Beloved by grown-ups and kiddos alike, creamy macaroni salad is a must-have dish at barbecues, picnics and potlucks. It’s one of those basic recipes that shouldn’t taste as good as it does. I mean, cold pasta shouldn’t really be that exciting! But combine tender noodles with crunchy veggies and a spiced mayonnaise-based dressing, and the whole becomes much greater than its parts.
This is our best creamy macaroni salad recipe, partly because of its incredible flavor and partly because it’s easy to put together. The dish combines cooked elbow pasta with a creamy dressing and a few fresh veggies. We think it tastes fantastic as written, but (as with most pasta salad recipes for a crowd) it’s also easy to customize to your heart’s content.
Creamy Macaroni Salad Ingredients
- Elbow macaroni: Easy-to-find elbows are common in pasta salads, but you can use any short pasta shape, like rotini, penne, farfalle, twisty cavatappi or wagon-wheel-shaped rotelle.
- Mayonnaise: Use reduced-fat mayo to keep the calorie content low, or swap in full-fat mayo for a richer flavor. Here’s our take on the best mayonnaise brands.
- Milk: Milk thins out the dressing to perfectly coat each noodle. Feel free to substitute water if you don’t have milk on hand.
- Red wine vinegar: Vinegar brings zing to the salad dressing. If you need a red wine vinegar substitute, use white wine, sherry or cider vinegar.
- Sugar and seasonings: Sugar, garlic powder, salt and pepper add bold flavor and bring the salad dressing to the next level. Make sure to taste the dressing after seasoning it, and add more of anything you think it needs.
- Bell pepper: We use a combination of green pepper and a colorful bell pepper (like yellow, orange or red) to give the pasta salad a beautiful confetti-style look.
- Onion: You can choose a yellow, white or red onion for this creamy macaroni salad recipe. Make sure to finely chop the onion, otherwise someone may end up with a large bite of the overpoweringly pungent veggie.
- Celery: Crisp celery adds a lovely crunchy element to nearly any cold and creamy dish. If you have big, tough stalks, try removing the strings with a vegetable peeler before you chop the celery.
- Parsley: I’m a fan of flat-leaf parsley, but curly parsley would work nicely here too. If you end up with extra, here are some ways to use up parsley.
Directions
Step 1: Cook the pasta
Cook the macaroni according to the package directions. Drain, rinse with cold water and drain again.
Editor’s Tip: Water can get trapped in the holes of the macaroni, so make sure to vigorously shake the colander to free any hidden droplets.
Step 2: Make the creamy dressing
In a small bowl, mix the mayonnaise, water, vinegar, sugar, salt, garlic powder and pepper until blended.
Step 3: Mix and chill the salad
In a large bowl, combine the cooled macaroni, peppers, onion and celery. Add 1 cup dressing and toss to coat. Refrigerate the salad, covered, until chilled, about two hours. Also, cover and refrigerate the remaining dressing.
Step 4: Finish and serve the creamy macaroni salad
When you’re ready to serve the salad, mix in the remaining dressing and sprinkle the salad with parsley.
Editor’s Tip:Â Now is a good time to taste the salad and decide if it needs more salt, pepper, vinegar or spice. Don’t be afraid to season it to your liking.
Recipe Variations
- Kick up the seasonings: This macaroni salad is creamy and comforting, but that doesn’t mean you can’t include bold additions to kick up the flavor. Try adding Dijon mustard, hot sauce, chipotle chili powder or Spanish smoked paprika.
- Turn it into a meal: Add protein to the salad by mixing in diced ham, pulled pork, canned tuna or salmon. You could also add some cheese, whether shredded or cubed. Serve the salad with a vegetable side dish for a complete meal.
- Add vegetables: Plenty of vegetables mesh well with the best creamy macaroni salad recipe, including peas, baby spinach, olives, shredded carrots, artichokes and roasted broccoli. Mix and match to find a combination that you love.
How to Store Creamy Macaroni Salad
Stored in a tightly covered container, macaroni salad can be kept in the fridge for up to four days. However, if it sits out at room temperature for more than two hours, it is no longer suitable for storage and should be discarded.
Can you make creamy macaroni salad ahead of time?
Creamy macaroni salad is a great make-ahead potluck recipe, as prepping it ahead of time gives the flavors time to meld and deepen. When making the salad a day ahead of time, go through Step 3 and store it in a covered container in the fridge. Then, add the remaining dressing and the parsley directly before serving as directed.
Creamy Macaroni Salad Tips
Why isn’t the macaroni salad creamy?
Macaroni salad won’t be creamy if the noodles are waterlogged when the salad is mixed. Excess water will thin the dressing and make it less creamy, so make sure the pasta is well-drained. Water can get trapped in the holes of a tubular pasta shape like macaroni, so shake the colander or sieve a few times to free all the water.
What mistakes should you avoid when making macaroni salad?
Overcooking the pasta is the number one mistake most people make with creamy macaroni salad recipes. Instead, cook the noodles until they’re al dente, which means the pasta still has some bite left and isn’t mushy. Rinsing and cooling the macaroni before mixing it with the dressing is important too. The noodles will soak up more dressing if they’re hot, which can cause the salad to taste dry.
What can you serve with macaroni salad?
The best creamy macaroni salad recipe pairs beautifully with most quintessential picnic and barbecue dishes, such as barbecued picnic chicken, smoked brisket, tangy pulled pork sandwiches and maple baked beans. Any vinegary veggie dish (like southern vinegar slaw or sweet cucumber salad) would make a great companion side.
