BEST EVER Macaroni Salad Recipe - Half-Scratched (2024)

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Who knew classic macaroni salad could be incredibly easy AND incredibly delicious? This easy macaroni salad is the BEST EVER macaroni salad with the perfect blend of veggies and creamy dressing.

BEST EVER Macaroni Salad Recipe - Half-Scratched (1)

When I say this easy macaroni salad is the best ever macaroni salad, I'm not exaggerating. Of course, I guess that depends on your definition of "the best."

For me, the definition of "the best macaroni salad" is when a classic macaroni salad recipe is easy, requires "normal" ingredients, comes together quickly. and is a total hit... especially with your dad.

And that's saying a lot because my dad is kinda (super) picky.

BEST EVER Macaroni Salad Recipe - Half-Scratched (2)

This creamy macaroni salad is all of the above. Although the recipe has 10 ingredients on the list, half of those ingredients are for the dressing.

Macaroni salad dressing ingredients so don't count.

BEST EVER Macaroni Salad Recipe - Half-Scratched (3)

You won't find anything fancy in this creamy, easy macaroni salad although one of the dressing ingredients might surprise you. But then again, surprises often lead to super tasty dishes, which makes this the perfect dish for family picnics and backyard get-togethers.

Note: I like to use half Splenda in place of the sugar to cut down on calories while keeping all the taste in this classic macaroni salad. You could totally try using full Splenda; if you do, let me know how it goes!

BEST EVER Macaroni Salad Recipe - Half-Scratched (4)

I made this classic macaroni salad for our Mother's Day dinner at my mom's and it was very well received (i.e., we all had seconds). I left my dad some leftovers and they were gone by the next day.

I consider that a winning recipe!

I don't know about you, but I find summer isn't complete without macaroni salads, pasta salads, and potato salads. That's in addition to grilled burgers, hot dogs, chicken, ribs...

This shrimp pasta salad is a pretty dang good option for backyard barbecues, and creamy bacon broccoli salad is always a hit!

BEST EVER Macaroni Salad Recipe - Half-Scratched (5)

Did I mention you also need corn on the cob, chips, watermelon, and all kinds of desserts including this cherry pie salad my family always inhales?

This is why I love summer so very, very much. It's all about the food.

Best Ever Macaroni Salad

Yield: 12

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Chill Time: 4 hours

Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes

Who knew macaroni salad could be incredibly easy AND incredibly delicious? This macaroni salad has the perfect blend of veggies and creamy dressing.

Ingredients

1 (16-ounces) box macaroni pasta
1 small yellow onion, diced
½ green bell pepper, seeded and diced
½ red bell pepper, seeded and diced
1 cup diced celery
2 cups mayonnaise
1 (14-ounces) can sweetened condensed milk
¼ cup sugar or Splenda
½ cup white vinegar
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Cook pasta according to package directions for al dente pasta. Drain and rinse with cold water; set aside.
In a large bowl whisk together mayonnaise, sweetened condensed milk, sugar, and vinegar. Add pasta and toss to coat. Add onion, peppers, and celery and mix thoroughly. Dressing will look thin but will thicken as it refrigerates.
Refrigerate at least 4 hours before serving. (Refrigerating overnight is best!)

Notes

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Nutrition Information:

Yield: 12Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 321Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 8mgSodium: 480mgCarbohydrates: 59gFiber: 1gSugar: 30gProtein: 8g

