Best 9 Easy Macaroni Salad Recipes

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Macaroni salad, a classic summer side dish, is a medley of flavors and textures that tantalizes the taste buds. This versatile dish can be tailored to suit any palate, with endless variations that range from classic to modern, simple to extravagant. Whether you prefer a traditional macaroni salad with mayonnaise and mustard, or a tangy version with vinegar and herbs, there's a recipe here to satisfy your craving. For those who love a creamy and flavorful salad, the classic macaroni salad with mayonnaise is a must-try. If you prefer a lighter and tangier option, the vinegar-based macaroni salad is a great choice. And for those who want to add a unique twist, the bacon ranch macaroni salad or the pesto macaroni salad are sure to impress. With so many delicious recipes to choose from, you're sure to find the perfect macaroni salad to complement your next picnic, potluck, or backyard barbecue.

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

EASY MACARONI SALAD



Easy Macaroni Salad image

This hearty pasta salad is sure to please appetites of all ages-and it serves a lot of folks! -LaVerna Mjones, Moorhead, Minnesota

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch     Side Dishes

Time 15m

Yield 34 (1-cup) servings.

Number Of Ingredients 9

2 pounds uncooked elbow macaroni
12 hard-boiled large eggs, chopped
2-1/2 pounds fully cooked ham, cubed
1 package (16 ounces) frozen peas, thawed
3 cups sliced celery
1 large green pepper, chopped
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 jar (4 ounces) diced pimientos, drained
4 cups mayonnaise

Steps:

  • Cook macaroni according to package directions. Rinse in cold water; drain and cool completely. , Place in a large bowl; stir in remaining ingredients. Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 380 calories, Fat 26g fat (4g saturated fat), Cholesterol 102mg cholesterol, Sodium 615mg sodium, Carbohydrate 23g carbohydrate (2g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 13g protein.

EASY MACARONI SALAD WITH SHRIMP



Easy Macaroni Salad With Shrimp image

This is my own recipe and the celery seed and the shrimp blend perfectly. Only 5 ingredients and easy to make. The longer it sits, the more flavorful it becomes, I like to make mine the night before we are going to eat it. Also great served on crackers as an appetizer.

Provided by Dawnab

Categories     Spreads

Time P4DT30m

Yield 16 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 5

1 (16 ounce) bag elbow macaroni
1 lb baby shrimp
1 green pepper, chopped
1 teaspoon celery seed
1 cup mayonnaise

Steps:

  • Cook macaroni according to package directions, drain and rinse with cold water until cool.
  • Mix all ingredients.
  • Chill for 4 hours.
  • Note: Add more mayonnaise if needed to coat ingredients evenly.

EASY SWEET AND TANGY MACARONI SALAD



Easy Sweet and Tangy Macaroni Salad image

My family doesn't like macaroni salad with a lot of mayonnaise. I threw together this recipe one day when I couldn't find one I liked online. It was a huge hit with everyone helping themselves to seconds. I think this recipe would also be great with some hard boiled egg added. You could also try different vegetables such as celery or green pepper according to your taste. The result is a sweet and tangy, not overly creamy or mayonnaise tasting macaroni salad. Great with grilled food!

Provided by fraubausher

Categories     < 30 Mins

Time 21m

Yield 6-8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 lb cellentani pasta (corkscrew)
3/4 cup mayonnaise
3 tablespoons cider vinegar
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
3 teaspoons prepared yellow mustard
1 teaspoon celery seed (crush or rub between palms to release flavor)
chopped red bell pepper
2 -3 chopped scallions
shredded carrot
salt
pepper

Steps:

  • Cook pasta according to package directions. Do not over cook.
  • Drain pasta and rinse with cold water until cool.
  • In bowl whisk together mayonnaise, cider vinegar, sugar, mustard, and celery seed.
  • Add chopped vegetables to taste. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 427.1, Fat 11.2, SaturatedFat 1.7, Cholesterol 7.6, Sodium 243.6, Carbohydrate 70.8, Fiber 2.7, Sugar 10.4, Protein 10.4

EASY MACARONI SALAD WITH HAM RECIPE - (4.2/5)



