Best 5 Macaroni And Cheese Salad Recipes

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Macaroni and cheese salad is a classic American side dish that is perfect for potlucks, picnics, and barbecues. It is made with cooked macaroni, cheese, mayonnaise, and a variety of other ingredients, such as diced celery, onion, and hard-boiled eggs. There are many different variations of macaroni and cheese salad, but the basic ingredients are always the same. This article provides three different recipes for macaroni and cheese salad: a classic recipe, a recipe with a tangy dressing, and a recipe with a creamy dressing. All three recipes are easy to make and can be tailored to your own personal taste. So whether you are looking for a classic macaroni and cheese salad or something with a little more flair, you are sure to find a recipe in this article that you will love.

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

MACARONI AND CHEESE SALAD



Macaroni and Cheese Salad image

The vinegar and cheese help to make this a unique macaroni salad.

Provided by Sally Dickson

Categories     Salad     100+ Pasta Salad Recipes     Tomato Pasta Salad Recipes

Time 1h25m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 ½ cups macaroni
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
½ cup chopped green bell pepper
¼ cup chopped celery
3 tablespoons thinly sliced green onion
8 cherry tomatoes
1 cup mayonnaise
salt and pepper to taste
¼ teaspoon Beau Monde ™ seasoning

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 pasta and vinegar. Mix well and allow to sit 15-20 minutes.
  • Add cheese, peppers, celery, green onions, tomatoes, mayonnaise and seasonings. Mix well and refrigerate until chilled.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 446.6 calories, Carbohydrate 23 g, Cholesterol 33.7 mg, Fat 35.9 g, Fiber 1.4 g, Protein 8.8 g, SaturatedFat 8.4 g, Sodium 354.2 mg, Sugar 1.7 g

MACARONI AND CHEESE PASTA SALAD



Macaroni and Cheese Pasta Salad image

One of my co-workers shared this recipe with us when everybody raved over it. I use this as a fast-fix dinners, as it can be made from last night's macaroni and cheese, and prep time is under 15 minutes.

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch

Time 15m

Yield 2 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 7

2 cups prepared macaroni and cheese
1/2 cup frozen peas, thawed
1/4 cup chopped celery
1 tablespoon chopped onion
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
1/4 teaspoon celery salt
1/4 teaspoon celery seed

Steps:

  • In a small bowl, combine the macaroni and cheese, peas, celery and onion. Combine the mayonnaise, celery salt and seed. Add to macaroni mixture; stir to coat.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 324 calories, Fat 20g fat (7g saturated fat), Cholesterol 33mg cholesterol, Sodium 562mg sodium, Carbohydrate 24g carbohydrate (6g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 11g protein.

MACARONI AND CHEESE PEA SALAD



Macaroni and Cheese Pea Salad image

Made from boxed macaroni&cheese dinner. The cheese/macaroni mixture gives this a unique twist to typical macaroni salad. I've never made it from homemade cheese & macaroni, but I imagine it would work fine. Sometimes I use leftover macaroni & cheese dinner and adjust the rest of the ingredients accordingly. This is one of our quick and easy family favorites. Enjoy!!

Provided by BakinBaby

Categories     Vegetable

Time 40m

Yield 8-10 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 (7 ounce) box macaroni & cheese dinner mix (we use Kraft brand, but store brands are fine also)
1/4 cup butter or 1/4 cup margarine
1/4 cup milk
1 cup frozen peas (thawed)
3 hard-boiled eggs (chopped)
1/2 cup celery (chopped)
1/3 cup onion (chopped)
2 green onions (chopped)
1 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon salt and pepper (to taste)
1 teaspoon dried dill (you can substitute with your favorite cold salad seasoning.)

Steps:

  • Cook macaroni & cheese dinner per box directions; cool. (If you're using leftover macaroni, adjust the remaining ingredients accordingly).
  • Add chopped eggs, celery, onion, green onion to cooled macaroni & cheese.
  • Stir in mayonnaise and seasonings.
  • Gently stir in thawed peas and season to taste.
  • As with all salads, season to taste.

