the ingredients are different from the norm but they all work! The dressing is light and perfect for summer. I tried it with the shredded cheddar and it clumped together so next time I will use the eggs. Other than that I followed it exactly and would do it again.i do not add celery: i have never been a fan of it.
This recipe is amazing. I have a neighbor who raves over this salad. Thank you so much!
I’ve made this several times, I lessened the amount of gherkins after the first time as it was a touch too sweet and added some baby dills to make up for the number of pickles used. My aunt says it is the best macaroni salad she has ever had.
I do love your recipes, they are easy to follow and the additional information is extremely helpful.
THE Best Marconi Salad by far! Thank you !!
You wrote this on my birthday Paula. I made the salad today. It looks delicious.
The best macaroni salad I ever made! And friends and family agree.
Thank you for sharing this incredible recipe!
best macaroni salad!
Delicious recipe, I add little cubes of cheddar cheese to mine.
Can I use dijon mustard instead of regular and can I use garlic powder instead of granulated? I live in Thailand and some things are hard to find
Doesn’t the recipe call for Dijon mustard?
Quick and easy to make, especially in the morning of hot days. I always reserve 1/4 of the dressing to add to the salad shortly before serving. This is the best macaroni salad recipe, though being a Wisconsinite, I do add some small cubes of cheddar to the salad usually.
Hi, love your recipes and all the information that goes with them! I do have a question. I am a single guy. I have made this salad, other salads, and other recipes you have posted, but I end up having to eat them for a week or so. I have tried cutting this recipe in half, but it doesn’t taste the same. Do you have any thoughts on what seasonings or ingredients I need to adjust above or below half measurements to make a reduced-size portion taste the same as the full version? I have been experimenting, but not foodie enough to know what I am doing! Any help would be appreciated.
Hi Bill! I’m so glad to hear you’ve enjoyed everything so much! For this recipe in particular, you should just be able to half every ingredient with success. 🙂
I quadruple this and make it with two pounds of macaroni and my kids eat it with their lunch for several days after. It just gets better in the fridge. I do substitute honey so as to avoid the refined sugar and I prefer balsamic to the red wine vinegar but otherwise a very good foundation for a great American mac salad.
First time I made this macaroni salad. I’m always apprehensive when trying new recipes. Awesome. Simply awesome. Took me a little while rechecking the ingredients and measurements, but so worth it. Can’t wait for guests to arrive. So happy!!!
Substituted Heinz Sweet Relish for the Sweet Gherkins. Also added a tsp.of celery seed. My wife & friends absolutely loved it.