Best 9 Allrecipes Classic Macaroni Salad Recipes

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Indulge in a classic American side dish with our macaroni salad recipes, a delightful blend of flavors and textures that will be the star of any gathering. From the traditional Allrecipes Classic Macaroni Salad, bursting with the goodness of mayonnaise-based dressing, to the tangy Mustard-Based Macaroni Salad, these recipes offer a range of options to suit every taste. If you're looking for something creamy and rich, try our Creamy Ranch Macaroni Salad, while the Italian-inspired Mediterranean Macaroni Salad brings a burst of fresh flavors to your table. For those who prefer a lighter option, our Lemon-Herb Macaroni Salad offers a zesty twist, and the Greek Yogurt Macaroni Salad provides a healthier alternative without compromising on taste. Get ready to impress your family and friends with these delectable macaroni salad recipes, perfect for potlucks, picnics, or backyard barbecues.

Here are our top 9 tried and tested recipes!

CHEF JOHN'S CLASSIC MACARONI SALAD



Chef John's Classic Macaroni Salad image

Whether it's sitting next to some smoky ribs or just a humble hot dog, this deli-style macaroni salad will always be a crowd favorite, as long as you pay attention to a few key details.

Provided by Chef John

Categories     Salad     100+ Pasta Salad Recipes     Macaroni Salad Recipes

Time 4h33m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 16

1 cup mayonnaise
¼ cup white vinegar
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons kosher salt, or more to taste
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon white sugar, or more to taste
1 cup finely diced celery
¾ cup diced red bell pepper
½ cup grated carrot
½ cup chopped green onions, white and light parts
¼ cup diced jalapeno pepper
¼ cup diced poblano pepper
1 (16 ounce) package uncooked elbow macaroni
1 tablespoon mayonnaise
1 tablespoon water

Steps:

  • Whisk 1 cup mayonnaise, vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper together in a bowl until well blended; whisk in sugar. Stir in celery, red bell pepper, carrot, onions, and jalapeno and poblano peppers. Refrigerate until macaroni is ready to dress.
  • Bring a large pot of well salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain but do not rinse. Allow macaroni to drain in a colander about 5 minutes, shaking out moisture from time to time. Pour macaroni into large bowl; toss to separate and cool to room temperature. Macaroni should be sticky.
  • Pour dressing over macaroni and stir until dressing is evenly distributed. Cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 4 hours or, ideally, overnight to allow dressing to absorb into the macaroni.
  • Stir salad before serving. Mix 1 tablespoon mayonnaise and 1 tablespoon water into salad for fresher look.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 294.5 calories, Carbohydrate 32 g, Cholesterol 7.4 mg, Fat 16.1 g, Fiber 1.9 g, Protein 5.4 g, SaturatedFat 2.4 g, Sodium 508.1 mg, Sugar 3.2 g

OLD FASHIONED MACARONI SALAD



Old Fashioned Macaroni Salad image

My family has been making this for years, and it is my absolute favorite dish!

Provided by Jennie Minor

Categories     Salad     100+ Pasta Salad Recipes     Seafood Pasta Salad Recipes

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 10

2 cups macaroni
2 (5 ounce) cans tuna, drained
1 onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 tablespoons garlic powder
1 ½ cups mayonnaise
2 tablespoons prepared mustard
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste

Steps:

  • Cook noodles in a large pot of boiling water until al dente. Rinse under cold water, and drain.
  • Mix tuna, onion, bell pepper, celery, garlic powder, mayonnaise, salt and pepper, and mustard together in a large bowl. Add pasta, and mix well.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 359.7 calories, Carbohydrate 19.9 g, Cholesterol 20.1 mg, Fat 26.9 g, Fiber 1.4 g, Protein 10.2 g, SaturatedFat 4.1 g, Sodium 243.9 mg, Sugar 2.2 g

HEALTHIER CLASSIC MACARONI SALAD



Healthier Classic Macaroni Salad image

Making this salad with less sugar and whole wheat noodles makes it a healthy treat for the entire family.

