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Home » Blog » Side Dish Recipes » Classic Macaroni Salad

Classic Macaroni Salad

Cathy Roma Published: Aug 22, 2022

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You'll love this easy recipe for creamy, classic macaroni salad, the perfect addition to your backyard bbq!
You’ll love this easy recipe for creamy, classic macaroni salad. The perfect addition to your backyard bbq!
Classic Macaroni Salad in a glass bowl on a wood board garnished with parsley.

For me, summer meals translate to easy recipes, best shared outside around a picnic table like this classic macaroni salad. I abandon my oven for the grill and pair grilled fish, chicken, and burgers with summery sides and chilled glasses of crisp white wine and lemonade.

This recipe for classic macaroni salad is a nod to the macaroni salads of my youth, but with a little twist. I boiled up some elbow macaroni and tossed it with crunchy celery, fresh herbs, and green onions.

The dressing is mayonnaise-based, with a pop of acid from apple cider vinegar, and some added oomph from chopped dill pickles and spoon of stone-ground mustard. 

Classic Macaroni Salad in a glass bowl on a wood board garnished with parsley.

While I like a mayonnaise dressing for macaroni salad, I don’t want it swimming in it. The sour cream, mustard, and vinegar cut through that richness while still keeping the salad creamy.

Dill pickles are my favorite addition, but you could use bread and butter pickles or even a couple of spoons of pickle relish if you prefer. 

I also love a bit of texture, and celery gives this macaroni salad just the crunch I’m craving. A pinch of celery seed amps up the celery flavor and those along with the mustard seeds give the salad a pretty fleck. 

Whether you’re hosting a backyard gathering, heading to a potluck dinner, or simply looking for an easy summer side for a weeknight, be sure to add this classic macaroni salad to the list! It’s sure to become a favorite in your house too!

Let’s make Classic Macaroni Salad

Step by step photos showing how to make classic macaroni salad. Gather ingredients (1), combine ingredients (2), mix everything together (3).
  1. Gather all of your ingredients for the macaroni salad. 
  2. Combine the cooked macaroni with the celery, parsley, pickles, and green onion in one bowl. Combine the remaining ingredients in another bowl and whisk together.
  3. Combine the wet and dry ingredients, tossing well. Serve immediately or hold in the refrigerator for up to three days.

Close up shot of classic macaroni salad garnished with parsley.

Tips for success

  • I love elbow macaroni for purely nostalgic reasons, but you can use mini shells, farfalle, orecchiette or your favorite pasta to mix it up.
  • Cook your pasta al dente so it doesn’t turn too mushy after you combine it with the mayo dressing.
  • Be sure to cool the macaroni to room temperature before combining with the mayo dressing so it doesn’t break down or curdle.
  • Feel free to play around with your favorite additions to this macaroni salad. Try crispy bacon, chopped hardboiled eggs, diced ham, or shredded cheese. 

More Summery Sides and Salads

  • Grilled Corn and Peach Salad
  • Italian Pasta Salad
  • Greek Farro Salad
  • Plum Caprese Salad
  • Grilled Peach Salad with Honey Vinaigrette 
  • Roasted Fingerling Potato Salad with Green Beans
Classic Macaroni Salad in a glass bowl on a wood board garnished with parsley.
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Classic Macaroni Salad in a glass bowl on a wood board garnished with parsley.
Print
Classic Macaroni Salad
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
30 mins
 

You’ll love this easy recipe for creamy, classic macaroni salad. The perfect addition to your backyard bbq!

Course: Side Dish, Side Dish/Salad
Cuisine: American
Keyword: macaroni salad, pasta salad
Servings: 8 Servings
Calories: 445 kcal
Author: Cathy Roma | What Should I Make For…
Ingredients
  • 1 lb elbow macaroni, cooked according to pkg directions and cooled to room temp (1 box)
  • 2 cups celery, chopped (about 4 stalks)
  • 4 green onion, chopped (white and pale green parts only)
  • 1/2 cup fresh parsley, minced
  • 1/2 cup dill pickles, chopped small
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/4 cup stone ground mustard (or your favorite mustard)
  • 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • black pepper to taste
  • 1/2 tsp celery seed (optional)
Instructions
  1. Combine the cooked and cooled macaroni, celery, green onion, parsley, and chopped pickles in a large bowl.

  2. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, mustard, vinegar, sugar, salt, pepper and celery seed (if using).

  3. Combine the macaroni mixture and mayo mixture and mix well. Serve immediately or store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Recipe Notes
  • I love elbow macaroni for purely nostalgic reasons, but you can use mini shells, farfalle, orecchiette or your favorite pasta to mix it up.
  • Cook your pasta al dente so it doesn’t turn too mushy after you combine it with the mayo dressing.
  • Be sure to cool the macaroni to room temperature before combining with the mayo dressing so it doesn’t break down or curdle.
  • Feel free to play around with your favorite additions to this macaroni salad. Try crispy bacon, chopped hardboiled eggs, diced ham, or shredded cheese. 
Nutrition Facts
Classic Macaroni Salad
Amount Per Serving
Calories 445 Calories from Fat 225
% Daily Value*
Fat 25g38%
Saturated Fat 5g31%
Cholesterol 19mg6%
Sodium 673mg29%
Potassium 274mg8%
Carbohydrates 45g15%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 3g3%
Protein 8g16%
Vitamin A 615IU12%
Vitamin C 7.2mg9%
Calcium 60mg6%
Iron 1.4mg8%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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Recipe, Side Dish Recipes macaroni salad, pasta salad, american, pot luck, mayo, bbq, mayonnaise dressing, easy, salad, side dish, summer, macaroni

About Cathy Roma

My food philosophy is simple: everything in moderation. Sweet, savory, healthy, decadent…food, like life, is all about balance. I rely on my background as a trained chef/mom to create family-friendly recipes that will inspire you to cook, not complicate your life.

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HEY THERE, I’M CATHY.

My food philosophy is simple: everything in moderation. Sweet, savory, healthy, decadent…food, like life, is all about balance. I rely on my background as a trained chef/mom to create family-friendly recipes that will inspire you to cook, not complicate your life.

Learn More about Cathy

Subscribe now to receive my exclusive guide of How to Stock a Pantry delivered straight to your inbox!

Join the What Should I Make For... Community to learn what to cook to when to achieve a happier, more balanced life.

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