Creamy Macaroni Salad Recipe
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This creamy macaroni salad recipe features a tangy dressing, crunchy veggies, and perfectly cooked macaroni pasta. It is a guaranteed hit for your next potluck, picnic, or cookout!
Macaroni salad is a staple at just about every Southern get together. It is a true classic side dish and pretty much impossible to make wrong. Give it a try for your next get together and watch it disappear from the table.
Pasta salad is one of my absolutely favorite potluck options. From Hawaiian pizza inspired pasta salad to the classic tuna pasta salad, I love serving a big chilled bowl of deliciousness at picnics and get togethers all through the summer. This creamy macaroni salad has quickly topped the list of most requested pasta salad recipes by my friends and family though.
Why You’ll Love This Creamy Macaroni Salad Recipe
- Quick and easy to make! This requires a little chopping for the vegetables but that can all be done while the pasta cooks. Then, it is a quick mix and chill until ready to serve.
- A crowd favorite! Everyone loves macaroni salad so this is guaranteed to be a hit.
- Make it ahead! The flavors of this get better as they sit together for a little bit so definitely plan to make it ahead.
- Balanced flavors. A little sweet, a little tangy, and lots of crunch.
What is Macaroni Salad?
Creamy macaroni salad, also called “mac” salad, is a type of cold pasta salad that includes elbow macaroni pasta and a mayonnaise based dressing. It typically includes fresh vegetables like celery, onion, and bell peppers. Like potato salad and other pasta salads, mac salad is a popular side dish for BBQs, potlucks, tailgates, and other social events including food.
Mac Salad Ingredients
- Elbow Pasta – This is the classic shape for macaroni salad.
- Fresh Vegetables – This recipe features red onion, red bell pepper, and green bell pepper. You could include celery too.
- Mayonnaise – The base for the dressing is mayonnaise. I do substitute Greek yogurt in for some of the mayonnaise to lighten the dressing but I would not recommend replacing all of the mayonnaise.
- Whole Milk
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Granulated Sugar – I use a mayonnaise that contains no sugar so this helps sweeten the dressing just a bit. If your mayonnaise has sugar in it, this is optional.
- Dijon Mustard
- Seasonings – This recipe needs garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
Essential Equipment for This Recipe
- Large pot
- Strainer
- Small Bowl
- Whisk
- Large Bowl
- Spoon
How to Make Mac Salad
This creamy macaroni salad recipe is so easy to make. The full instructions can be found in the recipe card below but here is a brief overview of how to make mac salad.
- Start by boiling water to cook your pasta.
- While your pasta cooks, mix the ingredients for your dressing.
- Then, chop all of your vegetables.
- After the pasta is cooked and drained, rinse it with cold water and add to a large bowl. Add in the chopped vegetables and stir well.
- Add in the dressing and stir to combine. Cover and transfer to the refrigerator to chill.
Macaroni Salad Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the best way to store leftovers? Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-5 days for best flavor and texture. This dish is best served cold so there is no need to reheat.
- Can I use one full bell pepper instead of two halves of different colors? Yes, just be aware that different colored bell peppers do have slightly different flavors. If you choose to use only one color bell pepper, I would recommend using the red bell pepper.
- If I were to accidentally overcook or undercook the pasta, which should I do? Overcooking the pasta slightly would be alright, this will help prevent it from drying out in the fridge. If you were to undercook the pasta, I’d recommend tossing it back in boiling water for another minute or two to avoid the pasta being crunchy.
- Why does the macaroni salad look weird or thick after chilling? All of the ingredients somewhat mold together while it chills, this is normal, all you have to do to make it look ‘normal’ again is stir it.
- Are there any other ingredients I can add to this salad? Absolutely! Feel free to add other veggies, like diced celery, shredded carrots, or other colored bell peppers. You can even add hard boiled eggs to it, if you’d like.
More Great Pasta Salad Recipes
Creamy Macaroni Salad Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Large Pot
- 1 Large Strainer
- 1 Medium Mixing Bowl
- 1 Large Mixing Bowl
- 1 Whisk
- 1 Mixing Spoon
Ingredients
- 3 cups Uncooked Elbow Pasta
- ½ Red Onion diced
- ½ Red Bell Pepper diced
- ½ Green Bell Pepper diced
Dressing
- ¾ cup Mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons Whole Milk
- 1 tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Granulated Sugar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon Mustard
- ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to boil over high heat. Salt the water and then add the pasta. Cook the pasta according to the package directions for al dente, about 8-12 minutes. Drain the pasta and rise with cold water. Transfer to large mixing bowl.3 cups Uncooked Elbow Pasta
- Add the onion and bell peppers to the pasta. Stir to combine.½ Red Onion, ½ Red Bell Pepper, ½ Green Bell Pepper
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine the dressing ingredients and whisk until smooth. Add to the large bowl with the pasta and stir to mix well.¾ cup Mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons Whole Milk, 1 tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar, 1 tablespoon Granulated Sugar, 1 tablespoon Dijon Mustard, ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder, ½ teaspoon Salt, ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
- Cover and let chill in the refrigerator for at least one hour before serving.
Notes
- You can replace the two bell pepper halves with one diced red pepper.
- Shredded carrots and celery can also be added or used in place of the existing vegetables.
- You can use a combination of 1/4 Greek yogurt and 1/2 mayonnaise to lighten the dressing.
- Store leftovers, covered, in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
- The ingredients will thicken as they cool. Stir well just before serving.
Nutrition
