Best 12 Creamy Macaroni Salad Recipes

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Indulge in the classic American side dish, macaroni salad, with our collection of delectable recipes. From the creamy and tangy traditional version to unique variations that add a twist to the familiar flavors, we have something for every palate. Our macaroni salad recipes cater to diverse dietary preferences, including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. Each recipe is meticulously crafted with step-by-step instructions, ensuring that you can recreate these dishes with ease in your own kitchen. Whether you're looking for a refreshing addition to your summer potlucks or a comforting side dish for your family dinners, our macaroni salad recipes are sure to impress.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

CREAMY MACARONI SALAD



Creamy Macaroni Salad image

I have looked all over for a great macaroni salad; this one is it! It's easy and is a huge hit at every function I take it to. The sauce for this is a great creamy sauce. I like my salads to have a lot of creamy dressing, so I always make an extra half batch of the wet mix and add it as necessary to get the salad more wet because the pasta soaks up the sauce.

Provided by Mandy Franke

Categories     Salad     100+ Pasta Salad Recipes     Macaroni Salad Recipes

Time 35m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 17

1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon dry mustard powder
¾ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon onion powder
¼ teaspoon ground white pepper
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
3 cups elbow macaroni
1 ½ cups mayonnaise
½ cup sour cream
1 (5 ounce) can evaporated milk
½ cup finely chopped onion
3 tablespoons finely chopped green bell pepper
3 tablespoons finely chopped red bell pepper
2 tablespoons finely chopped yellow bell pepper
½ cup finely chopped celery
½ cup finely chopped carrots

Steps:

  • Mix salt, dry mustard, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, white pepper, and black pepper in a small bowl.
  • 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 and rinse macaroni under cold water until cooled.
  • Whisk mayonnaise, sour cream, and evaporated milk in a large salad bowl until dressing is smooth and creamy; stir in seasoning mix until well blended. Mix macaroni, onion, green, red, and yellow bell pepper, celery, and carrots into the dressing until thoroughly coated.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 341 calories, Carbohydrate 24 g, Cholesterol 18 mg, Fat 25.3 g, Fiber 1.4 g, Protein 5.1 g, SaturatedFat 5.1 g, Sodium 377.4 mg, Sugar 3.1 g

CREAMY VEGAN MACARONI SALAD



Creamy Vegan Macaroni Salad image

Whether you follow a plant-based diet or are just looking for a dairy-free alternative, this creamy macaroni salad is the perfect dish for your next summer BBQ or weeknight meal. We kept the same components of a typical creamy macaroni salad-tender elbow pasta, crunchy celery, sweet bell pepper, a hint of mustard and splash of vinegar-but swapped in vegan mayonnaise and vegan sour cream. Everybody will go back for seconds.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories     side-dish

Time 25m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 10

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
8 ounces vegan elbow macaroni (about 2 cups; see Cook's Note)
1/2 cup vegan mayonnaise
1/4 cup vegan sour cream
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, finely chopped
1 teaspoon dry mustard powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
2 celery stalks, finely diced (about 3/4 cup)
1/2 large red bell pepper, finely diced (about 3/4 cup)

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil over high heat. Boil the pasta until al dente, 7 to 8 minutes. Drain well, then transfer to a bowl to cool completely.
  • Meanwhile, whisk together the vegan mayonnaise, vegan sour cream, vinegar, parsley, mustard powder, onion powder, 3/4 teaspoons salt and several grinds of black pepper in a medium bowl until smooth and combined. Cover the dressing and refrigerate until ready to assemble.
  • Once the pasta is completely cool, fold in the dressing, celery, and peppers until thoroughly combined. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper. Serve immediately or refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

CREAMY CLASSIC MACARONI SALAD



Creamy Classic Macaroni Salad image

This has been one of my family favorites for years. I believe it came from Hellman's originally but I have modified it somewhat and only use Kraft Mayo.

