Summer means burgers on the grill, slices of juicy, cold watermelon, and all the barbecue side dishes you can think of! Whether it’s Memorial Day weekend, the 4th of July, or closing out the summer right with a Labor Day cookout, summer is a time for gathering with friends and enjoying the weather and food! Macaroni salad is one of the best recipes to make for cookouts because it goes with pretty much everything! There is just something about the cool, tangy flavors of creamy macaroni salad that pairs perfectly with spicy barbecue, grilled meat, and juicy burgers. Everybody seems to like their macaroni salad a little bit different, and this recipe is my favorite because it’s so easy to customize it to your preferences. I love macaroni salad with eggs, but you can always leave them out and add cubed cheddar cheese in their place. I know lots of people tend to swing by the deli department at the supermarket to grab tubs of macaroni salad, but making it at home is so much better and you can customize it to your preferences. For example, I love my macaroni salad with eggs and extra veggies. Plus, it is really a quick and easy recipe to make! During the hot months of summer we sure love to eat pasta salad! Be sure not to miss some of our other favorites like BLT Pasta Salad, Hawaiian Macaroni Salad, and Frog Eye Salad.
Easy Macaroni Salad Ingredients
Pasta: I love ditalani for macaroni salad, but obviously elbow macaroni noodles are a good choice too. Even small shells will work here.
Veggies: I typically use red bell peppers, celery, green or red onions (depending on what I have on hand), and broccoli florets. But I change it up often depending on what I have on hand. You might consider sliced radishes, frozen peas (if making ahead, just add them cold and they will thaw by the time you get to the party!), chopped roma tomatoes, and olives. Some people like to add sweet pickles and use the sweet pickle juice in the dressing. It’s not really my thing, but if you love sweet pickles then go for it!
Hard-boiled eggs or diced cheddar cheese
Macaroni salad dressing: This quick and easy dressing is whisked together in one bowl and made with real mayo (no fake stuff for me, thank you very much!), sour cream, Dijon mustard, white vinegar (or apple cider vinegar), a little sugar, salt, and pepper.
Creamy Macaroni Salad Recipe Variations
To change the macaroni salad a bit you could do lots of different variations. You can add more veggies like green peas, broccoli, corn, radish, chopped roma tomatoes, olives, or dill pickle. If you want you can also add some chopped ham or salami or cubed blocks of cheese like cheddar.
How to make dressing for this Creamy Macaroni Salad Recipe
The dressing for this chilled pasta salad is what really sets it apart. It’s just the right amount of creaminess with balanced flavors of tangy and ever-so-slightly sweet, with a little kick from the dijon mustard. There is just enough sauce to coat the pasta without overwhelming the salad and making it seem soggy. And just say no to dry macaroni salad.
How to make Homemade Macaroni Salad
Our Favorite Foods to serve with the Best Macaroni Salad Recipe
Macaroni salad is a great dish to bring to summer potlucks or BBQ’s. It makes a lot and everyone loves it! You can serve macaroni salad alongside some delicious burgers or hot dogs, ribs, BBQ chicken, fried chicken, corn on the cob, sloppy joes, sliders, sliced watermelon, and so much more!
Storing Leftover Homemade Macaroni Salad
How long does Macaroni Salad last?
This is a great salad to make a day or two in advance and keep in the fridge since it is best served chilled. You can keep macaroni salad in the fridge for up to 5 days after making it. Which is perfect because I will totally eat this for lunch every day during the summer with leftover grilled chicken from the night before or whatever else is on hand. Lazy lunch options are the best during this time of year. Don’t leave this salad out at room temperature for more than 2 hours though because of the mayo-based dressing. If you are going to a potluck or picnic and it’s going to be a hot day, I recommend bringing a cooler to store this in for food safety.
Can you freeze Macaroni Salad?
Yes you can freeze macaroni salad. When ready to freeze, place it in a freezer-safe container and store it in the freezer for up to three months. When you want to eat it, take it out of the freezer and set it in the fridge overnight to thaw out. The pasta salad may be a little runny and the mayonnaise will separate a little when it’s thawed so I would add a bit more mayo to refresh the salad.
More potluck perfect side dishes
Cottage Cheese Jello Salad Grilled Corn Salad Summer Fruit Salad Grilled Mexican Street Corn Creamy Grape Salad Best Baked Beans Raspberry Pretzel Salad Fresh Mango Salsa Grilled Cactus and Corn Salad Ham Potato Salad
Deviled Egg Potato Salad
Classic Bacon Broccoli Salad
BLT Pasta Salad
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