Nothing screams potluck more than this homemade macaroni salad recipe! This side or party food is easy to make and will get devoured at your next gathering.
Original recipe: July 2019 | Updated: July 2021
Why This Recipe Works
There is no other season that has better food options than summer. A dozen different types of food come to mind when I think of summer potlucks and gatherings. Macaroni salad is one of my all-time favorite recipes to make in the summer, but I’m pretty picky about how I make it.
I prefer a version that isn’t loaded with mayo and that also has a bit of a crunch. This recipe for classic macaroni salad is my FAVORITE. Save this and make it the next time you are invited to a barbecue. People will rave and everyone will ask you for the recipe!
Recipe Ingredients
Pasta – Elbow macaroni cooked to al dente is the perfect variety to use. Use regular-sized elbow macaroni or the large version is fun for a bigger bite!
Eggs – Hard-boil, cool and chop eggs up before adding them to this salad. Learn how to make perfect hard-boiled eggs!
Dill pickles – This ingredient is a must if you are a pickle lover! Substitutions: capers or extra celery, if pickles aren’t your thing. Replace the chopped pickles and pickle juice with a pickle relish for a touch of added flavor!
Mayonnaise – Replace all or a portion of the mayo with Greek yogurt for a healthier recipe! Or consider replacing 1/2 cup of the mayo with sour cream for extra flavor.
Mustard – For a spicier salad, replace yellow mustard with dijon mustard and add 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper.
Apple cider vinegar – This variety of vinegar adds a delicious flavor, but feel free to replace with a different variety if desired.
How To Make Classic Macaroni Salad
Step 1
Cook macaroni according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water and allow to completely cool to room temperature.
Add to a large bowl along with hard-boiled eggs, celery, dill pickles, red onion, mayo, pickle juice, yellow mustard, apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, pepper and garlic powder.
Step 2
Mix well, cover tightly and refrigerate until ready to serve!
Recipe Notes
- For added crunch, consider adding 1/4 – 1/2 cup of chopped yellow, orange or red bell pepper.
- Consider adding cooked, shredded chicken to add some protein to this dish.
- Do not let this dish sit out long. When not being eaten, cover it and return it to the fridge so it stays nice and fresh.
FAQ About Pasta Salad
When pasta salad contains mayo and sour cream, they are not ideal for freezing. Cream-based ingredients will not separate entirely after being removed from the freezer and may have an undesirable texture. Pasta salad made without these ingredients freeze really well when stored in an airtight container for up to 4 months.ingredients freeze really well when stored in an airtight container for up to 4 months.
When served as a party food or side dish, assume that each person will eat between 1/2 and 3/4 cup total. Twelve people can easily eat one batch of a typical pasta salad recipe.
Pasta salad is made creamy by adding ingredients such as mayonnaise, sour cream, cream cheese and/or yogurt. Do not exceed 2 cups total.
Pasta salad will stay fresh when stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
One eighth of this recipe, which equals approximately 1/2 to 2/3 cup, contains 325 calories. To decrease the amount of calories in the recipe, replace the mayo with a lightened variety or replace all or a portion of it with Greek yogurt.
More Delicious Pasta Salad Recipes
- Best Ever Pasta Salad
- Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
- Asian Pasta Salad
- Italian Pasta Salad
- Mediterranean Pasta Salad
- Caprese Pasta Salad
- Taco Ranch Pasta Salad
Party Food Options
- This delicious Fruit Pizza recipe has a cookie dough crust, dreamy cream cheese frosting and a colorful top layer of fruit and a tasty glaze. Great appetizer/dessert for parties of any kind, any time of the year!
- Sausage Cheese Dip is easy to make (let your crockpot do the work for you!), cheesy, flavorful and totally irresistible! Serve as an appetizer at your next party and it won’t last long.
- This is the best 7-Layer Taco Dip you’ll ever meet! It’s the perfect appetizer and party food and it is always the first thing to get devoured.
- These require only a few ingredients with only a few minutes of prep. Crockpot Meatballs are SO EASY to make, totally packed with delicious flavor and great for game-day parties or holidays.
- This hot Spinach Artichoke Dip is a party staple! People always get excited about this dip and its so easy to make! It’s a filling, cheesy snack or appetizer that you can put on pita squares, crackers or chips.
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Homemade Macaroni Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 16 oz elbow macaroni
- 3 eggs hard-boiled and chopped
- 3 stalks celery chopped
- 1/2 cup dill pickles chopped
- 1/2 red onion chopped
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup pickle juice
- 2 tbsp yellow mustard
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
Instructions
- Cook pasta in boiling water until al dente; drain and rinse with cold water. Add to a large mixing bowl along with eggs, celery, pickles, onion, mayo, pickle juice, mustard, vinegar, sugar, salt, pepper and garlic powder.
- Mix well, cover tightly and refrigerate until ready to serve. This dish is best served chilled.
Notes
- Use regular-sized elbow macaroni or the large version is fun for a bigger bite!Replace the chopped pickles and pickle juice with a pickle relish for a touch of added flavor!
- For a spicier salad, replace yellow mustard with dijon mustard and add 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper.
- Replace 1/2 cup of the mayo with sour cream for extra flavor.
- For added crunch, consider adding 1/4 – 1/2 cup of chopped yellow, orange or red bell pepper.
- Consider adding cooked, shredded chicken to add some protein to this dish.
why an instant pot recipe for potato salad where the article is for a macaroni salad..
That is a very good question. Thank you for bringing it to my attention – fixed!