Easy Macaroni Salad with Ham Recipe - (4.2/5) image

Provided by ChisCooking

Number Of Ingredients 5

2 cups macaroni
1/2 cup cubed cheese
1/2 cup cubed ham
1/2 cup Miracle Whip
1 tablespoon mustard

Steps:

  • Cook, drain and rinse macaroni and put in fridge while you dice up cheese and ham. Mix together cold macaroni, cheese, and ham in a bowl. In a separate bowl mix mayo and mustard. (If it is too tangy you can add a teaspoon of sugar. Mix it all together and chill or serve immediately. I sometimes substitute the cooked shrimp instead of ham and it's delish. Add a dash of Old Bay seasoning if you use shrimp.

FAST, EASY, DELICIOUS MACARONI SALAD - EVEN YOUR KIDS WILL LOVE



Fast, Easy, Delicious Macaroni Salad - Even Your Kids Will Love image

My father made this recipe for me years ago and I absolutely loved it! I make it for my children and my younger siblings and they all love it too. This macaroni salad goes great with just about any type of meat whether it's grilled, baked, or fried. Also, makes a great snack when you have leftovers and don't feel like fixing anything.

Provided by tifmason

Categories     Toddler Friendly

Time 25m

Yield 5-8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 lb elbow macaroni
4 -5 tablespoons dill pickles, minced
2 -3 tablespoons black olives, minced
2 -3 tablespoons green onions, chopped (to taste)
1 cup Hellmann's mayonnaise (add more to taste)
1/2 teaspoon yellow mustard (optional)
salt (to taste)
pepper (to taste)
1 -2 lb shredded cheddar cheese (to taste)

Steps:

  • Boil noodles like you normally would do. Until done. Drain the noodles. Put them in a large bowl and put in the fridge to cool. (Faster prep: Run them under cold water until cool then let sit so all of the water will drain).
  • Mince pickles and black olives. (Faster & easier prep: Buy dill pickle relish and already chopped black olives).
  • Chop green onions.
  • After noodles are cool add mayonnaise (more or less to taste) & mustard (optional) and mix together.
  • Add pickle, olives, & green onions and mix. (Can use more or less. I personally like a lot of pickles and little onion & olives).
  • Add salt and pepper to taste.
  • Put in the fridge to chill. (Sometimes you may need to add more mayo when ready to serve).
  • Add the cheese when you are serving. (I let everybody add as much as they want. Makes it fun for the kids).

EASY CHICKEN MACARONI SALAD



Easy Chicken Macaroni Salad image

Delicious and easy to make. What more could you ask for? Great for potlucks and dinners that you need quickly. This is the first thing to go at any potluck I take it to. Enjoy!

Provided by Miss Diggy

Categories     Lunch/Snacks

Time 15m

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 7

2 chicken breasts, cooked and diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
1/2 red onion, diced
4 roma tomatoes, diced
1 (1 1/4 ounce) packet ranch dressing mix
1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
1 (16 ounce) package macaroni

Steps:

  • Prepare macaroni according to package instructions.
  • While cooking, dice onion, bell pepper, tomatoes, and chicken.
  • Put in bowl and add mayo and dressing mix.
  • When macaroni is done, drain and rinse with cold water, and mix with other ingredients.
  • Put in fridge until use, or use immediately.

EASY POTLUCK MACARONI SALAD



Easy Potluck Macaroni Salad image

Make and share this Easy Potluck Macaroni Salad recipe from Food.com.

Provided by FrVanilla

Categories     < 30 Mins

Time 30m

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 13

2 cups dry elbow macaroni, cooked, rinsed, and drained
1/3 cup diced red pepper
1/4 cup shredded carrot
1/4 cup minced red onion, soaked in water for 5 minutes and drained
1 tablespoon minced flat leaf parsley
1/2 cup diced vine-ripened tomatoes
1/2 cup prepared mayonnaise
3/4 teaspoon mustard
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons cider vinegar
4 tablespoons sour cream
salt, to taste
fresh ground black pepper, to taste

Steps:

  • In a large bowl combine the macaroni, red pepper, carrot, onion, parsley and tomato.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, mustard, sugar, vinegar, sour cream and salt.
  • Pour the dressing over the salad and stir to combine.
  • Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Refrigerate for several hours or over night.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 166.8, Fat 2.7, SaturatedFat 1.2, Cholesterol 3.8, Sodium 26.5, Carbohydrate 30.1, Fiber 1.7, Sugar 3, Protein 5.2

GOOD 'N EASY MACARONI SALAD



Good 'n Easy Macaroni Salad image

This is a recipe I found while searching for Pacific Island Recipes for ZWT. This is almost exactly the same as the one my Mother made, but she didn't add the carrot. This was found at AlohaWorld.com under Island favorites.

