Easy Macaroni Salad, a classic favorite, is known for its simplicity and versatility. With tender pasta, crisp vegetables, and creamy dressing, it's perfect for any occasion, from picnics to barbecues.
Jump to:
Why This Recipe Works
- Quick and Simple: This macaroni salad recipe is straightforward and perfect for beginners or a quick meal.
- Versatile Side Dish: Easy Macaroni Salad pairs well with BBQ, sandwiches or as a standalone light lunch.
- Customizable: Add your favorite veggies or proteins to make it your own unique dish.
📋 Ingredients
- Elbow Macaroni Noodles: The base of the easy macaroni salad, providing a chewy texture and neutral flavor that carries the other ingredients.
- Red Onion: Adds a touch of sharpness and crunch, enhancing the overall texture and taste.
- Green and Red Bell Peppers: Contribute a sweet, slightly tangy flavor and vibrant color, making the salad more appealing.
- Fresh Carrot: Introduces a crunchy texture and sweet taste that complements the other ingredients.
- Mayonnaise: Acts as the creamy binder for the pasta salad, giving it a rich and smooth texture.
- Dijon Mustard: Brings a tangy and spicy note that cuts through the richness of the mayonnaise and balances the flavors.
- Salt and Black Pepper: To enhance the overall flavor profile, highlighting each individual ingredient of this classic macaroni salad.
For the complete list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
🔀 Substitutions & Variations
- Creamy Upgrade With Sour Cream: Change your macaroni salad by substituting mayonnaise with velvety sour cream or infuse richness by blending half sour cream and half mayonnaise for a delectable homemade twist.
🔪How To Make Easy Macaroni Salad?
Cook macaroni to al dente according to package directions, drain and rinse. Transfer to large bowl, let cool.
While macaroni cooks and cools, chop red onion, bell peppers, parsley and dice carrot, set aside.
Add red onion, bell peppers, parsley, carrot, mayonnaise, mustard and salt and pepper to macaroni. Mix well, refrigerate until cool.
Serve your creamy macaroni salad cold or at room temperature.
👩🍳 Expert Tips
- Extra Veggies: Add blanched frozen peas, chopped green onions, and diced cucumbers for a crunchy and fresh addition.
- Balancing Flavors with Vinegar: To balance the flavors of the dressing, consider adding a dash of apple cider vinegar.
💭 FAQs
Traditional macaroni salad uses elbow macaroni, but you can experiment with other small pasta shapes.
Rinse cooked macaroni under cold water to stop the cooking process and maintain texture.
If you have any leftovers, you can transfer them to an airtight container and refrigerate them until you're ready to serve. You can also make macaroni salad ahead of time and refrigerate it for up to 2 days. I would really recommend adding the macaroni salad dressing and the veggies towards the end, or a few hours before you intend to serve, to get the best flavor, texture and color.
If the salad tastes too tangy, consider reducing the amount of vinegar or mustard in the dressing. You can also add a bit more sugar to balance the flavors.
To prevent sticking, rinse the cooked pasta under cold water to cool it down and remove excess starch. Tossing the pasta with a bit of oil before mixing it with the dressing can also help.
Serving Suggestions
These are my favorite side dishes to serve with Macaroni Salad:
- Instant Pot Whole Chicken: Cook seasoned whole chicken until tender, shred or carve, and serve with easy macaroni salad.
- Instant Pot Salmon: Cook seasoned salmon until tender, flake, and serve with homemade macaroni salad.
- Instant Pot BBQ Ribs: Cook seasoned ribs with BBQ sauce until tender, finish under broiler, and serve with easy macaroni salad.
- Grilled Chicken: Pair your easy macaroni salad with grilled chicken for a satisfying and flavorful meal.
🍜 Related Recipes
Did you make this recipe? Leave a review and a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating below, or tag us in our Facebook Group! Alternatively, bookmark it in your browser or save to Pinterest.
Macaroni Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 16 oz. Elbow Macaroni Noodles
- ½ Red Onion
- 1 Green Bell Pepper
- 1 Red Bell Pepper
- ¼ cup Parsley fresh
- 1 Carrot
- ¾ cup Mayonnaise can use vegan mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon Dijon Mustard
- Salt and black Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook macaroni to al dente according to package directions, drain and rinse. Transfer to large bowl, let cool.
- While macaroni cooks and cools, chop red onion, bell peppers, parsley and dice carrot, set aside.
- Add red onion, bell peppers, parsley, carrot, mayonnaise, mustard and salt and pepper to macaroni. Mix well, refrigerate until cool.
- Serve your creamy macaroni salad cold or at room temperature.
Notes
Nutrition
Leave a reply