Macaroni Salad | The Modern Proper (2024)

May 21, 2024

A super simple macaroni salad recipe for summer entertaining, potluck-bringing and all around feasting!

Photography by Gayle McLeod

A Classic, Creamy Macaroni Salad Recipe

From potlucks to picnics, old-fashioned macaroni salad is the best summer side dish! This classic, homemade macaroni salad recipe is much better than anything you could buy and goes especially perfectly with grilled Hawaiian favorites, like our Huli Huli Chicken. With a creamy, mayonnaise dressing, and not an egg in sight, our easy macaroni salad recipe will get you raves, all season long. Relish is our “secret” macaroni salad ingredient! It adds so much flavor and all you have to do is open a jar. For more summer side inspo, try our Potato Salad, or Classic Coleslaw! If you’re looking for a more wintery macaroni, try our Dairy Free Mac and Cheese recipe.

Simple Macaroni Salad Ingredients

• Elbow macaroni
• Mayonnaise
• Sugar
• Honey
• Onion powder
• Black pepper
• Carrots. If you want to use pre-shredded carrots, that’s OK!
• Sweet pickle relish
• Celery
• Scallions

How to Make Macaroni Salad From Scratch

1. Cook the elbow macaroni in a big pot of salted water. Drain it using your favorite colander, and rinse it with cold water to cool it down.
2. Whip up the best macaroni salad dressing! Just stir together the mayo, sugar, honey, onion powder, pepper, and salt in the bowl you plan to serve the mac salad in.
3. Chop the vegetables! Shred the carrots — if you’re not using pre-grated, use a box grater or a food processor to shred the carrots — and chop the celery and scallions.
4. Stir everything together!
5. Chill! Cover the macaroni salad and pop it in the fridge to chill.
6. Serve. Macaroni salad is a perfect partner for all of your summery favorites! We’re thinking BBQ Chicken, Pork Ribs, or Perfect Fried Chicken.

How To Store Macaroni Salad + Tips

• Can you freeze mac salad? Nope! Macaroni salad does not freeze well. Make it fresh, and enjoy!
• How long is macaroni salad good for? Mayo-based salads like macaroni salad need to stay in the fridge until you plan to serve them. Once that mac salad is out on the table, follow the “two-hour rule.” If it sits at room temperature for more than two hours, it’s time to toss anything left in the bowl. According to the FDA, you should also consider the temperature outside: "If the air temperature is above 90°F, the 'two-hour rule' becomes a one-hour rule.” It’s one of our favorite picnic food ideas, but definitely use your ice packs and super cooler.
• It’s a salad, so is macaroni salad healthy? Nice try. We wish! Macaroni salad is loaded with saturated fats and simple carbs, so it is not one of the healthy salads. If you’re looking for a healthy summer salad, we’ve got a whole round up of fave Summer Salad Recipes for you.
• Can you make macaroni salad ahead of time? Yes! Give yourself enough time to make the salad and let it chill for 30 minutes to an hour before serving for the best results. Macaroni salad will keep for a few days in the fridge, but we like to make it on the day we plan to serve it, so that everything tastes and looks bright and fresh.

More Classic Side Dish Recipes

• Mediterranean Pasta Salad
• Potato Salad
• Caprese Salad
• Watermelon Salad

Is This The Best Macaroni Salad Recipe Ever, Or What?

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