Macaroni Salad

A classic Macaroni Salad that is a hit for potlucks, parties and BBQs with both kids and adults. It’s quick, easy and delicious recipe which makes it the perfect side dish. We love using elbow macaroni but you can really use any type you want to mix it up.

This Macaroni Salad comes straight for my husband’s family’s recipe box! Particularly his Mom’s, so I knew it was going to be a tried and true recipe that has been tested over and over.

This simple and basic Macaroni salad has pasta, shredded cheese, ham and peas that’s covered in a mayonnaise sauce.

It’s a staple at all of our gatherings and a great recipe for a potluck or backyard summer party.

Why You’ll Love Macaroni Salad!

• You can prep it ahead of time saving on the rush when you are hosting a party!
• It’s a full summer dinner with pasta and protein. Perfect for a hot summer day.
• It’s so flexible. There’s so many great add-ins so you can change it up each time you make it to keep it fresh.

Ingredients for Macaroni Salad

• Pasta – I used an elbow macaroni, but any will be fine just prepare according to directions and cook until al dente.
• Seasonings – This salad is seasoned with celery, onion and seasoning salt.
• Dressing – We use mayonnaise and yellow mustard for the dressing. If you prefer it a bit sweeter you can also use Miracle Whip. If you are looking for it to be lighter you can substitute half the mayonnaise with Greek yogurt, just be aware it will have a slight tang to it.
• Cheese – I used a shredded cheddar cheese, but you can use whatever cheese you would like.
• Ham – To make it quick and easy I grabbed a bag of pre-diced ham, but you could leftover ham also if you have it.
• Peas – A bag of frozen peas make this quick and easy. Simply run the frozen peas under warm water to thaw them then add to salad.

How To Make Macaroni Salad

1. Boil macaroni according to directions. Drain, rinse with cold water and set aside.
2. Mix together celery salt, onion salt, Mayonnaise, mustard and seasoning salt in large bowl.
3. Add noodles, cheddar cheese, peas and ham. Mix well. Chill until serving.

More Great Ad-Ins!

• Diced onion
• Diced celery
• Cubed cheese (instead of shredded)
• Diced red pepper
• Shredded carrots
• Pickles
• Pickle juice
• Crumbled bacon bits
• Diced hard boiled eggs

How Long Can Macaroni Salad Sit Out?

This is a bit of a tricky question. Macaroni salad can sit out for up to 2 hours at room temperature, but there are factors that play into this. If it is sitting in the sun at an outdoor function it can spoil much faster.

Try to keep it in the shade when you are serving otherwise put a large bowl under the bowl with the salad in it and then put ice in that bowl to keep it cold longer.

How to Store Leftovers

You can safely store this macaroni salad in the fridge for up to 5 days. Store in an airtight container to maximize freshness.

How can I reduce the sodium in Macaroni Salad?

To lower the sodium content in this pasta salad you can skip the seasoning salt. You can also sub out the onion salt for onion powder, but only use 1/4 tsp or just skip it all together and add in fresh diced purple onions!

Another easy way to reduce the sodium is to skip the celery salt and dice fresh celery and add that to the salad instead.

Can I substitute the mayo in this recipe for Macaroni Salad?

Yes! We recommended using half mayo and half non-fat Greek yogurt if you are trying to not use as much mayo. The flavor will change a bit but we think it’s still delicious!

Do you put egg in macaroni salad?

Adding hard boiled eggs to this quick and cold pasta salad is a great addition! Simply chop it up and gently fold it into the salad. We recommend 2-4 hardboiled eggs in this salad depending on how many you prefer.

Should you rinse macaroni when making macaroni salad?

Yes, rinsing it in cold water cool the macaroni down plus it will help stop the cooking progress, so your pasta doesn’t become overcooked and mushy. Another great thing is it takes some of the starch off the pasta which prevents it from sticking together or clumping.

How do I keep macaroni from absorbing mayonnaise?

After the macaroni is done cooking run it under cold water to cool it off. Then place it in the refrigerator to cool it down completely. After it’s cooled the mix your dressing and macaroni together. A cooled macaroni will absorb the mayonnaise slower.

More Salad Recipes For A Crowd!

• Taco Salad
• Best Ever Potato Salad
• Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
• Bacon Ranch Potato Salad
• Italian Pasta Salad

Serving Suggestions

• Crock Pot Pulled Pork
• Asian Steak Kabobs
• Crock Pot Hot Ham & Cheese Sandwiches