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Reader Interactions

Comments

Tiffany
June 13, 2017 at 2:16 pm
How many does this recipe serve?
Reply
- Emily Hill
  June 14, 2017 at 9:17 pm
  Great question! So sorry I forgot to include that in the recipe. It serves about 10 to 12. I made it for a get-together where we had about 6 adults and 2 kids and had leftovers. :)
  Reply
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Brian
April 03, 2018 at 12:07 am
I love the sound of this, so simple and so many great flavours.
Reply
- Emily Hill
  April 03, 2018 at 12:42 am
  The flavor is unbeatable!
  Reply
Veena Azmanov
April 03, 2018 at 3:12 am
Oh, this MACARONI SALAD looks incredible! This is the perfect lunch for me and my family. I like all the ingredients that come in this salad! I definitely want to try this! Thank you for sharing this great recipe!
Reply
- Emily Hill
  April 03, 2018 at 5:21 pm
  I hope you do try it. It's one of my family's favorite dishes!
  Reply
Dannii
April 03, 2018 at 3:16 am
This would be the perfect side dish for a summer bbq party. I bet it wouldn’t last long with our friends.
Reply
- Emily Hill
  April 03, 2018 at 5:21 pm
  It never does!
  Reply
Sarah
April 03, 2018 at 5:01 am
This looks PERFECT!! BBQ season is just about to start...and I know what I'll be bringing each and every time!! Everyone will love it, especially me!!!! Thanks for sharing!
Reply
- Emily Hill
  April 03, 2018 at 5:21 pm
  It really is a crowd pleaser!
  Reply
Claudia
April 03, 2018 at 5:13 am
sounds like I know what our future picnic side dish will be ! This is perfect!
Reply
- Emily Hill
  April 03, 2018 at 5:20 pm
  I hope you make it and like it!
  Reply
Tania | Fit Foodie Nutter
April 03, 2018 at 5:29 am
Such a great and delicious crowd pleaser! Will be a good one to add to the summer BBQ season too:)
See Also
Andouille and Dijon Polenta Recipe on Food52
Reply
- Emily Hill
  April 03, 2018 at 5:20 pm
  For sure! It's always a hit!
  Reply
DisappointedDaisy
May 27, 2018 at 4:53 pm
This is soooo sweet my family and I can’t even eat it. It should really be called dessert macaroni salad...if anyone is even into that. I was sceptapacle about the sweet condensed milk but I gave it a try. Turns out it’s really not a smart idea.
Reply
- Emily Hill
  May 29, 2018 at 2:19 pm
  So sorry you didn't like it! It is definitely on the sweeter side, so if you prefer something more tart, for sure try a different recipe.
  Reply
- Judy
  August 20, 2018 at 5:28 pm
  Leave out the sugar. You get a little of the bite from the vinegar and onions.
  Reply
  - Emily Hill
    August 20, 2018 at 7:56 pm
    I'll definitely have to try that next time!
    Reply
Wini
October 01, 2018 at 4:28 pm
I made this and now all my friends call asking me to make it , they say best salad they ever had
Reply
- Emily Hill
  October 01, 2018 at 4:37 pm
  Yay! I'm so glad everyone liked it!
  Reply
Beth McFarland
December 27, 2018 at 12:08 pm
I was looking for something a little different that the usual side dishes and ran across this recipe. This is, hands down, the BEST macaroni salad I have ever made. This will be for now and ever more my "go to". Thank you for sharing it!
Beth
Reply
- Emily Hill
  December 27, 2018 at 12:16 pm
  Yay! I'm so glad you like it!
  Reply
A Paldi
June 24, 2019 at 5:18 pm
Sorry but this recipe was off the charts way too sweet.
I wanted to like it but it was not good. I didn’t even add all the sugar it called for.
Reply
- Emily Hill
  June 25, 2019 at 8:48 am
  It is VERY sweet. I've scaled it back to about 1/4 cup sugar when I make it. I may adjust the recipe. Thanks for your feedback!
  Reply
Susan Harris
August 22, 2019 at 2:07 pm
My family and I absolutely love this macaroni salad! It is sweet but that's why it. Is so good. Everybody wants me to bring my special salad. Thanks so much!
Reply
- Emily Hill
  August 22, 2019 at 2:13 pm
  Yay! I'm so glad your family likes it!!
  Reply
Juanita Allard
January 21, 2020 at 2:58 pm
I have used this recipie for years and it never disappoints. It is delicious! However I do use more vinegar in mine than this recipie calls for necause I like mine with a little more tang.
Reply
- Emily Hill
  January 21, 2020 at 3:42 pm
  That's a totally great tweak! My husband likes a bit more vinegar too. :)
  Reply
Bennita Barnett
May 21, 2020 at 4:26 pm
I've made this several times and it is always a BIG hit. I sometimes add chopped tomatoes or bacon or substitute mini sweet peppers. I'm sure some small chopped broccoli would be good as well. This is very versatile and keeps fresh in the refrigerator for several days - if it lasts that long. I have passed this recipe on to my friends! Thank you!
Reply
- Emily Hill
  May 21, 2020 at 4:46 pm
  Yay! I love the idea of adding bacon and mini sweet peppers!
  Reply
- Jeff Getz
  May 29, 2023 at 4:33 pm
  Great recipe. If it’s too sweet then use less sugar.
  Reply
Kelley
August 04, 2021 at 2:16 pm
Love this recipe ..I add hard cooked eggs
Reply
Debbie
August 09, 2021 at 9:21 pm
This was really yummy 😋 I didn't add so much condensed milk. I just added some then stirred and some more at the end !! It was AMAZING !!!
Reply
Channa
June 24, 2023 at 5:06 pm
I always add chopped hard boiled eggs, little bit of shredded cheese and shredded carrots. That’s how my mom used to make it! Definitely a crowd favorite.
Reply

BEST EVER Macaroni Salad Recipe - Half-Scratched (2024)

FAQs

Why does my macaroni salad not stay creamy? ›

The key to keeping macaroni salad from drying out is the pasta. If you don't cook it enough, the pasta won't grab on to the dressing and will dry out. If you overcook the pasta, it will be completely soggy and gross. Cook the pasta just right, and your macaroni salad will stay perfectly creamy.

