Best Macaroni Salad
Posted May 18, 2025
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This is the best macaroni salad recipe ever! Macaroni, celery, onions and eggs are combined with a bold & flavorful homemade dressing infused with herbs and spices.
When it comes to summer barbecues, I get most excited about the sides – like this delicious macaroni salad recipe!
Sure, I love a good burger or kebab, but I’m definitely making room on my plate for macaroni tossed in a bold & herby dressing mixed with hard boiled eggs and crunchy celery!
This is truly the best macaroni salad ever – and is sure to be the hit of any BBQ or potluck!
Macaroni Salad: Ingredients & Substitutions
- Macaroni. You can use any shape pasta you prefer. I suggest smaller shapes like shells if you do deviate from elbows.
- Celery. If you’re not a fan of celery, green bell peppers are also delicious in this recipe.
- Green Onions. Choose your favorite variety – yellow, red, white, etc.
- Mayonnaise. choose a mayo variety that fits your dietary needs.
- Lemon juice. apple cider vinegar or white vinegar are good substitutes.
- Dijon mustard. any variety of mustard works well, just be sure to consider how the variety you use will change the flavor of the potato salad. (e.g. honey mustard will make it sweeter).
- Paprika. smoked paprika adds a nice smokey flavor.
- Dill. fresh dill or freeze dried are both great choices.
How to Make Macaroni Salad
Let’s walk through how to make macaroni salad step-by-step, and don’t forget to watch the video!
Since the macaroni needs to cool, begin by cooking the macaroni according to the package instructions in salted water. Then, drain the pasta but do not rinse.
Then, transfer the macaroni to a large bowl (preferably one with a lid) to cool, stirring occasionally.
While the pasta is cooling, make the dressing by whisking together the dressing ingredients in a small bowl or 2-cup glass measuring cup.
Then, add the celery, green onions and hard boiled eggs to the cooled pasta.
Next, add the dressing and stir to combine.
Cover and chill for at least 3 hours, until the salad is completely chilled.
When you’re ready to serve, taste and adjust salt and pepper as desired.
Serve
Transfer to a serving bowl and serve cold garnished with additional fresh dill and your favorite BBQ recipes! Here are some of our favorites:
- Lemon chicken kebabs and grilled BBQ Chicken.
- Potato salad or broccoli salad.
- The best hamburgers!
- Grilled flank steak
- Italian pasta salad or summer pasta salad
- Summer fruit salad
- Burrata salad or feta watermelon salad
- Homemade mac and cheese
- Best Homemade Coleslaw
Store
Store leftover macaroni salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. I do not recommend freezing this recipe.
Macaroni Salad Recipe FAQS
No, do not rinse the noodles. They absorb the dressing better when left un-rinsed. Instead, cook until the pasta is al dent, then drain and stir often to cool.
If this happens, you can toss the noodles with a little bit of olive oil after cooking.
Yes, you can easily use 16 ounces macaroni and double the recipe.
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Best Macaroni Salad Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 ounces elbow macaroni (dry)
- 3 ribs celery (1 cup, finely diced)
- 4 green onions (¼ cup, sliced thin)
- 4 hard boiled eggs (peeled and diced)
Dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 ½ teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon sea salt (or to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon Pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 2 teaspoons fresh dill (or 1 teaspoon freeze-dried)
Instructions
- Cook the macaroni according to package instructions in salted water until al dente. Drain but do not rinse.
- Transfer the macaroni to a large bowl (preferably one with a lid) to cool, stirring occasionally.
- Once the pasta is cooled, make the dressing by whisking together the dressing ingredients in a small bowl or 2-cup glass measuring cup.
- Add celery, green onions and hard boiled eggs to the cooled pasta. Then add the dressing and stir to combine.
- Cover and chill for at least 3 hours, until the salad is completely chilled.
- Taste and adjust salt and pepper as desired.
- Serve garnished with dill.
Video
Notes
- Macaroni. You can use any shape pasta you prefer. I suggest smaller shapes like shells if you do deviate from elbows.
- Celery. If you’re not a fan of celery, green bell peppers are also delicious in this recipe.
- Green Onions. Choose your favorite variety – yellow, red, white, etc.
- Mayonnaise. choose a mayo variety that fits your dietary needs.
- Lemon juice. apple cider vinegar or white vinegar are good substitutes.
- Dijon mustard. any variety of mustard works well, just be sure to consider how the variety you use will change the flavor of the potato salad. (e.g. honey mustard will make it sweeter).
- Paprika. smoked paprika adds a nice smokey flavor.
- Dill. fresh dill or freeze dried are both great choices.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
