Cookout Side Dishes for Summer

 

Best Macaroni Salad Recipe

Macaroni Salad is a classic pasta salad with mayo, celery, pickle relish, onions, peas, hard boiled eggs, and just a hint of mustard. This Best Macaroni Salad recipe is the perfect side dish for summer and always a hit at parties, BBQs, and picnics.

Pair this easy Macaroni Salad recipe alongside other picnic favorites like Southern Potato Salad, Baked Macaroni and Cheese, and Tuna Pasta Salad.

Macaroni Salad Ingredients

• Elbow macaroni – We swear by Creamette brand. Make sure to grab the regular size and not the large elbows. Small shells or the tiny ditalini work too. 
• Sweet pickle relish – make sure you get the sweet kind and not dill. Although dill pickles would be a fine addition, we prefer the little bit of sweetness. 
• Celery – because you gotta have some crunch!
• Onion – just a little and diced really fine. 
• Peas – Ok, this is where things get a little dicey. Not everyone likes peas, myself included, but they really pop (pun intended!) in this pasta salad.
• Mayonnaise – This mac salad is mayo-based, but it’s not so heavy with the stuff that it’s all you can taste. It’s what makes this salad so creamy and delicious.
• Mustard – for a little bit of tang. I use regular yellow mustard (it’s a classic) or dijon mustard.
• Hard boiled eggs – We always have hard boiled eggs in our fridge because my husband eats them almost every day. Make them yourself using that easy recipe or buy a package at the store.

How to Make the Best Macaroni Salad

Be sure to check the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions.

1. Cook the pasta, and cook it right.Boil macaroni in a large pot of salted water, following the directions on the package. Drain and rinse in a colander with cold water and cool to at least room temperature, or chill in the fridge. *Note: For cold pasta salads, you want to always rinse your pasta. Not only does this cool it off and stop the cooking process, it helps to rinse the extra starches and keeps the noodles from sticking together.
2. Toss the veggies and eggs. While the pasta is cooking toss together the chopped celery, diced onion, pickle relish, peas, and chopped hard boiled eggs in a large bowl. Once the macaroni is cool, stir that in too.
3. Add the dressing. Using a silicone spatula or wooden spoon, stir in mayonnaise and mustard. The recipe calls for 1 cup of mayo, but you may need more or want to use less, depending on your personal preference. Season with salt to taste. 

What Goes with Macaroni Salad?

This classic pasta salad is often served with grilled meats, fried chicken, or fish and is a backyard barbecue staple.