Provided by MakeItHealthy

Categories     Salad     100+ Pasta Salad Recipes     Macaroni Salad Recipes

Time 4h30m

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 13

4 cups whole wheat elbow macaroni
1 cup mayonnaise
¼ cup distilled white vinegar
⅓ cup white sugar
2 ½ tablespoons prepared yellow mustard
1 ½ teaspoons salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 large onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
¼ cup grated carrot
2 tablespoons chopped pimento peppers

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Rinse under cold water and drain.
  • Mix mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, mustard, salt, and pepper together in a large bowl. Stir in onion, celery, green bell pepper, red bell pepper, carrot, pimentos, and macaroni. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight, before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 281.3 calories, Carbohydrate 28.1 g, Cholesterol 8.4 mg, Fat 18 g, Fiber 3 g, Protein 4.2 g, SaturatedFat 2.7 g, Sodium 529.9 mg, Sugar 8.7 g

BEST MACARONI SALAD



Best Macaroni Salad image

Very easy and delicious! I am constantly asked to bring this salad to parties and picnics. The cheese and ham are key additions to an old favorite.

Provided by JEANDERSON72

Categories     Salad     100+ Pasta Salad Recipes     Macaroni Salad Recipes

Time 4h30m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 (16 ounce) package macaroni
½ cup mayonnaise
1 cup cucumber - peeled, seeded and chopped
1 tablespoon dried minced onion
1 cup diced ham
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
salt and pepper to taste

Steps:

  • In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook pasta until al dente, rinse under cold water and drain.
  • In a large bowl, combine the pasta, mayonnaise and mix well. Stir in cucumber, onion, ham and cheese. Mix well. Drizzle oil and vinegar over top and toss. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 437.3 calories, Carbohydrate 43.8 g, Cholesterol 28.4 mg, Fat 23 g, Fiber 1.9 g, Protein 13.4 g, SaturatedFat 6 g, Sodium 358.8 mg, Sugar 1.9 g

MAGNIFICENT MACARONI SALAD



Magnificent Macaroni Salad image

Slightly sweet, classic macaroni salad recipe!

Provided by Christine Anne Limon

Categories     Salad     100+ Pasta Salad Recipes     Macaroni Salad Recipes

Time 50m

Yield 5

Number Of Ingredients 10

3 cups elbow macaroni
1 ½ cups mayonnaise
⅓ large onion, minced
¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons prepared yellow mustard
2 teaspoons rice vinegar
1 teaspoon white sugar, or more to taste
¾ teaspoon celery seed
½ teaspoon salt
3 hard-cooked eggs, chopped

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until cooked through but firm to the bite, 8 minutes; drain.
  • Rinse macaroni in cold water until cool; drain.
  • Stir mayonnaise, onion, parsley, mustard, rice vinegar, sugar, celery seed, and salt together in a bowl; add macaroni and eggs and stir to coat.
  • Chill in refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 782.8 calories, Carbohydrate 53.4 g, Cholesterol 152.3 mg, Fat 57.4 g, Fiber 3.3 g, Protein 14 g, SaturatedFat 9.1 g, Sodium 718.8 mg, Sugar 3.3 g

CLASSIC MACARONI SALAD



Classic Macaroni Salad image

This classic macaroni salad recipe is a refreshingly light take on an all-time favorite. It's perfect for a fast weeknight dinner or festive weekend barbecue. -Dorothy Bayes, Sardis, Ohio

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch     Side Dishes

Time 30m

Yield 8 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 12

2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
1 cup fat-free mayonnaise
2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
2 teaspoons sugar
3/4 teaspoon ground mustard
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/3 cup chopped carrot
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 hard-boiled large egg, chopped
Dash paprika

Steps:

  • Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain and rinse with cold water. Cool completely. , For dressing, in a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, pickle relish, sugar substitute, mustard, salt and pepper. In a large bowl, combine the macaroni, celery, carrot and onion. Add dressing and toss gently to coat. , Refrigerate until serving. Garnish with egg and paprika.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 115 calories, Fat 2g fat (0 saturated fat), Cholesterol 27mg cholesterol, Sodium 362mg sodium, Carbohydrate 21g carbohydrate (6g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 4g protein. Diabetic Exchanges

SIMPLE MACARONI SALAD



Simple Macaroni Salad image

An easy mac salad that is excellent for parties, picnics and those summer day barbeques.