MEXICAN INSPIRED NO-MAYO MACARONI AND CHEESE SALAD



Mexican Inspired No-Mayo Macaroni and Cheese Salad image

First this is a much healthier and lighter version of traditional mayo based macaroni salads. This is such a nice salad for summer BBQ's, pot-lucks, even just dinner with the family. It is not spicy, but has a slight Mexican flair. Sour cream, spices and chopped peppers make this a great salad. I actually have 2 versions of this. I have added some sliced black olives and used Monterey Jack cheese, but my favorite is no olives and a good sharp Cheddar. Serve this with some spicy grilled chicken, burgers, steaks, hot dogs, etc. It is just a nice side dish.

Provided by SarasotaCook

Categories     Healthy

Time 30m

Yield 4-8 , 4-8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 14

12 ounces elbow macaroni
2 medium green peppers, fine chopped
2 medium red peppers, fine chopped
1 medium onion, fine chopped
1 cup scallion, chopped (1 cup after chopping)
5 -6 ounces sharp cheddar cheese (more or less to taste)
1/2-2/3 cup salsa (not chunky, just a basic medium heat salsa, use mild if you don't want any heat)
6 -8 tablespoons sour cream, depending on how creamy you like the salad (I have used low fat, but don't use NO fat)
4 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 limes, zested
2/3 cup fresh cilantro, fine chopped
2 teaspoons ground cumin
salt
pepper

Steps:

  • Dressing -- In a small bowl, add the salsa, sour cream, lime juice and zest, cilantro, cumin, pinch of salt and pepper. Mix well and refrigerate. NOTE: I start out with 1/2 cup salsa, and 6 tablespoons of sour cream. You can always add more once you dress the salad.
  • Pasta -- Simply cook in good salted water according to package directions.
  • Vegetables -- In a large bowl, add the chopped green and red pepper, onion and scallions.
  • Toss -- Once the past is done, drain and this is one time where I actually rinse my pasta under cold water. Drain well. Add to the bowl with the vegetables and add the dressing and the cheese. Toss well. You can add a bit more sour cream and salsa if necessary. Taste for seasoning and add any more salt and pepper if needed. And remember - this is not a creamy mayo type of salad. This is a healthier light version so there is not as much dressing.
  • Serve -- ENJOY!

MACARONI AND CHEESE SALAD



Macaroni and Cheese Salad image

One of my favorite sides is mac & cheese salad. Goes with so many things. Good for picnics or potlucks. Very versatile.

Provided by Darlene Summers

Categories     Cheese

Time 30m

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 9

2 cups cooked & seasoned macaroni
1 cup diced celery
1 cup cooked peas
1/4 cup shredded uncooked carrot
1 (2 ounce) jar pimiento (well-drained)
1 cup mild cheddar cheese cube
salt & pepper
Miracle Whip
stuffed olives

Steps:

  • Drain well and chill cooked macaroni.
  • Combine macaroni with celery, peas, carrots, cheese cubes and pimento's.
  • Season to taste.
  • Moisten with desired amount of Miracle Whip.
  • Serve cold, garnished with olives.

Tips:

  • Use a quality macaroni. Opt for a variety like elbow or cavatappi that will hold its shape well in the salad.
  • Cook the macaroni al dente. This means cooking it until it is just tender, but still has a slight bite to it. This will prevent it from becoming mushy in the salad.
  • Use a flavorful cheese. A sharp cheddar or a combination of cheeses will give the salad a more robust flavor.
  • Don't skimp on the mayonnaise. Mayonnaise is what helps to bind the salad together and give it a creamy texture. Use a high-quality mayonnaise for the best results.
  • Add-ins are optional, but they can really take the salad to the next level. Try adding chopped celery, onion, bell pepper, or hard-boiled eggs. You can also add a pinch of cayenne pepper for a little spice.
  • Chill the salad before serving. This will help the flavors to meld and will make the salad more refreshing.

Conclusion:

Macaroni and cheese salad is a classic dish that is perfect for potlucks, picnics, and barbecues. It is easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste preferences. With a few simple tips, you can make the best macaroni and cheese salad that everyone will love.

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