Provided by joan in CNY

Categories     < 30 Mins

Time 28m

Yield 5 cups

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon vinegar
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice (not from concentrate)
1 tablespoon prepared mustard (I use dijon)
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
8 ounces elbow macaroni, cooked, drained (I use the Barilla brand-it has the little ridges in it that helps to hold the dressing in-also use i)
1 cup sliced celery
1 cup chopped green peppers or 1 cup red pepper
1/4 cup chopped onion

Steps:

  • Combine first 6 ingredients.
  • Stir in remaining ingredients.
  • Cover, chill (I alway top this with a sprinkle of paprika).

MACARONI SALAD WITH BACON, PEAS, AND CREAMY DIJON DRESSING



Macaroni Salad With Bacon, Peas, and Creamy Dijon Dressing image

Make and share this Macaroni Salad With Bacon, Peas, and Creamy Dijon Dressing recipe from Food.com.

Provided by SarahBeth

Categories     < 60 Mins

Time 45m

Yield 8 cups of salad, 8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 17

1/2 cup reduced-fat cream cheese
1/4 cup chopped shallot
1/4 cup reduced-fat mayonnaise
2 tablespoons nonfat sour cream
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
3/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
8 ounces uncooked large elbow macaroni
2/3 cup fresh green peas
2/3 cup finely diced red bell pepper
2/3 cup finely diced red onion
1/2 cup thinly sliced green onion
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon rind
3 slices bacon, fat removed, cooked and crumbled

Steps:

  • To prepare dressing, combine first 9 ingredients in a food processor, and process until smooth. Cover and chill.
  • To prepare salad, cook pasta according to package directions.
  • Add peas during the last 3 minutes of cooking time. Drain; rinse with cold water. Drain.
  • Combine pea/ pasta mixture, bell pepper, and next 4 ingredients in a large bowl. Toss pasta mixture with half of dressing. Cover and chill until ready to serve. Toss salad with remaining dressing, and sprinkle with crumbled bacon; serve immediately.

CREAMY SALMON MACARONI SALAD



Creamy Salmon Macaroni Salad image

Make and share this Creamy Salmon Macaroni Salad recipe from Food.com.

Provided by Parsley

Categories     Canadian

Time 25m

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 13

1 1/2 cups uncooked macaroni
2 cups cooked salmon, flaked
3 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
1/2 cup diced cheddar cheese
2 cups grape tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup chopped scallion, white and green parts
1/4 cup diced sweet gherkin
2 tablespoons sweet pickle juice
1/2 cup diced celery
3/4 cup mayonnaise, to desired moistness
1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed
1/4 teaspoon pepper
salt, to taste

Steps:

  • Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain and rinse w/ cold water until cooled. Drain again.
  • Place cooled drain macaroni in a large mixing bowl and add all remaining ingredients.
  • Stir well to evenly mix.
  • Chill about 2 hours before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 298.9, Fat 16, SaturatedFat 4.3, Cholesterol 110.8, Sodium 338.6, Carbohydrate 29.3, Fiber 1.3, Sugar 4.5, Protein 9.4

COOL AND CREAMY MACARONI SALAD



Cool and Creamy Macaroni Salad image

Don't drain the macaroni too well before adding the other ingredients - a little extra moisture will keep the salad from drying out. If you've made the salad ahead of time simply stir in a little warm water to loosen the texture.

Provided by Chef mariajane

Categories     Low Cholesterol

Time 15m

Yield 8-10 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 11

table salt
1 lb elbow macaroni
1/2 small red onion, minced
1 celery rib, minced
1/4 cup fresh parsley leaves, minced
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1 pinch cayenne pepper
1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
ground black pepper

Steps:

  • Bring 4 quarts of water to a boil in large pot. Add 1 tablespoons salt and macaroni and cook until nearly tender, about 5 minutes.
  • Drain in colander and rinse with cold water until cool, then drain briefly so that the macaroni remains moist. Transfer to a large bowl.
  • Stir in onion, celery, parsley, lemon juice, mustard, garlic powder, and cayenne and let sit until flavors are absorbed, about 2 minutes.
  • Add mayonnaise and let sit until salad texture is no longer watery, 5-10 minutes.
  • Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve.
  • (The salad can be covered and refrigerated for up to 2 days. Check consistency and seasonings before serving.).

