The Best Macaroni Salad Ever
Typically, I’m not a fan of classic Macaroni Salad. However, my mom’s mac salad recipe is the exception. The ingredients are fresh and colorful and it tastes amazing! We would always have this at family picnics or trips to the lake. It is also a perfect side dish for Easter dinner or a BBQ on the 4th of July. In fact, this recipe appears at so many of our family functions, it definitely gets the stamp of family favorite!
Ingredients in Macaroni Salad
Elbow macaroniMayonnaiseMustardSour creamApple cider vinegarSugarKosher saltGround black pepperHamCheddar cheeseFrozen peasCarrotsCucumberGreen onions
What Kind of Pasta is Best For Macaroni Salad?
Obviously, elbow macaroni is the preferred pasta for macaroni salad. However, sometimes it’s fun to switch things up a bit. Any small pasta shape will work. I especially like elbows and shells because they catch little pockets of dressing that are oh-so-yummy! Here are some more pasta ideas for macaroni salad:
CavatappiFarfalle (Bowtie)RotiniDitaliniRotelle (Wagon Wheel)
Additional Mix-In Ideas
The great thing about this salad is that you can switch up the macaroni salad ingredients depending on what you have in the fridge and what your family will eat. Usually, we start with ham, cheese, and peas and go from there. Additionally, some other mix-in ideas include:
Red bell peppersGreen peppersDiced tomatoesGrape or cherry tomatoes cut in halfBaby cornCeleryRed onionDill picklesSweet picklesSweet pickle relishFresh parsleyCapers
Tips for Making Macaroni Salad
I like to make this salad a day ahead and let it chill overnight. This gives the flavors a chance to blend.When making ahead, store in Ziplock bags until ready to serve, this way you save on dishes too.If it seems a little dry when ready to serve, just add a splash of milk before serving and stir for a few minutes.If you don’t want to make the full thing ahead of time, just making the macaroni salad dressing can save you time later (mayo, mustard, sour cream, vinegar, sugar, pepper, and salt).Depending on your tastes, you can add in or substitute ingredients to the dressing as well. Dijon mustard can be used instead of yellow mustard. Garlic powder, onion powder, lemon juice, and other seasonings can add flavors to your taste.
Frequently Asked Questions
We have had such a great response to this macaroni salad recipe. We love getting comments from our readers! Since a lot of questions have been asked multiple times below, we thought we would answer them all up here! Read Next: Best BBQ Side Dishes
Looking for More Great Pasta Salad Recipes?
If you want to check out more ideas for macaroni salad, check out our Hawaiian Mac Salad. This is an authentic macaroni salad recipe from when I lived in Hawaii and it is perfect for luaus! You can also try our Creamy Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad. You basically can’t go wrong with bacon.
Southwest Pasta Salad – a pasta salad with a yummy BBQ ranch flavor.Authentic Hawaiian Macaroni Salad – perfect with Hawaiian dishes like Kalua pork.Creamy Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad – great for BBQ’s.Pizza Pasta Salad – a kid favorite! Loaded with pepperoni, tomatoes, olives, mozzarella and parmesan cheese.Light Greek Pasta Salad – a savory salad with greek dressing.Layered Pasta Salad – a colorful side dish with layers of ham, eggs, salami, veggies, and cheese.Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad – a traditional salad and turned into a hearty and delicious meal.Shrimp Pasta Salad – fresh shrimp and tender pasta in a vibrant lemon dill sauce.
How to Make Mom’s Macaroni Salad
Creamy Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
Pizza Pasta Salad
Authentic Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
Southwest Pasta Salad
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