This is a classic, tasty, and oh-so easy macaroni salad recipe! Made with classic ingredient staples including celery, red pepper, and onion and dressed up in a simple creamy mayo-based dressing, this is guaranteed to be a hit at every cookout and potluck this year!
Be sure to check out the easy video that shows step-by-step how to make this recipe!
We have had a non-stop week of rain here.
Zach’s first two softball games of the season have been rained out and I’m beginning to forget what the sun looks like (I’m only slightly dramatic I promise 😉). I am completely over it. I’m ready for summertime sunshine and cookout weather, and with Memorial Day weekend just around the corner I’m taking the opportunity to prepare and share my all-time favorite macaroni salad recipe, even if it is grey and gloomy outside.
I’ve shared a few of my summertime salads, including my favorite broccoli salad and ramen noodle salad, but this one may just be my favorite.
Macaroni salad is a party/potluck/cookout staple, no get-together is complete without a giant chilled bowl, and today I’ll show you how I make my favorite recipe and the perfectly creamy, slightly sweet dressing that goes along with it.
What Ingredients are in Macaroni Salad?
Different macaroni salads contain different ingredients, but my staples include:
- Elbow macaroni (obviously 😉)
- Sweet pickles
- Red pepper
- Celery
- Red onion
- Hard boiled eggs or shredded or diced cheddar cheese
- A homemade mayo-based macaroni salad dressing
You can obviously add your favorite additional add-ins or make substitutions (I know some people prefer sliced green onions to red onion and some people like to add paprika to their dressing), but this if my favorite combination and I really recommend you try it out exactly this way at least once for yourself.
The dressing I just mentioned is what really sets it apart from other potluck recipes you might have tried. It provides just the right amount of creaminess — the noodles are coated in just enough sauce and are neither dry nor are they drenched in the dressing. It’s also just slightly sweetened thanks to the addition of some sweet pickle juice and a pinch of sugar.
How long can you keep Macaroni Salad?
Macaroni salad will keep for up to five days when stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. This is a great salad for making in advance (I actually recommend chilling for at least an hour before serving) and serving at picnics and potlucks, but try not to leave it out at room temperature (or worse, in the heat!) for very long as the salad dressing base will not keep well in the heat.
This macaroni salad recipe is a favorite to serve alongside my favorite BBQ pulled chicken and a plate full of deviled eggs (you’re already going to be boiling eggs anyway, might as well make enough for deviled eggs while you’re at it!).
When I shared my deviled egg recipe, so many of you shared your favorite methods for cleanly peeling fresh eggs, and I appreciated those tips so much and have tried many of them. I’d love to keep the conversation going here if you would share your favorite egg-peeling methods in the comments!
How Do You Make Homemade Macaroni Salad?
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Macaroni Salad
Ingredients
- 8 oz dry macaroni noodles (227g)
- ½ cup finely diced sweet gherkins usually 4-6 sweet gherkins for me (80g)
- ¾ cup finely diced red bell pepper about ½ pepper (100g)
- ⅓ cup thinly sliced celery about 1-2 stalks (55g)
- ⅓ cup finely diced red onion (45g)
- 2 large hard boiled eggs, finely diced
Macaroni Salad Dressing
- ¾ cup mayonnaise I use olive oil mayo (175g)
- ¼ cup sour cream (70g)
- 2 Tablespoons sweet pickle juice
- 1 Tablespoon red wine vinegar*
- 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper optional
Instructions
- Prepare macaroni noodles according to package instructions. Drain and rinse immediately with cold water, then drizzle with a teaspoon of olive oil and gently stir so the noodles don't stick together as they sit.
- In a large bowl, combine macaroni noodles, sweet pickles, red pepper, celery, red onion, and eggs. Stir until well-combined. Set aside and prepare your dressing.
For the dressing
- To prepare your macaroni salad dressing, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, red wine vinegar, sweet pickle juice, sugar, dijon mustard, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and crushed red pepper (if using) in a medium-sized bowl. Whisk until ingredients are well-combined.
- Pour dressing over your macaroni salad ingredients and toss until well-combined.
- For best flavor, cover bowl and allow macaroni salad to chill for at least one hour. Stir once more before serving and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
Janet
Amazing!!! Best Mac salad EVER! Thanks for sharing:)
Cheryl
This is the only macaroni salad I now make. I tried others but kept coming back to this one. Didn’t have sweet pickles or relish so just left it out. It is awesome even without the sweet pickles.
Allison
So good!
Michelle
Delish and so easy to make!
Instead of the gherkins I put sweet relish.
I omitted the celery, and eggs. Instead of garlic powder I added celery salt and pepper. I will defenitely make again. 🙂
Eileen
Best macaroni salad dressing! I don’t tend to have sweet pickles on hand so I added a teaspoon or two of stevia then thinned with a splash of dill pickle juice. My picky mother who hates stevia loved this salad, I had to make it twice in one week for her and she is none the wiser!
I also subbed the refined sugar with palm sugar.
Thank you for this wonderful recipe. Will be my new potluck go-to.
ANN MARIE LENDRUM
I used Breas & Butter pickles & Apple Cider Vinegar. Delish! Thank you! Went well with BBQ ribs.
Laura
Nice!! I added some yellow mustard to make it a little more tangy. Delicious!!
Imee
I had extra macaroni boiled that I used for my baked Mac and immediately thought of making a macaroni salad. I googled for a recipe and must say I made the right choice for picking your recipe…it tastes so yummy that I ended up eating a cup after finishing up at 12mn.
Sam
I am so happy you found my recipe, Imee! Thank you so much for trying my recipe, and letting me know how it turned out, I appreciate it!
Susan Bianchi-Knerr
This is very close to my grandmother’s version and is delicious!!! It’s definitely a crowd pleaser. Although I love the red bell peppers I substitute with a small jar of diced pimento peppers.
Edna
Great recipe added cheese made again two days later at family request
Lori
If I don’t have vinegar I use Italian salad dressing.
Jan
We loved this Macaroni Salad. Excellent taste. My husband raved about it as it has a little kick with the crushed red pepper.
Regina Cinollo
This is an awesome recipe! I added sliced black olives and a finely chopped kosher dill spear (seeds removed). It was very impressive. My tribe absolutely love it! Thank you.
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Yum! We’re so glad everyone enjoyed it, Regina 😋
Chris
I’m a great cook and I have to say that this is the best summer salad that I’ve ever had. What a fantastic recipe. Thank you!
Gale Ekern
Best macaroni salad ever…I used seasoned rice vinegar instead. Keep to the recipe and you will not be disappointed
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
We’re so happy you enjoyed it, Gale!
Katie
I really liked this recipe, but I’m in love with macaroni salad! I made a couple of changes based on my tastes and what we had on hand and it was still delicious. I used the pickle juice, but didn’t add the pickles. I also added some buttermilk to thin the dressing slightly (yum) and added a little shredded cheddar. Delicious. We’ll be keeping this on rotation!
Kelley
Absolutely delicious!