This Easy Macaroni Salad recipe is a favorite of mine for barbeques and summer gatherings. I first made macaroni salad in the 10th grade in my home economics class in high school. Since then I have changed up the ingredients a bit to make it more to my taste.
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Why You Will Love This Recipe
This is my best macaroni salad because it is how I prefer it, without pickles and with olives and only a hint of mustard. The result is a flavorful macaroni salad with a creamy dressing that is a perfect classic side dish for barbecued foods.
This is a creamy and delicious macaroni salad like you get at the Hawaiian Barbecue restaurants. It is surprisingly easy to make and it is always a hit at summer bbqs and picnics.
I like to use different colors of peppers for a more colorful Hawaiian Barbecue salad. This is likely my favorite pasta salad recipe.
You the colors better in person, but if you look close, you can see some of the colors coming through. This is one of the best creamy macaroni salad recipes I have made. It is often a favorite at gatherings and is so easy to make.
You can also make this the day before and I think that it helps the flavors blend well.
If you like a little more bold flavor like my husband does, I make another version of a cold macaroni salad that has more mustard and apple cider vinegar in it.
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Macaroni Salad Ingredients
This creamy pasta salad requires just a few simple ingredients.
Macaroni Pasta - I use elbow macaroni for this salad, but you can use bowtie or the salad-sized pasta.
Mayonnaise - Use your favorite or generic brand
Onion - I like to use either white or red onion onion, but you can use yellow too. Green onions can be used for a top garnish.
Bell Pepper - any color will do and you can even use mini-peppers. Red bell peppers or Green bell peppers will add some color.
Carrot - Use one large carrot for this recipe
Olives - These are optional as not everyone loves olives. I use black olives (pitted).
Vinegar - I used white vinegar for this recipe.
Spices - Mustard, sugar, salt, and black pepper will help this creamy macaroni salad recipe pop.
Equipment Needed
- Large bowl
- Large pot
- Strainer
- Mixing Spoon
How To Make Creamy Pasta Salad Recipe
Step 1 - Cook macaroni pasta in a large pot on the stove according to package instructions until pasta is al dente.
Step 2 - Drain pasta when fully cooked.
Step 3 - Prepare vegetables by washing and chopping.
Step 4 - Make dressing
- Make this salad dressing the night before.
- You can boil the pasta ahead of time so it is ready when you are.
- You can actually make this entire salad the day before and keep it chilled in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It tastes great the next day!
Variations, Notes, and Substitutions
- You can red wine vinegar for the white vinegar if you want a bolder taste.
Serving and Storage Suggestions
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Serve with a sandwich or soup for an easy meal idea.
More Backyard Barbecue Side Dishes
For more great salad recipes, try our best easy salad recipes;
Easy Potato Salad Recipe - an easy, creamy and delicious potato salad recipe.
Easy Chopped Salad Recipe - This Italian inspired recipe makes for a wonderful lunch or light dinner in itself.
Mango Arugula Salad Recipe - Argula makes a nice change up in a green salad. The addition of fresh mango makes this a delightful, colorful salad.
Easy Mediterranean Salad - Another perfectly colorful salad that brightens any table.
Easy Macaroni Salad Recipe
📖 Recipe
Easy & Creamy Macaroni Salad
Ingredients
- 4 cups macaroni uncooked
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup onion chopped
- ⅔ cup celery chopped
- ⅔ cup bell peppers chopped (I like to use green and red or green and orange for color)
- 1 carrot grated
- 1 tablespoon chopped olives
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon mustard
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Cook macaroni per package directions. Rinse cooked pasta with cold water and thoroughly drain.
- Place pasta in a large mixing bowl and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, prepare mayonnaise mixture. Mix together mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, mustard, salt and pepper. Blend in onion, celery, peppers, carrot and olives. Add to cooked and drained pasta.
- Chill at least 2 hours.
Notes
- Make this salad dressing the night before.
- You can boil the pasta ahead of time so it is ready when you are.
- You can actually make this entire salad the day before and keep it chilled in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It tastes great the next day!
Nutrition
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What's your favorite barbecue side dish?
Corina Ramos
Hi Raquel,
I love macaroni salad! I had to come over and check it out, now I want some :). Thank you for sharing your recipe with us.
This is definitely going in my "must-tr" file. Have a great day!
Cori
Raquel
Thank you Corina! It's a favorite in our home.
Tamara
The yellow peppers for color - excellent touch! And I love the way that peppers all taste different.
Macaroni salad is so great that sometimes I make it in the winter, just for memory's sake!
Raquel
Yes it's one of those dishes that is good any time of year Tamara!
karen
looks delicious and pasta salad is always a HUGE hit.
Raquel
Thank you Karen! This one gets great reviews when I make it.
Jamie
Macaroni salad has fast become one of my favorites.... will definitely have to try your version some time this summer. Wishing you a Happy 4th Raquel =)
Raquel
Thank you Jamie! Happy 4th to you too! Miss you!
Cathy
OOh I love this, so many great veggies with this creaminess and pasta! Perfect for this weekend! Saying hello from the weekend hangout! I would loove for you to stop over and check out my Asian pork spare ribs! I think they would go great with this pasta salad! 🙂
Cathy
Raquel
Asian pork wings sound wonderful Kathy I am definitely stopping by! Thanks for your kind comment.
Binjal Pandya
looks delicious!!
Raquel
Thank you!
Hillary Reeves
Mmm!! So classic and so superb. Great recipe.
Raquel
Thanks Hillary!
Diane
My hubby LOVES macaroni salads like this! He would beg to make this for him. It looks really good. I love the different colors of peppers you use. It turned out beautifully
Fareeha
Yummmmmm ! What a tasty salad recipe. I really like the color of the salad too !
Raquel
Thanks Fareeha! The peppers really make the salad pop.
Byron Thomas
I love macaroni salad; in fact, I made one last Sunday. I always make mine with mayonnaise too. It's creamier and better tasting, I think. Looks delicious!
Raquel
I love the creamier version with barbequed meats this time of year. Thanks for stopping by Bryon!
Jennifer
This this like perfect salad for a summer picnic or BBQ. I'll give it a try this weekend. Thanks!
Raquel
I agree Jennifer, it makes a wonderful salad for summer gatherings!
Sara | Belly Rumbles
Love how you use olives in your salad, will have to try this.
Raquel
Thanks Sara, I love the flavor that olives add to the salad!
Prash @ YummilyYours
Cold macoroni salads is just what yu need this summer! your recipe sound a great place to begin 🙂
Raquel
Thanks Prash! It definitely makes for a tasty cool salad!
Audrey
This is perfect for summer!
Raquel
So happy you think so! Thanks for rating our recipe!
Will
I LOVE macaroni salad. I think it's the perfect side dish when grilling burgers. This is definitely going to be a recipe I try this upcoming 4th of July! Thanks so much!
Raquel
Thank you Will!
Tracey
Yum! Perfect for a summer BBQ
Raquel
It really is!
Lara
So simple and yummy! My husband loved it!
Raquel
So happy to hear Lara!
Judy
We love macaroni salad and I made this for Memorial Day. I made your recipe exactly as written and I found I needed to double mayonnaise sauce to get a creamier salad. I guess it’s just a personal preference.
Thanks for the recipe with all the wonderful vegetables.