Provided by Samantha

Categories     Salad     100+ Pasta Salad Recipes     Macaroni Salad Recipes

Time 2h30m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 (16 ounce) package macaroni
2 red bell peppers, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
½ cup chopped green onions
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup mayonnaise
1 packet dry vegetable soup mix

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, or until al dente. Drain, and rinse with cold water until no longer hot. Transfer noodles to a large bowl.
  • Stir in red bell peppers, green bell peppers, green onions, celery and olive oil. Mix in mayonnaise and soup mix. Refrigerate for a few hours before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 435.7 calories, Carbohydrate 45.8 g, Cholesterol 10.4 mg, Fat 24.5 g, Fiber 2.9 g, Protein 8.1 g, SaturatedFat 3.7 g, Sodium 179.7 mg, Sugar 4.3 g

CLASSIC MACARONI SALAD



Classic Macaroni Salad image

This is a salad that everyone seems to love. I always get lots of compliments on this recipe and it is just a pleasing taste that seems to suit everyone.

Provided by Graden

Categories     Salad     Pasta Salad     Vegetarian Pasta Salad Recipes

Time 4h30m

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 12

4 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
1 cup mayonnaise
¼ cup distilled white vinegar
⅔ cup white sugar
2 ½ tablespoons prepared yellow mustard
1 ½ teaspoons salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 large onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
¼ cup grated carrot
2 tablespoons chopped pimento peppers

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni, and cook until tender, about 8 minutes. Rinse under cold water and drain.
  • In a large bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, mustard, salt and pepper. Stir in the onion, celery, green pepper, carrot, pimentos and macaroni. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving, but preferably overnight.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 390 calories, Carbohydrate 49.3 g, Cholesterol 8.4 mg, Fat 18.7 g, Fiber 2.8 g, Protein 6.8 g, SaturatedFat 2.8 g, Sodium 528.6 mg, Sugar 15.5 g

CLASSIC MACARONI SALAD



Classic Macaroni Salad image

Creamy dishes like Alex's macaroni salad are a perfect match for fresh dill. "I love dill with mayonnaise," she says. "It's grassy and light."

Provided by Alex Guarnaschelli

Categories     side-dish

Time 45m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

3/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon hot sauce (such as Tabasco)
1 small red onion, diced, soaked in ice water at least 1 hour and up to 12 hours
1 large red bell pepper, diced
3 scallions (green parts only), thinly sliced
Kosher salt
12 ounces elbow macaroni
1 sprig dill, leaves finely chopped
4 sprigs basil, leaves torn

Steps:

  • Make the dressing: In a large bowl, whisk the mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, soy sauce and hot sauce until smooth. Drain and dry the red onion and stir it into the dressing along with the bell pepper, scallions and a generous pinch of salt.
  • Make the pasta: In a large pot, bring 4 quarts of water to a rolling boil. Add a generous amount of salt. Add the pasta and cook, stirring from time to time, until al dente (chewy but not hard or raw tasting), 6 to 10 minutes. Drain; do not rinse the pasta. Spread it out on a large baking sheet to cool slightly, 5 to 10 minutes.
  • While the pasta is still warm, add it to the bowl with the dressing and let sit at room temperature, 10 to 15 minutes. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Stir in the dill and basil just before serving and taste for seasoning.

Tips:

  • Use high-quality macaroni. The type of macaroni you use will make a big difference in the final dish. Look for a brand that is made with durum wheat and has a firm texture.
  • Cook the macaroni al dente. This means that the macaroni should be cooked until it is just tender, but still has a slight bite to it. Overcooked macaroni will be mushy and will not hold up well in the salad.
  • Use a variety of vegetables. The more vegetables you add to your macaroni salad, the more flavorful it will be. Some good options include celery, carrots, red onion, bell pepper, and cucumber.
  • Use a creamy dressing. A creamy dressing will help to bind all of the ingredients together and make the salad more flavorful. You can use a store-bought dressing or make your own. If you are making your own dressing, be sure to use mayonnaise, sour cream, or yogurt as the base.
  • Add some herbs and spices. Herbs and spices will help to add flavor and depth to your macaroni salad. Some good options include basil, oregano, thyme, paprika, and garlic powder.
  • Chill the salad before serving. This will help to allow the flavors to meld together and will make the salad more refreshing.

Conclusion:

Macaroni salad is a classic side dish that is perfect for any occasion. It is easy to make, delicious, and can be customized to your liking. With so many different variations to choose from, you are sure to find a macaroni salad recipe that you will love.

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