SUPER CREAMY MACARONI SALAD



Super Creamy Macaroni Salad image

I make several different kinds of macaroni salads, but this one is my hubby's favorite and the one I make when I need to please everybody! I finally took the time to write it down as I added, so putting it here for safe keeping and so next time I won't have to fiddle with it to get it right! Enjoy! Photo by me. (It got chopped...

Provided by Kelly Williams

Categories     Pasta Salads

Time 20m

Number Of Ingredients 11

2 1/2 cups uncooked macaroni
SAUCE:
2 cups mayo
1/3 cup sweet pickle relish
3 tbl. sugar
3 tbl. sweet pickle juice from sweet butter pickles
1 tsp. regular salt
1 tsp. celery salt
2 tsp. regular table mustard
2 tbl. dried minced onion
*1 tbl. milk

Steps:

  • 1. In large bowl, mix all sauce ingredients except milk, stirring well, set aside. Cook macaroni according to package directions. Drain, rinse with cold water to stop cooking and chill, drain again, and stir into sauce mixture. Chill in fridge for 30 minutes to one hour. Stir in 1 Tbl. milk to loosen and serve! Enjoy!
  • 2. ***SECRET TIP! Forgot to put this in here! After you drain your macaroni, put it in a small shallow bowl and pour 1/3-1/2 cup of milk over it. Keep stirring now and then and let the macaroni absorb all or most of the milk. This will take about 20-30 minutes, but WORTH IT. The pasta won't be soggy or anything, but will help GREATLY with stopping the sauce from soaking in too much and be dry. Just drain any excess milk before stirring into the sauce. You will then only have to add a TAD of mayo or milk to refresh the salad instead of a gallon more of mayo!

CREAMY CHICKEN MACARONI SALAD



Creamy Chicken Macaroni Salad image

Lisa, who lives next door, gave me this recipe several years ago. This is really a delicious chicken salad. The red grapes and the brown in the sliced almonds will help to give it color and make it look more appealing, so do resist the temptation to used green grapes and/or blanched almonds. This is great as a potluck dish or as a meal on a hot day. As with any dish containing mayonnaise, please use caution and keep cool until serving. Keep any extras refrigerated for safety's sake. This is a meal for four very hungry people or as a side dish for over a dozen adults. Cooking time includes cooking the chicken and macaroni (at the same time) while cutting the grapes.

Provided by dogsandwoods

Categories     < 4 Hours

Time 1h20m

Yield 9 cups, 12-15 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 9

4 chicken breasts, rinsed, cubed and sauteed
2 1/2 cups elbow macaroni, dry
1 -1 1/2 cup red grapes, rinsed well and cut in half
3 celery ribs, rinsed and diced
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
3 tablespoons sugar
11 ounces mandarin oranges, canned, drained
romaine leaf (optional)

Steps:

  • Cook elbow macaroni according to package directions. Drain.
  • In a small bowl, whip mayonnaise and 2 T sugar together. Taste for your preference on sweetness before adding the third tablespoon.
  • In a large bowl place chicken breasts, cut grapes, diced celery, sliced almonds and the macaroni. Toss ingredients together.
  • Add mayonnaise to the large bowl and stir to coat all ingredients.
  • Garnish with mandarin oranges.
  • Chill until time to serve.
  • May serve on individual plates that have been prepped with romaine leaves.

CREAMY MACARONI SALAD



Creamy Macaroni Salad image

A tablespoon of mayo helps lend that tell-tale tangy flavor that everyone loves to this lower-in-fat recipe that instead relies on low-fat yogurt to bring creaminess.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Ingredients     Pasta and Grains

Time 25m

Number Of Ingredients 10

Coarse salt and ground pepper
1/2 pound elbow macaroni
2 hard-cooked large eggs, whites roughly chopped, yolks left whole
1 cup low-fat plain yogurt
1 tablespoon mayonnaise
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
4 radishes, quartered and thinly sliced
2 celery stalks, thinly sliced crosswise
2 tablespoons finely chopped dill pickle
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives

Steps:

  • In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain and return to pot. In a small bowl, finely mash 1 egg yolk with a fork (reserve remaining yolk for another use). Add yogurt, mayonnaise, and lemon juice; stir until smooth. Add to pasta, then stir in egg whites, radishes, celery, and pickle. Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with chives just before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 210 g, Fat 5 g, Fiber 2 g, Protein 9 g

CREAMY ITALIAN MACARONI SALAD



Creamy Italian Macaroni Salad image

Make and share this Creamy Italian Macaroni Salad recipe from Food.com.

