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    Home » Course » Side Dishes

    Best Ever Macaroni Salad

    Published May 19, 2023 | Updated May 19, 2023 | By Laura

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    The Best Ever Macaroni Salad is a potluck, cookout and party staple! Tender pasta tossed with fresh vegetables, eggs and a tangy dressing, it's one folks will keep coming back for more!

    A bowl of pasta salad with a spoon.

    I introduced my Best Ever Macaroni Salad recipe on Dinner in 321 late spring of 2022, and it launched my blog to a whole new level. There are thousands of macaroni salad recipes, but 4 things caught folks attention when they saw mine: the blend of dressing ingredients, the shape of pasta I use (ditalini), the way I chop my eggs into the salad (pressed through a cooling rack), and the fact that I use Miracle Whip over mayonnaise.

    I had front row seats for the knock-down-drag-out debate of whether Miracle Whip or Mayonnaise should be used in macaroni salad. It was super entertaining, and boy were the passionate comments fun to read. The beautiful thing about macaroni salad is that it can be made in so many ways and adjusted to personal preference. The balance of sweetness to savoriness is unique from person-to-person. So, get creative, have fun, and enjoy the delicious flavors of this timeless favorite!

    Table of Contents

    • What You’ll Need
    • Tools You’ll Need
    • Why You’ll like this Recipe
    • How to Make this Recipe
    • Tips and Substitutions
    • Storage
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • More Recipes Like This 
    • Best Ever Macaroni Salad
      • Ingredients 1x2x3x4x5x
        • Dressing
        • Salad
      • Instructions
      • Video
      • Nutrition

    What You’ll Need

    Ingredient Amounts Listed in the Recipe Card Below

    • Miracle Whip or Mayonnaise
    • Sugar or Sugar Substitute
    • Celery Seed
    • Garlic Salt
    • Apple Cider Vinegar
    • Dill Pickle Relish
    • Yellow Mustard
    • Elbow or Ditalini Pasta
    • Hard-Boiled Eggs
    • Red Onion
    • Celery
    • Bell Peppers
    Ingredients to make macaroni salad: miracle whip, sugar, celery seed, garlic salt, apple cider vinegar, dill pickle relish, yellow mustard, pasta, eggs, red onion, celery and bell peppers.

    Tools You’ll Need

    • Large Bowl
    • Spatula
    • Cooling Rack (optional for eggs)

    Why You’ll like this Recipe

    • It's a great make-ahead dish for a get together!
    • It's a versatile side dish that can be customized to individual preferences!
    • It brings back happy memories of family gatherings, potlucks and holidays!
    • The combination of flavors creates a creamy, tangy, and slightly sweet taste that is SUPER delicious!

    How to Make this Recipe

    1. Cook pasta in boiling salted water per package directions, drain and cool. 
    2. In a large bowl, whisk together Miracle Whip, sugar, celery seed, garlic salt, vinegar, relish, mustard, salt and pepper. Taste for balance of flavors.
    Ingredients in a bowl for dressing for macaroni salad.
    1. To the dressing, add eggs, vegetables and pasta. Stir until well combined. 
    Macaroni salad ingredients in a bowl ready to be stirred including the dressing, vegetables and boiled egg.
    1. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour before serving.
    Macaroni salad in a serving bowl.

    Tips and Substitutions

    • You can add or omit any ingredient from the ingredients noted in this recipe. Macaroni salad taste and texture preference is individual from person-to-person.
    • Optional ingredient add-ins are: cucumbers, peas, carrots, cubed cheddar cheese, bacon, ham, diced tomatoes, green onions and other mustard varieties.
    • Visit Perfect Peel Boiled Eggs for your easiest egg peeling experience ever!
    • Light Miracle Whip or mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, sour cream and sugar substitute can be used instead of the regular versions.
    • Cook the pasta until it is slightly firm (al dente) to ensure it holds its shape in the salad. Rinse with cold water to cool it down quickly and prevent it from becoming mushy.
    • Feel free to experiment with different herbs and spices, such as dill or paprika, to add a unique twist to your macaroni salad.
    • Letting the macaroni salad chill in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight will enhance the flavors and make it even more delicious.

    Storage

    • Properly stored macaroni salad can last for 3-5 days in the refrigerator. Make sure to keep it in an airtight container to maintain freshness.
    • Freezing macaroni salad is not recommended as the texture of the pasta and other ingredients can change upon thawing, resulting in a less desirable consistency.
    • If served at a gathering and left out at room temperature longer than 2 hours, discard it as it's not safe to eat. If possible, serve in a chilled bowl.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    • Why do you use Miracle Whip over mayonnaise in this recipe?
      • It's personal preference for the flavor of Miracle Whip over mayonnaise. Miracle Whip a slightly sweeter and tangier taste compared to mayonnaise.
    • I like my macaroni salad more creamy. How do I adjust the recipe for this?
      • My recipe has just enough dressing that the ingredients are fully coated but not swimming in it. If you like it creamier, you can use less pasta.
    • Can I use a different type of pasta in macaroni salad?
      • Macaroni is the traditional choice for macaroni salad, but like me, you can experiment with other pasta shapes like ditalini, penne, fusilli, or farfalle. Just ensure that the pasta has a similar size and density to macaroni so that it holds the dressing and ingredients well.
    • How can I prevent macaroni salad from becoming dry?
      • To prevent dryness, make sure not to overcook the pasta. Decrease the pasta if you like a creamier salad. If the salad sits for a while and appears dry, you can add a small amount of additional Miracle Whip or a splash of vinegar to moisten it.
    • Can I make macaroni salad ahead of time?
      • Yes, macaroni salad can be made ahead of time. In fact, it often tastes even better when allowed to chill and let the flavors meld together. Prepare it a few hours or even a day before serving for the best results.
    • Is this recipe gluten-free?
      • The pasta in this recipe is the only ingredient containing gluten. You can easily swap for a gluten-free pasta alternative.
    • Is macaroni salad suitable for vegetarians or vegans?
      • Macaroni salad can be made vegetarian or vegan by using plant-based mayonnaise or mayo alternatives and omitting eggs.

