Best Macaroni Salad Recipe

4.89 from 90 votes

Posted: 05/24/19 Updated: 10/11/21

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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. Our favorite ad-ins in macaroni salad are peas, cubed ham and shredded cheese but the options are endless depending on your taste buds.

A few of our favorite dishes to pair with this Macaroni salad are firing up the smoker and making our famous Honey Garlic Ribs, Grilled BBQ Tenderloin on the grill or Balsamic Steak Skewers. For your sweet teeth make sure to finish this meal out with Strawberry Upside Down Cake!

PIN IT FOR LATER!

Easy Macaroni Salad

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.

The hubby has requested this salad since were married I think. I had some leftover ham in the fridge after making One Pot Ham & Penne Skillet so I decided to attempt this recipe. It really wasn’t an “attempt” as it’s a pretty simple recipe, but this was round two on it!

The first time I made this I didn’t have his mother’s recipe and he just didn’t think it tasted right so after that I learned, always get the original! I bugged his sister and she delivered so I had the actual recipe this time

Macaroni Salad Ingredients

These are the ingredients you will need to make this!

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 with this macaroni salad. 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.

Bowl with ingredients for pasta salad dressing

How to Make Macaroni Salad

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

More great ad-ins for your salad!

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

This would be perfect for all your summer grilling and time at the lake!

This has also became one of my favorite salads to serve at my kid’s birthday parties. The bowl is always cleaned out by the end of the party so it’s a staple in my rotation, plus my girls love to sneak into the fridge and grab some before the party even starts.

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 macaroni salad in it and then put ice in that bowl to keep it cold longer.

How Long Can I Store Macaroni Salad in the Fridge?

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 macaroni 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 easy macaroni 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.

Why is my macaroni salad bland?

Make sure you season it enough. Start by seasoning your pasta water with salt. Then when you mix your salad dressing taste it as you develop it. Our macaroni salad dressing gets a ton of flavor from the seasoned salt, celery salt etc. so you won’t have a bland macaroni salad at the end!

White plate with macaroni salad and slice of pork

More salad recipes for a crowd!

What should I serve with Easy Macaroni Salad?

I love bringing this to potlucks and serving it at parties, plus it makes a great side dish to summer meals! Here are a few of my favorite recipes to pair with this Macaroni Salad.

MORE GREAT RECIPES TO TRY!

Meet Julie Evink

I'm here to help you win in the kitchen again! Life is Busy, Life is Crazy, but that doesn't mean you can't make your family dinner! Julie's goal is to provide you with easy, family, friendly recipes that use pantry staples. Dinnertime will be stress free again!