Get More Info Here ›

Why is my macaroni salad bland? ›

Not seasoning the pasta enough.

The last thing you want is a bland pasta salad. → Follow this tip: To make sure your pasta salad is well-seasoned and flavorful, it's best to start seasoning early. The best time to do this is right out of the gate when you're cooking the pasta.

How do you keep macaroni salad from getting watery? ›

Why is my macaroni salad runny? There are usually two culprits — not draining off wet ingredients and/or adding too many watery vegetables. For this macaroni salad recipe with egg, cook the noodles first so they have plenty of time to drain.

Learn More ›

How do you make macaroni creamy again? ›

The #1 secret to creamy reheated mac and cheese

"Stir in about 2 Tbs. of milk per 1 cup of mac and cheese and reheat," he says. The milk loosens up the pasta and helps create the creamy sauce as it's reheating. Heavy cream works well in this case too and adds an extra touch of richness to the mac and cheese.

Read The Full Story ›

Should you rinse macaroni when making macaroni salad? ›

Moral of the story: Regardless of whether the dish you're making is going to be served warm or you're making a cold pasta salad, do not rinse your pasta. Your final dish will be that much more delicious, and you won't be undoing the flavors and texture that you've worked to build during the cooking process.

Find Out More ›

What makes macaroni taste better? ›

8 Ways to Elevate Your Macaroni and Cheese Dinners

Add extra cheese to your dish.
Mix in some hot sauce and chicken to make buffalo chicken mac n' cheese.
Add in vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower and spinach.
Sprinkle some bacon bits or breadcrumbs on the top of your dish.
Add spices and fresh herbs to your dish.

More items...

May 21, 2022

How do you fix bland macaroni? ›

Try adding a little more salt first, because that might fix it. If the problem was the cheese you use doesn't have much flavor, then try adding some other flavors, such has mustard or hot sauce.

Explore More ›

How do you make macaroni less bland? ›

Here are some simple tips to enhance the taste of dry pasta:

Add salt to the cooking water: While boiling the pasta, add a generous amount of salt to the water. ...
Use a flavorful sauce: A delicious sauce can elevate the taste of the pasta.

More items...

Feb 25, 2022

How do you keep macaroni salad from absorbing mayonnaise? ›

Chill Ingredients: Make sure that all the ingredients, including the cooked macaroni, are completely cooled before adding the mayonnaise. Warm ingredients can cause the mayonnaise to break down. Add Mayonnaise Gradually: Instead of adding all the mayonnaise at once, add it gradually.

Read On ›

What keeps macaroni moist? ›

Keep baked macaroni and cheese moist by adding plenty of milk and not too much flour.

Get More Info ›

How do you fix a watery salad? ›

If neither more tuna, potatoes, nor eggs solves the problem, it's time to consider mixing in super dry, starchy ingredients. To soak up liquids like a sponge, pantry staples like pasta or even croutons are complete game-changers that will restore a soggy salad.

View Details ›

Why do Hawaiians eat so much macaroni salad? ›

It's said that Hawaiian macaroni salad made its way onto the plate lunch once Europeans introduced dry elbow macaroni and mayonnaise to the islands. Locals quickly adopted these ingredients because mac salad was affordable, not perishable (unlike a potato salad), and easy to make at home.

Show Me More ›

Why is it called Russian salad? ›

Russian salad was originally called Oliver salad based on the Moscow-based Belgian chef who invented it. During the 20th century, the dish spread throughout Europe and adopted the name Russian salad.

Read On ›

Is macaroni salad better the next day? ›

Yes, macaroni salad makes a great make-ahead potluck dish. In fact, since the flavors need time to meld in the refrigerator, it might actually be better to make it a day or two in advance.

Learn More ›

Why is my pasta salad not creamy? ›

When it comes to making a cold, creamy pasta salad, keep these tips in mind: When you cook the pasta, undercook it slightly. I follow the package directions and set my timer for a minute or two before it should be done. Then, I rinse the pasta under cold water before tossing it with the salad dressing.

Tell Me More ›

How do you keep macaroni from absorbing mayo? ›

Tossing the pasta with oil will reduce the absorption, by coating them in a water-repellent layer. Beyond this, the solution is simple: don't drain as much water from the cooked pasta, and add more dressing.