Classic Macaroni Salad

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Classic macaroni salad is a staple at a summer cookout or picnic. Macaroni salad, like potato salad, is also a comfort food; combining delicious and simple ingredients together to create a dish that brings a smile to most everyone's face.

Pasta combines with a tangy macaroni salad dressing made of mayonnaise, greek yogurt, white wine vinegar, dijon mustard, and honey. Hard-boiled eggs, carrots, red bell pepper, red onion, and parsley add texture and a light crunch to this fabulous bbq staple.

When it comes to pasta salad recipes, this classic macaroni salad tops the list with its delicious ingredients and easy steps. Although there are many more pasta salad recipes that stray away from simple, these are truly the best macaroni salad ingredients.

The great thing about salad cuisine is that you can add or omit any ingredient that you may not have or don't care for. This recipe is great as is, but any vegetable component can easily be substituted for something else.

For this reason, this salad is a great way to clean out the fridge and use up produce before it goes bad.

This classic macaroni salad is inspired by my Keto Coleslaw, another perfectly creamy summertime dish. This easy macaroni salad recipe would pair wonderfully with my very tasty Lamb Shish Kabobs or BBQ Pulled Lamb recipes.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

It's simple, using ingredients that you may already have
This creamy macaroni salad tastes rich but is lighter than most recipes
It's easy to substitute ingredients in this macaroni salad recipe if needed or desired

Equipment Needed to Make This Recipe

Mixing bowls - a set of mixing bowls with a large bowl and small bowl included, will give you plenty of room to hold chopped salad ingredients, dressing ingredients, and your elbow macaroni before mixing your pasta salad together
Large saucepan - use a large saucepan to boil lots of salted cold water to cook your elbow macaroni
Colander - drain your pasta and rinse under cold water to ensure that it stops cooking and does not soak up too much of the dressing, making it mushy
Whisk - use a whisk to combine your macaroni salad dressing ingredients before adding them to the rest of your macaroni salad recipe
Mixing spoon - a good mixing spoon will allow you to incorporate all of your ingredients together when you make macaroni salad without breaking up the pasta

Ingredients Needed to Make This Recipe

Mayonnaise - a classic creamy regular mayo is a staple of homemade macaroni salad
Greek yogurt - use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream for a lighter and tangy addition to the dressing
White wine vinegar - like apple cider vinegar, white wine vinegar is milder and slightly fruitier than white vinegar, for more citrus flavor, lemon juice can be used
Dijon mustard - less spicy than whole grain or brown mustard, dijon has a sharp flavor that adds more tang to this mac salad recipe
Honey - a little sweetness from honey balances out the acid in this classic macaroni salad recipe
Dry elbow macaroni - the traditional short pasta shape for mac salad, aesthetically it just looks right
Hard-boiled eggs - not only do eggs add a wonderful texture to this recipe, but they are also extra flavor and protein
Red bell pepper - red pepper adds a nice color to this macaroni salad and has a milder taste than green pepper
Carrots - for a nice crunch and sweet flavor, carrots give this salad added texture as well as flavor
Large red onion - this is my favorite onion to use in cold salads since they are generally mild, although they can vary in strength
Fresh parsley bunch - this classic macaroni salad wouldn't be complete without some added green from chopped parsley
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

How to Make This Recipe

Assemble the dressing ingredients.

Mix them all together in a bowl. Set aside while prepping the salad ingredients.

Place all the ingredients in the bowl with the salad dressing.

Mix well until everything is covered with dressing. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

Top Tip

You can make the salad dressing ahead of time, as well as cut and prepare all of your ingredients to add to the pasta.

What to Pair with Your Classic Macaroni Salad

This is the best macaroni salad recipe, so delicious you may be tempted to eat it straight out of the bowl. There are several great accompaniments you can pair with your classic macaroni salad recipe.

Mains

Macaroni salad is an excellent side dish to bbq and a hit at potlucks. Here are some suggestions that this macaroni salad recipe will pair nicely with.

