Macaroni Salad
This Macaroni Salad is a classic side dish with pasta, celery, red bell pepper, and onions in a creamy dressing. You can add hard boiled eggs if you want. The perfect summer side dish made with simple ingredients.
EASY MACARONI SALAD RECIPE
Macaroni salads come is all different shapes and tastes. Some people like them on the savory side and some people like them sweet as candy like Hawaiian macaroni salad made with sweet pickles. My personal preference is more on the savory side.
This is the ultimate pasta salad recipe for your next BBQ or potluck!
INGREDIENTS
- ELBOW MACARONI – Any short pasta will work here but elbow pasta is traditional.
- CELERY – This gives the salad crunch and texture.
- BELL PEPPERS – You can use any color pepper here. Green pepper, red pepper, or orange! The fresh vegetables add crunch and vibrant color.
- GREEN ONIONS – I love the flavor of onion. Green onions offer a more mild flavor but red onion can be used as well.
- MAYONNAISE – This is the base for a creamy salad. Regular mayo is used but if you like a touch of sweetness you can use Miracle Whip.
- MUSTARD – Adds a little bite and acidity. You can use Dijon mustard for a milder tang.
- VINEGAR – This sounds weird but the vinegar gives the dressing some bite. You can use white vinegar, red wine, or apple cider vinegar.
- HARD-BOILED EGGS – Not every pasta salad has hard boiled eggs in it but I really love the flavor.
- PAPRIKA – Not only does paprika add color but it also adds flavor.
OTHER PASTA SALAD RECIPES
- Caprese Pesto Pasta Salad
- Broccoli Grape Pasta Salad
- BLT Pasta Salad
- Pizza Pasta Salad
- Taco Pasta Salad
Macaroni Salad
This Macaroni Salad is a classic side dish with pasta, celery, red bell pepper, and onions in a creamy dressing. You can add hard boiled eggs if you want.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces elbow macaroni noodles, (about 2 cups)
- 1/2 cup diced celery, (about 2 stalks)
- 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper, (or any color)
- 1/2 cup green onions
- 2 hard boiled eggs, peeled and chopped, (optional)
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 Tablespoon yellow mustard
- 2 Tablespoons white or red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt, if using regular salt use 1/2 teaspoon
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- paprika
Instructions
- In a large pot of salted water, prepare pasta according to package directions. Drain and cool.
- Add cooled pasta to a large bowl along with the rest of the ingredients except the paprika. Stir well. Sprinkle with paprika. Chill until serving. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.
Serving: 1/4 of recipe, Calories: 519kcal, Carbohydrates: 21g, Protein: 8g, Fat: 45g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 36g, Cholesterol: 116mg, Sodium: 751mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 2g
A couple of additions to change it up!
Cucumber
Grated Cheddar
A couple of dashes of Italian or French dressing
Thank you!
This is the best macaroni salad recipe out there! I’ve now made this so many times. Thank you 🙂
Wow Thank you!
Perfect recipe!
Thank yoU!
Macaroni Salad
Good recipe . Will use often
One exception~ 1 teaspoon of salt was too salty(for my family). I will half the salt to 1/2 t next time.
Did you use kosher salt as recipe states? If you used regular salt it will be too salty.
Do you have the nutritional value for this recipe?
Fantastic pasta salad to go with all them BBQ gatherings. Tastes might good just by itself on a hot summer Texas day.
I did add Fresh bacon bits sprinkled on top and sometimes added bite size pieces of Rotisserie chicken to the mixture.
In place of elbow macaronni; t times I would switch to the small pasta shells or bowties.
2 thumbs up on this recipe
THank you!
I was looking for a healthy breakfast change. I think I got this. Looks delicious and easy to cook for my family’s new breakfast dish.