Macaroni Salad makes a terrific summertime lunch and is made for taking to gatherings. Simple to prepare and as diverse as you want it to be, this is a great classic pasta salad.
With a pasta salad dressing made with a combination of mayonnaise and yoghurt, it’s still beautifully creamy with all the flavour and less guilt! For a healthier option, try this Macaroni pasta salad with a mayo-free Creamy Lemon Dressing or Ranch Dressing!
Macaroni Salad in a bite
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What is Macaroni Salad made of? Cooked macaroni, shredded carrot, green onions, red peppers/capsicum and celery tossed in a dressing made with mayonnaise, vinegar, mustard, sugar and garlic powder.
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How long can you keep macaroni salad? Up to 5 days in the fridge.
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Do you serve macaroni salad hot or cold? It’s best served at room temperature or ever so slightly chilled. But not cold, straight out of the fridge.
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Calories in macaroni salad – 319 kj as a side dish
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Can you freeze macaroni salad? Yes, because it’s mostly pasta. Thaw naturally (do not microwave thaw) and toss well before serving.
Macaroni Pasta Salad
It’s difficult to imagine a summer with Macaroni Salad. Like Coleslaw, it’s a summertime staple. The pasta salad you keep in your fridge for a quick side for meals and to put in your lunchbox.
While it’s tempting to take the easy route and pick up a tub from the deli, too often they are overly mayo-heavy, too sweet, too sour, or dripping with watery dressing.
So skip store bought and make your own – it’s so simple and tastes so much better!
Lighter, flavour packed Dressing for Pasta Salad
I like to have a lot of dressing because it makes pasta salads moist and juicy. But using just mayo is too oily. So I always lighten up mayo dressings with either sour cream or yoghurt, then add a nice amount of seasoning so no one would even notice that it’s got less fat in it!
Here’s what goes in my creamy pasta salad dressing:
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Equal parts mayonnaise and sour cream OR yogurt
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Cider vinegar – essential touch of tang!
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Dijon Mustard – flavour and thickening
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Seasonings – Sugar, garlic powder, salt and pepper
Regular readers know how much I love my sauces and that extends to salad dressings. No pasta salad recipe of mine will ever be lacking in Dressing!
And that’s why this Macaroni Salad stays nice and moist – because there’s plenty of dressing!
Wondering if Macaroni Salad is good or bad for you?
While you get some nutrition from the vegetables the reality is that Macaroni salad is heavy on carbs from the pasta and fat in the dressing. For a healthier option, try this with a mayo-free Creamy Lemon Dressing or Ranch Dressing!
Macaroni Salad Add-in options
I’ve kept this recipe classic. So as much as I was tempted, I resisted all my favourite add-in possibilities including:
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bacon
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egg
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pickles
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roasted red peppers
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chicken (try my Chicken Pasta Salad recipe)
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olives
Make a great summer meal for your family and friends by serving this pasta salad on the side of BBQ Pulled Pork, BBQ Beef Brisket, some BBQ Pork Ribs or Sticky Country-style Chicken! – Nagi x
MORE SUMMER SALADS to take to gatherings
- Italian Pasta Salad
- Coleslaw
- Potato Salad and Lemon Potato Salad
- Pearl Couscous Salad <– personal fave!
- Wild Rice Salad <– reader fave!
- 12 Minute Sun Dried Tomato Couscous Salad
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Browse all Pasta Salads and Rice Salad
Macaroni Pasta Salad
Watch how to make it
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Macaroni Salad
Ingredients
- 250 g / 1/2 lb macaroni elbow pasta
- 1 1/2 tbsp salt (to cook pasta)
- 1 cup celery , finely sliced (1 stalk)
- 3/4 cup red capsicum / bell peppers , finely diced (1 small)
- 3/4 cup green onions , finely sliced (1 large stem)
- 1 medium carrot , grated (using standard box grater)
Dressing:
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise (Hellmann's, Best Foods, S&W or other whole egg mayonnaise)
- 1/2 cup yoghurt or sour cream , full or low fat
- 1 tbsp cider vinegar
- 2 tsp Dijon mustard
- 2 tsp sugar
- 3/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
Instructions
- Bring large pot of water to the boil - 4 to 5 litres / quarts. Add salt then add pasta. Cook per packet directions.
- Drain pasta then cool.
- Meanwhile, mix Dressing ingredients in a bowl.
- Place pasta in a bowl. Add remaining Macaroni Salad ingredients. Pour over Dressing.
- Toss. Adjust salt / sugar / sour (vinegar) / mayo to taste.
- Set aside for at least 20 minutes. Then serve at room temperature (not cold). It's great the next day too!
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Life of Dozer
When I leave Dozer indoors when I’m out all day and it’s been raining (damn that dog door!!!!).
Barb L says
Congratulations, Nagi!!! You look fabulous in the picture! Can’t wait to view the segment.
