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Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Macaroni Salad (Basic Summer season Consolation Meals)


I believe it’s secure to say Macaroni Salad is a summer season potluck or BBQ staple. Like, if I turned up and didn’t see a giant ol’ bowl of basic macaroni salad on the desk, I’d truthfully be a bit involved. It’s chilly, creamy, carby, and completely nostalgic. The sort of aspect dish that simply belongs subsequent to grilled burgers or veggie skewers. It’s additionally tremendous low cost to make, which I actually respect. However this straightforward mac salad isn’t simply good for gatherings, it’s additionally an ideal aspect to meal prep in your lunches for the week!

Overhead close up view of a bowl of homemade macaroni salad.Overhead close up view of a bowl of homemade macaroni salad.
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“This recipe is wonderful! I had my first chunk and stated “wow” out loud. My associate who usually doesn’t like all form of mayo primarily based dressings cherished it too. I reduce the sugar again a tiny bit (added about 2 tsp as an alternative of 1 tbsp) however that’s simply choice. Will certainly be preserving this in the summertime rotation! Thanks Beth :)”

Sam

Straightforward Recipe for Macaroni Salad

Macaroni salad begins with certainly one of my favourite budget-friendly staples: macaroni, in fact. It’s a creamy pasta salad at coronary heart (and there are loads of methods to make it), however right here’s how I love to do it. I combine in celery, bell pepper, and pink onion for crunch and colour, plus a few hard-boiled eggs to make it extra filling. The dressing is that basic deli-style combo of mayo, Dijon, candy pickle relish, a splash of vinegar, a pinch of sugar, and salt and pepper. It’s classically creamy, candy, tangy, crunchy, and scrumptious. 🤤


Macaroni Salad

Macaroni Salad is a simple and cheap basic for potlucks, summer season BBQs, or a simple aspect dish for dinner. Step-by-step pictures may be seen under the recipe card.

Overhead view of a bowl of macaroni salad.Overhead view of a bowl of macaroni salad.

  • 2 hard-boiled eggs ($0.58)
  • ½ pink bell pepper ($0.75)
  • ½ pink onion ($0.49)
  • 2 ribs celery ($0.20)
  • 8 oz. macaroni (raw, $0.56)

Dressing

  • 1 cup mayonnaise ($1.16)
  • 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard ($0.18)
  • 1 Tbsp candy pickle relish ($0.08)
  • 1 Tbsp pink wine vinegar ($0.10)
  • 1 Tbsp granulated sugar ($0.01*)
  • ½ tsp salt ($0.02)
  • ¼ tsp black pepper (freshly cracked, $0.02)

  • Chop the salad substances, so that they’re able to go. Cube the hard-boiled eggs, bell pepper, onion, and celery.

  • Boil the macaroni till tender, then drain it in a colander. Briefly rinse the pasta with cool water to chill it off.

  • Whereas the macaroni is boiling, put together the dressing. Stir collectively the mayonnaise, Dijon, relish, pink wine vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper.

  • Mix the cooled and drained macaroni, egg, bell pepper, celery, and onion in a bowl. Pour the dressing over prime, then stir till every part is properly mixed and coated in dressing.

  • Serve the macaroni salad instantly or refrigerate till able to eat.

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  • Chef’s Knife

  • White Chopping Boards

  • Measuring Cups Spoons

*There are two fundamental camps in relation to macaroni salad: candy and never so candy. I like mine with only a contact of sweetness to steadiness the acidity and creaminess of the dressing, in order that’s what you’ll get with this recipe. In case you like yours sweeter, you possibly can merely add extra sugar to style (as much as about ¼ cup sugar).

Serving: 0.75cupEnergy: 332kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 6gFats: 23gSodium: 385mgFiber: 2g

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How you can Make Macaroni Salad Step-by-Step Images

The ingredients for macaroni salad.The ingredients for macaroni salad.

Collect all your substances.

Diced celery, hard boiled egg, red onion, and red bell pepper on a wooden butting board.Diced celery, hard boiled egg, red onion, and red bell pepper on a wooden butting board.

Prep the add-ins: Begin by dicing two hard-boiled eggs (right here’s a tutorial on how one can make hard-boiled eggs, if wanted), ½ of a pink bell pepper, ½ of a pink onion, and a pair of ribs of celery.

Cooked macaroni in a colander.Cooked macaroni in a colander.

Cook dinner the pasta: Subsequent, boil 8 oz. elbow macaroni till tender. Drain the pasta in a colander and rinse briefly with cool water to chill down the pasta.

Macaroni salad dressing ingredients in a bowl.Macaroni salad dressing ingredients in a bowl.

Put together the dressing: Mix 1 cup mayonnaise, 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard, 1 Tbsp candy relish, 1 Tbsp pink wine vinegar, 1 Tbsp sugar, ½ tsp salt, and ¼ tsp freshly cracked pepper.

The ingredients for homemade macaroni salad in a bowl.The ingredients for homemade macaroni salad in a bowl.

Assemble the salad: Add the cooked and cooled macaroni to a big bowl together with the chopped egg, bell pepper, celery, and pink onion.

Homemade dressing added to a bowl of macaroni salad.Homemade dressing added to a bowl of macaroni salad.

Pour the ready dressing over the salad within the bowl.

A finished bowl of macaroni salad.A finished bowl of macaroni salad.

Serve: And now your macaroni salad is able to eat! Be sure to maintain it within the fridge in case you don’t plan to serve it immediately, and provides it stir once more simply earlier than serving.

Overhead view of a bowl of macaroni salad with a wooden spoon taking some.Overhead view of a bowl of macaroni salad with a wooden spoon taking some.

I completely love the chunk of the pink onion on this recipe. It provides a very nice distinction to the creamy dressing. However in case you’re somebody who doesn’t love that sharp, uncooked onion taste, strive soaking the chopped onion in chilly water for about 10 minutes earlier than mixing it in. Simply be certain that to empty it properly and pat it dry with a paper towel so it doesn’t water down the salad. This trick takes the sting off with out shedding any crunch!

What Else Can I Add to Macaroni Salad?

This do-it-yourself macaroni salad is one other a type of nice catch-all recipes. You possibly can add all kinds of substances for colour, texture, and taste. Listed below are some add-in concepts I really like:

  • Cheddar cheese cubes
  • Broccoli florets
  • Peas
  • Black olives
  • Shredded carrots
  • Diced ham
  • Chopped parsley
  • Leftover grilled rooster
  • Diced dill pickles
  • Crispy air fryer bacon crumbles

Serving options

I really like serving this macaroni salad with our grilled sausage and peppers packet for a simple summer season dinner. It’s additionally nice alongside rooster burgers or smoky mushroom kebabs…something off the grill, actually. And in case you’re placing collectively a selection, don’t overlook the potato salad! Add a easy fruit dip for dessert, and also you’ve bought a meal that’s completely family-friendly and ideal for an informal get-together with pals.

Storage Directions

Macaroni salad may be stored within the fridge for about 3-4 days. The macaroni will proceed to soak up moisture because it sits within the fridge, so it’s possible you’ll discover it will get a bit drier every day. If taking your mac salad to a potluck or BBQ, be certain that to not let it sit out at room temperature for greater than two hours.

Our Macaroni Salad recipe was initially printed 6/22/22. It was retested, reworked, and republished to be higher than ever 8/2/25.

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