Hot dogs - a cookout isn't complete without this summertime treat, try this Green Chile Cheese Hot Dog
Hamburgers - another bbq staple, hamburgers make macaroni salad taste even better
BBQ Rack of Lamb - a fabulous treat for a special occasion outdoor party
Steak - whether sliced on a sandwich or cubed on kebabs, steak loves a creamy side dish
BBQ Chicken Kebabs - my chicken kebabs are a healthy main that goes great with a cold salad
BBQ Smoked Ribs - the tangy flavors of these ribs will compliment the sweet and acidic flavor of the pasta

Sides

Along with the main event dish, macaroni salad pairs great with other side dish cuisine on the menu

Mediterranean Aubergine Salad - healthy and vegan, this salad goes great with other sides
Cherry Tomato Salad - bursting with tomato flavor this simple recipe adds lots of flavor to the table
4 Bean Salad - crisp, cool, and simple, this recipe is a delicious accompaniment to anything

Desserts

After you've stuffed yourself with lots of delicious pasta salad, make sure you've saved room for one of these delicious desserts

4th of July cheesecake - Impress your guests with this festive no-bake cheesecake recipe, the perfect patriotic treat for any Fourth of July celebrations
Amarula Berry Trifle - nothing says summer like homemade macaroni salad and a berry trifle for dessert
No-Bake Rhubarb Cheesecake - a cheesecake that doesn't require turning the oven on? A perfect summer dessert
Gin and Tonic Cheesecake - this cheesecake screams summertime with it's refreshing flavors that will end your cookout on an impressive note

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Cocktails

Warm weather, cookouts, and cocktails go hand in hand. Make sure to accompany your classic macaroni salad with one of these refreshing beverages

Long Vodka - a simple twist on the gimlet, this cocktail is perfect for hot weather
Gin and Gingerbeer Cocktail - more exciting than the classic gin and tonic, gingerbeer gives this cocktail a little spiciness
White wine - crisp and refreshing, a great accompaniment to this creamy macaroni salad
Beer - a must have at every outdoor event, beer washes down all the tasty food and keeps you cool and refreshed

Popular Substitutions for This Recipe

Gluten-free pasta - if you or someone you know has a gluten intolerance, gluten-free pasta can easily be substituted for regular wheat pasta
Apple Cider Vinegar - apple cider vinegar or white vinegar can be used instead of white wine vinegar for a stronger, tart flavor in your salad
Sour Cream - for a richer creamy dressing, use sour cream instead of greek yogurt, the taste will be similar
Vegan - this easy macaroni salad recipe can be made vegan by using vegan mayonnaise, and vegan greek yogurt made of cashews or almonds. Replacing the honey with maple syrup will give the same sweetness, and you can simply leave out the hard-boiled eggs.
Mustard - instead of dijon mustard, try whole grain or yellow mustard instead. The flavor will be slightly different but you will have the same tang and acidity element from the alternative mustards.

Variations for This Recipe

Added acidity

Give your macaroni salads acidity a boost by using some fresh squeezed lemon juice

Added tang and sweetness

Sweet pickle juice and sweet pickles added to your salad will give it a unique flavor. Chopped sweet pickles give added crunch and texture that compliments the eggs and creamy salad dressing

Additional seasoning

Added garlic powder, freshly ground black pepper, onion powder, chives, or even green onions will all give this salad excellent added flavor

Added cheese

Try some cubed cheddar cheese in your mac salad for cheesy goodness, which can never hurt

have a look at 10 velveeta substiutes for different cheese ideas

Added meat

Cubed ham, crumbled bacon, or even shrimp make lovely additions to this classic salad

Try out this Baked Pumpkin Mac n Cheese with bacon for a tasty fall macaroni dish.

Top Tip

The longer your dressed salad sits in the fridge, the better the flavors meld together and improve.

How Do I Store Leftovers?

Store leftover mac salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Cold salads can be stored easily in a Ziploc bag with the excess air removed.

How Long Will this Salad Last in the Fridge?

Store your leftovers in the refrigerator for three to four days. The taste of the salad will improve over time, but the macaroni can become mushy if left in the refrigerator for too long.

Can This Recipe be Scaled?

Yes, this recipe can be easily scaled to accommodate larger or smaller crowds. Simply half or double the recipe depending on how many guests you will have. And remember, leftovers are always a bonus!

Can This Recipe be Made in Advance?

Yes! In fact, it is better to make your salad ahead of time. As it sits, the flavors of the macaroni salad ingredients meld together and become stronger and more delicious.

Food Safety

This straightforward salad doesn't require much cooking, but it is important to pay attention to temperature to avoid contamination. Avoid leaving this creamy dressing based mac salad out of the refrigerator for longer than three hours.
If you are are setting up a buffet style meal, avoid leaving food uncovered when it's not being dished out to avoid airborne contaminates from landing on the surface of your salad.

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