P.S. The macaroni salad sounds delish.
Nagi says
THANK YOU BARB!! N xx
mimi says
You can’t hide a shining light for long! We’ve always known you were a phenomenal chef, and now the rest of the world will know it too! You look darn right gorgeous! Don’t forget us, your blog family, and please keep posting for us!!
Nagi says
I. WILL. NEVER. EVER. STOP!!!! 😘
Catherine Doris says
Just to any hello. I live in Scotland and am absolutely loving your blog and your recipes.
Thank you so much for sharing them I love every one of them
Catherine
Nagi says
I’m so pleased you like my recipes Catherine!! Thank you for your message, I love hearing from readers! N xx
Shelby says
.. I read this recipe, and I agree with not drowning the pasta in mayo, ….I also use a combination of mayo and either Unflavored Greek yogurt, or sour cream. Or both ! Lol. However, without the sweet pickles, it’s not same, and it needs a bit of that sweet pickle juice to really get the flavor. ACV works, but not quite the same. I suppose I am bussed, the reecipe I use is what my late Grandmother taught me. Oh, it’s got red sweet peppers and scallions, and a tiny bit of carrot….and the chopped sweet baby gherkins. . But I don’t like a lot of things in it , and the one thing she also did was add radishes , on top ( sliced thin ) for garnish. Delish. 🙂
Nagi says
I love hearing the way you make this! 🙂 Especially because it’s the way your grandmother taught you! N xx
Tricia says
Wow, congratulations Nagi, a star is born, except all your loyal followers knew that already !!
Would love to be able to watch it.
Nagi says
Awww you’re sweet Tricia! I’m far from a TV star though, just had a teeny little segment! 😂
Marissa says
Congratulations on your television debut, Nagi! You look absolutely beautiful!!
Nagi says
THANK YOU MARISSA!! N xx
Susan says
I am excited that you got to do some cooking on TV. In my mind that’s a special honor. My husband makes the best macaroni salad I’ve ever had, with totally simple ingredients: macaroni, celery, onion, hard boiled eggs, and lots of mayonnaise (we do use light mayo these days). Part of the reason for lots of mayo is that it keeps the salad moist. When he makes the salad he adds some mayo, lets it sit overnight, and then adds more as needed. I will share with him about adding salt to the water. It will be interesting to see what a difference that makes.
Nagi says
Thanks Susan, it certainly WAS exciting!! I agree that it tastes even better the next day 🙂 I like that the veggies soften overnight. I do like adding eggs too! N xx (PS And bacon…. 😂)
Norma says
Congratulations on your TV appearance. Love your recipes and videos.
Nagi says
Thank you Norma!! N xx
Helen @ scrummy lane says
OMG I missed it!! And I’m in the country!!! Can’t wait to see it !! 😀😀😀
Nagi says
😂 N xx
Steven says
can we use Miracle Whip instead of mayo
Nagi says
I’m not sure, sorry Steven, we don’t have that here! N xx
Anka says
So very proud of you Nagi – congratulations! I’d love to see you on TV regularly. Your dishes are rock stars at every dinner table. a
Nagi says
THANKS ANKA!!! N xx ❤️
Arlene D. says
Very happy for you on the TV show, & you looked great, Nagi!
Nagi says
Thank you so much Arlene!!! I actually REALLY enjoyed it, wasn’t nervous at all – weirdly! 😂 N xx
Cheryl Eaton says
Congratulations Nagi!!! Please do share the segment on line! I am so excited for you and can’t wait to see it! The macaroni salad sounds delicious. I will be trying it, possibly this weekend.
Nagi says
Dropped the link in today’s recipe!!! Thank you for the lovely message Cheryl, it WAS exciting!! N xx
DogRescuer says
Congratulations, Nagi! You deserve it for sure!
Nagi says
Thank you so much! N xx ❤️
Carlos At Spoonabilities says
Congratulation Naggi:)
Nagi says
Thanks Carlos! N x
Maureen Torsney-Weir says
I love your blog, and I’m so excited for your tv debut! i can’t wait to try your macaroni salad.
Nagi says
Thank you for your lovely message Maureen! N xx ❤️
Betsy Kim says
Soooo very exciting! Congrats!
Nagi says
Thank you Betsy!! N xx
Mary Bloyd says
A new TV star is born! Can’t wait to see your segment when you post it. Congratulations!
Nagi says
Thanks Mary!! Hardly a star though – just one tiny cooking segment! 😂 N xx
Beth Joiner says
You really are a star…..I would watch your cooking show.
Nagi says
Not at all! I’m just a normal person like anyone 🙂 I was like a fish out of water in a TV studio!! 😂
Bonny says
So excited for you! TV Yeah! I can’t wait to see the film on your blog!
About time people recognized your greatness (talent)!
Nagi says
Aww thank you Bonny! You’re so sweet! Shared the link to the video in today’s recipe – N xx ❤️