Provided by diner524

Categories     Onions

Time 30m

Yield 8-10 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 7

16 ounces macaroni
5 ounces tuna, drained (I use solid white in water and can use more to make it a main course)
1 -1 1/2 cup mayonnaise, to taste
1 medium onion (peeled and finely diced)
1 carrot (peeled and shredded or grated)
salt & pepper
1 -2 stalk celery (chopped)

Steps:

  • Follow the directions for cooking the macaroni on the package. Drain pasta and rinse with cold water.
  • While the pasta is cooking, cut up the onions, celery and carrot.
  • In a large bowl, add pasta, tuna and vegetables and add one cup of mayonnaise, adding more if needed. Season the salad with salt and pepper to taste. Cover bowl and place in the refrigerator until completely chilled. The longer it is refrigerated the more the flavors will marry.

EASY MACARONI SALAD EVERYBODY LOVES



Easy Macaroni Salad Everybody Loves image

Macaroni Salad that will --never-- last long enough to throw out...it all, always gets eaten...or taken home by friends or relatives...always requested at all functions...even Thanksgiving! They make me make it...even though I try to tell everyone it's better for bbq's! :)) So easy to make, 3 steps...you stir in 3 things, dump in the next 3 things, and cut up the last 3 things...you'll never forget what you need at the store...think in 3's...:) I never measure...add ingredients to taste...more or less mayo & mustard, celery salt, relish, celery or onions...I don't add regular salt, or pepper, until I eat it, and let everyone add it to their own liking. I really think the celery salt is what makes it so tasty...:)

Provided by lil sis

Categories     < 60 Mins

Time 40m

Yield 1 1/2 lbs, 10-12 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 (16 ounce) package salad macaroni, cooked al dente (if you use a 2 pound bag salad macaroni, it doubles easily)
1 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup mustard
1 tablespoon celery salt
3/4 cup sweet pickle relish
1 (2 ounce) jar pimientos
1 (2 1/4 ounce) can olives, wedges
3 -4 stalks celery
3 -4 green onions
6 hard-boiled eggs

Steps:

  • Cool the macaroni in cold water, let drain for a few minutes.
  • (1.) Stir in the mayonaise, mustard, and celery salt.
  • (2.) Dump in the relish, undrained pimentos, & drained olives, stir.
  • (3.) Cut up the celery & onions, stir them into the salad.
  • Last, cut up the eggs, add them to the salad.
  • If you can make this 4-8 hours ahead, or the day before, it 'settles' the flavors together deliciously!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 260.4, Fat 5.2, SaturatedFat 1.2, Cholesterol 111.9, Sodium 391, Carbohydrate 42.9, Fiber 2.7, Sugar 7.5, Protein 10.6

Tips:

  • Use high-quality ingredients for the best flavor. Fresh vegetables, cooked pasta, and a flavorful dressing are all essential.
  • Cook the pasta al dente so that it retains a slight bite.
  • Cool the pasta completely before adding it to the salad. This will help prevent the salad from becoming watery.
  • If you are using a mayonnaise-based dressing, make sure to use a high-quality mayonnaise. A low-quality mayonnaise can make the dressing taste bland or oily.
  • Add some fresh herbs to the salad for a pop of flavor. Basil, cilantro, and parsley are all good choices.
  • Serve the salad immediately or chill it for later. The salad will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Conclusion:

Macaroni salad is a classic side dish that is perfect for any occasion. It is easy to make, versatile, and always a crowd-pleaser. Whether you are making it for a potluck, a picnic, or just a weeknight dinner, this macaroni salad recipe is sure to be a hit.

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