    More Recipes Like This 

    If you're looking for more delicious salads to bring to your next potluck, cookout or get-together, all of these will be a HIT!

    • The Best Pasta Salad
    • Italian Pasta Salad
    • Old Fashioned Orange Jello Salad
    • Sweet and Crunchy Ramen Salad
    • Greek Spaghetti Salad
    Blogger holding a bowl of macaroni salad.
    Print Recipe Rate this Recipe Pin Recipe
    4.93 from 14 votes

    Best Ever Macaroni Salad

    Hold on I’m coming in hot with THE BEST macaroni salad!
    Prep Time30 minutes mins
    Cook Time15 minutes mins
    Total Time45 minutes mins
    Course: Salad, Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: summer, vegetables
    Servings: 12 Servings
    Calories: 258kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
     

    Dressing

    • 15 oz Miracle Whip or mayonnaise
    • 3 tablespoon sugar or sugar substitute or less if desired
    • 1 teaspoon celery seed
    • ½ teaspoon garlic salt
    • 2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
    • 2 tablespoon dill pickle relish
    • 2 tablespoon yellow mustard
    • Salt/Black Pepper to taste

    Salad

    • 1 lb elbow or ditalini pasta
    • 3 hard-boiled eggs peeled and chopped
    • ¾ cup diced red onion
    • ¾ cup diced celery
    • ¾ cup diced bell peppers

    Instructions

    • Cook pasta in boiling salted water per package directions, drain and cool. 
    • In a large bowl, whisk together Miracle Whip, sugar, celery seed, garlic salt, vinegar, relish, mustard, salt and pepper. Taste for balance of flavors. 
    • To the dressing, add eggs, vegetables and pasta. Stir until well combined.
    • Cover and chill for at least 1 hour before serving.

    Video

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cup | Calories: 258kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 52mg | Sodium: 469mg | Potassium: 170mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 416IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @dinnerin321 or tag #dinnerin321!
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    Filed Under: Salads, Side Dishes

    Laura

    About Laura

    Taught by some of the best, cooking and entertaining has always been my favorite hobby. Food is my love language! The conception of Dinner in 321 came from my family talks that sharing our dinners would help others learn new skills, tasty recipes, and make cooking fun! Read more...

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Tara Henderson

      April 22, 2023 at 2:00 am

      5 stars
      I am saving this to make for our Sunday BBQ definitely looks delicious but I'm adding bacon

      Reply
      • Laura Ashley

        April 27, 2023 at 12:47 pm

        AWESOME!! I hope you love it too!!

    2. Phyllis Dennis

      May 19, 2023 at 8:54 pm

      5 stars
      This macaroni salad is so delicious!

      Reply
      • Laura Ashley

        May 28, 2023 at 2:48 am

        Thank you so much!!😁💕

    3. sue greenfield

      May 20, 2023 at 2:46 pm

      Exactly how much is 15 ounces of miracle whip

      Reply
      • Laura Ashley

        May 28, 2023 at 2:47 am

        It’s the whole small Miracle Whip jar or slightly less than 2 cups 😁

    4. Debbie

      May 28, 2023 at 4:19 pm

      5 stars
      Best Macaroni salad ever!! Thanks for sharing your recipe. I will never make it any other way now. Can’t wait for my family to try it today.

      Reply
      • Laura Ashley

        May 30, 2023 at 3:11 pm

        THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! This is wonderful! I’m so happy you made it and liked it so much!!

    5. Memory

      July 08, 2023 at 7:47 pm

      5 stars
      I have a made this a few times now, it is so simple and delicious! perfect for our summer bbq's! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Laura Ashley

        July 21, 2023 at 2:50 pm

        That is wonderful!! Makes my heart so happy to hear that you like it so much and that it's been a repeat recipe! Thank you!

    6. Rhonda

      July 17, 2023 at 12:26 am

      5 stars
      Made this salad and it was great - easy to make and tasty. Loved use of the ditalini pasta. Question - What is the serving size? The recipe says 12 servings.

      Reply
      • Laura Ashley

        July 21, 2023 at 2:44 pm

        I'm so excited that you made it and liked it so much! It's for 1 cup.

    7. Janet Kerr

      August 04, 2023 at 6:03 am

      Can’t wait to make it

      Reply
      • Laura Ashley

        August 16, 2023 at 6:37 pm

        YAY!! I hope you love it too!! 🙂

    8. Julia Scalcione

      August 10, 2023 at 4:52 pm

      5 stars
      This is an amazing macaroni salad. It is a big hit for my kids. I love it so much thank you!!

      Reply
      • Laura Ashley

        August 16, 2023 at 6:29 pm

        That is FANTASTIC!! Thank you SO much!!! I'm so happy you made it and that it's been a hit!

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    Welcome to my kitchen! I'm Laura Ashley, and I'm excited you're here! As a registered dietitian and diabetes educator, I love cooking all kinds of food and trying new restaurants. Food is my love language! Here at Dinner in 3, 2, 1, I serve up delicious and nutritious recipes you and your family will love.

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