Creamy Macaroni Salad - Spend With Pennies

This macaroni salad recipe is a classic side dish for good reason.

Tender elbow macaroni is mixed with a handful of add-ins and tossed in a super easy 2-minute dressing.

Perfect for potlucks, picnics, or BBQs – it’s fast to make and best made ahead of time.

An Easy Make-Ahead Side Dish

Macaroni noodles hold a special place in my heart from mac and cheese or topped with rouladen gravy, and of course in a macaroni salad.

You can (and should) prepare macaroni salad ahead of time for the best flavor.
It’s budget-friendly and you likely have the ingredients on hand.
It’s super fast to put together and versatile (see notes below).
It’s so versatile; use any short pasta and change up the add-ins.

Ingredients for Creamy Macaroni Salad on a pan

Macaroni Salad Ingredients

The best macaroni salad recipes are simple, tasty, and budget-friendly!

Pasta – I use elbow macaroni but any small pasta will work.

Add-ins – I keep this relatively simple but feel free to try any of the variations below to create your own macaroni salad recipe! I like to add celery, shredded carrot, red bell peppers, and red onion.

Variations

Fresh – fresh parsley or fresh dill
Bold – cheese, bacon bits, diced ham, dill pickles,
Savory – garlic powder, boiled eggs
Sweet – baby peas, sweet bell peppers, sweet pickles, or extra pickle relish

macaroni salad ingredients in a glass bowl

Quick Macaroni Salad Dressing

This macaroni salad dressing really fast to make. You can also swap it for your favorite creamy dressing or coleslaw dressing.

mayonnaise as the base
vinegar (white or cider vinegar) for tang
sweet pickle relish and a pinch of sugar or sweet pickle juice
prepared or Dijon mustard, salt & pepper for flavor

To lighten up the dressing, you can substitute half of the mayo for Greek yogurt.

The basic ratio for macaroni salad: (full recipe below)

½ lb elbow macaroni (or any short pasta)
about 2 cups add-ins
1 cup dressing

Of course, you can add more or less of any of these ingredients to your liking. Keep in mind that some of the dressing will soak into the pasta as it chills in the fridge, so be generous when adding dressing.

How to Make Macaroni Salad

Cook Pasta: Boil, drain, and cool the macaroni per the recipe below.
Prepare Add-Ins: While the macaroni is boiling, chop the veggies or add-ins.
Mix & Chill: Mix the dressing ingredients and toss with the macaroni and add-ins.

Prep Macaroni Salad Ahead

This macaroni salad recipe is best when chilled for an hour or two before serving. This allows the flavors to blend and the dressing to thicken and soak into the pasta. It can be made up to 24 hours before serving.

Since the dressing soaks in, dress it generously. Before serving, stir it and then garnish it with a sprinkle of paprika and fresh herbs if you’d like.

Tips for The Best Macaroni Salad

Elbows can be swapped for ditalini, small shells, or wagon wheels.
Dice the add-ins about the size of the macaroni.
Rinse the pasta after draining to stop it from cooking.
Mix the dressing directly in the salad bowl and then add the other ingredients, one less dish to wash!
Store leftovers in the fridge in a covered container for up to 4 days.

More Easy Sides

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Classic Creamy Macaroni Salad

This classic macaroni salad is creamy & flavorful! Elbow macaroni and a handful of add-ins in a simple homemade dressing.

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Chill Time 1 hour

Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes

Author Holly Nilsson

In a large pot, cook the elbow macaroni according to the instructions on the package. Do not overcook. Drain well and rinse it under cold water to stop cooking.
While the pasta is cooking, combine the dressing ingredients in a small bowl. Mix well.
In a large bowl, add the cooled macaroni, the dressing, celery, carrots, red pepper, and onion. Mix well. Taste and add additional salt and pepper if desired.
Refrigerate the macaroni salad for at least 1 to 2 hours before serving.

*You will need 2 to 2 ½ cups of add-ins. Use the list above for a basic macaroni salad or change them to your liking. Other favorite add-ins include pickles, olives, ham, sweet peas, and cheddar cheese.

Elbows can be swapped for ditalini, small shells, or wagon wheels.
Dice the add-ins about the size of the macaroni.
Rinse the pasta after draining to stop it from cooking.
Mix the dressing directly in the salad bowl and then add the other ingredients, one less dish to wash!
Store leftovers in the fridge in a covered container for up to 4 days.

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Pasta, Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine American

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Can you freeze macaroni salad?

Sadly, it does not freeze well.

How long is macaroni salad good for?

Macaroni salad is best made ahead of time, which makes it party perfect. Leftovers will keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

What to eat with macaroni salad?

We love to serve macaroni salad as a side for anything off the grill! Bbq chicken, hot dogs, or hamburgers are great options. It’s also is a great dish to serve with pulled pork.