Provided by Chef mariajane

Categories     < 15 Mins

Time 15m

Yield 8-10 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 12

8 cups fusilli, cooked and cooled
1 1/2 cups chopped green peppers
1 large onion, chopped
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 large carrots, shredded
2 celery ribs, chopped
3/4 cup French dressing
3/4 cup golden Italian dressing
1/2 cup Miracle Whip
6 cherry tomatoes, chopped

Steps:

  • Combine fusilli, pepper, onion, carrots and celery in a large bowl.
  • Mix together sugar, salt, pepper, French dressing, Golden Italian dressing and Miracle whip.
  • Pour over pasta mix, and combine well.
  • Refrigerate until ready to use.
  • Put chopped cherries on top just before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 239, Fat 19.9, SaturatedFat 2.8, Cholesterol 4.2, Sodium 865, Carbohydrate 15.5, Fiber 1.7, Sugar 11.6, Protein 1.2

CREAMY MACARONI SALAD



Creamy Macaroni Salad image

This Creamy Macaroni Salad Recipe is a real crowd-pleaser. It is perfect for your next patio party but simple enough for a week night dinner with grilled steak and corn. With all the wonderful vegetables the presentation is phenomenal. My late mother in law made a wonderful macaroni salad. She would put small bits of cubed...

Provided by Beth Pierce

Categories     Pasta Salads

Time 40m

Number Of Ingredients 11

2 uncooked macaroni noodles
2/3 c mayo
1 Tbsp dijon mustard
1 1/2 Tbsp cider vinegar
1/4 c sour cream
1/2 orange bell pepper finely chopped
1 1/2 c grape tomatoes halved
1/4 c chopped red onion
2 stalks celery chopped
2 Tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley
salt & pepper to taste

Steps:

  • 1. Cook noodles according to instructions on box. Drain well.
  • 2. In large bowl whisk together mayo, mustard, cider vinegar and sour cream. Add the cooked macaroni, peppers, tomatoes, red onion, celery and parsley. Stir gently to combine. Season with salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste.

COOL AND CREAMY MACARONI SALAD RECIPE



Cool and Creamy Macaroni Salad Recipe image

Provided by Patlynn

Number Of Ingredients 11

Table salt
1 pound elbow macaroni
1/2 small red onion , minced
1 rib celery , minced
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley leaves
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
Pinch cayenne pepper
1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
Ground black pepper

Steps:

  • Don't drain the macaroni too well before adding the other ingredients--a little extra moisture will keep the salad from drying out. If you've made the salad ahead of time, simply stir in a little warm water to loosen the texture. 1. Bring 4 quarts water to boil in large pot. Add 1 tablespoon salt and macaroni and cook until nearly tender, about 5 minutes. Drain in colander and rinse with cold water until cool, then drain briefly so that macaroni remains moist. Transfer to large bowl.

Tips:

  • For the best macaroni salad, use high-quality ingredients. Look for a good quality mayonnaise, flavorful mustard, and fresh vegetables.
  • Cook the macaroni according to the package directions, but be careful not to overcook it. You want the macaroni to be al dente, or slightly firm to the bite.
  • While the macaroni is cooking, prepare the dressing. Whisk together the mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper until smooth.
  • Once the macaroni is cooked, drain it and rinse it with cold water. This will help to stop the cooking process and keep the macaroni from getting mushy.
  • Add the macaroni to a large bowl and pour the dressing over it. Toss to coat.
  • Add the remaining ingredients, such as the chopped vegetables, hard-boiled eggs, and cooked meat, to the macaroni salad. Toss to combine.
  • Cover the macaroni salad and refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes before serving. This will allow the flavors to meld and the salad to chill.

Conclusion:

Creamy macaroni salad is a classic side dish that is perfect for any occasion. It is easy to make, and it is always a crowd-pleaser. With its creamy dressing, tender macaroni, and flavorful vegetables, macaroni salad is a dish that everyone will enjoy.

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