I don’t imply to brag, however… this macaroni salad is one thing to brag about! It’s loaded with veggies, candy pickle relish, and a sprinkle of contemporary dill. Plus, it’s lighter on the mayo, so you’ll be able to style all the different substances, but it surely’s nonetheless deliciously creamy.
For extra macaroni salad goodness, strive our Tuna Macaroni Salad.
Why Our Recipe
- Fast and simple—prepared in simply 20 minutes!
- Gentle on the mayo so you’ll be able to truly style the opposite substances.
- Customise this recipe with our beneficial variations and mix-ins.


This macaroni salad has the right combo of textures and flavors—it by no means will get previous! It’s creamy, crunchy, and has a delicate chew from the cheese with a bit of pop of sweetness from the peas. One would possibly say this salad not solely involves the occasion, it’s a part of the occasion. Or, you understand, it’s only a actually good macaroni salad.
Ingredient Notes


- Elbow Macaroni: Any brief pasta like fusilli, penne, or bowtie works nicely. For a gluten-free model, go for gluten-free pasta.
- Cheddar Cheese: You should utilize diced cheddar cheese or pepper jack for a bit of spicy kick.
- Pink Onion: To tone down the chew of contemporary pink onion, soak chopped onions in water for about 10 minutes earlier than including. Inexperienced onions or shallots are additionally good milder options.
- Celery and Bell Pepper: Function the crunch. Celery is tremendous delicate and blends in, and pink bell pepper is most popular for the candy chew, however you could possibly use any shade of bell pepper.
- Frozen Peas: Essentially the most controversial ingredient in our mac salad. You’ll be able to skip them should you should.
- Mayonnaise: Use plain Greek yogurt for a lighter choice.
- Cider Vinegar: You want the acidity to stability the flavors. White wine vinegar or pink wine vinegar is also used.
- Contemporary Dill: Whereas contemporary is strongly beneficial, you could possibly additionally use 1 tablespoon dried.
- Candy Pickle Relish: We just like the candy, however you could possibly additionally use dill pickle relish as nicely.
- Dijon Mustard: We just like the sturdy daring flavors of the dijon, however you could possibly additionally use yellow mustard in the identical quantity.
Variations
Spice it Up: Searching for a bit of extra warmth? You’ll be able to simply add sliced (or diced) contemporary jalapeños. And as an alternative of cheddar cheese, go for pepper jack for a bit of extra spice. Whilst you’re at it, you’ll be able to add a splash of scorching sauce, too.
Lighten it Up: Use plain Greek yogurt as an alternative of mayo should you’re searching for a lighter choice that’s nonetheless deliciously creamy. Or, pass over the creamy sauce fully and add 2 tablespoons of additional virgin olive oil for a French dressing pasta salad.
Beef it Up: Add a bit of substance to your macaroni salad with some pre-cooked hen, diced ham, and even some crispy bacon crumbles.
Combine-Ins: Some nice additions to this salad are pickles, cucumbers, or sliced olives. These all pair nicely with the flavour profile of this recipe.
Chef Tip
Prepare dinner your pasta till it’s simply barely al dente, after which instantly rinse the pasta with chilly water to cease the cooking course of. Because the pasta will take up a few of the dressing, it’ll proceed to get softer. Cooking simply to al dente will keep away from that extra softening that goes from delicate to mushy fast!


Make-Forward Directions
In the event you make this dish the night time earlier than, it does take up a major quantity of the dressing. Some individuals double the dressing substances when making forward. The opposite choice is to combine the pasta with all of the veggies in a bowl, and hold the dressing separate till able to serve.
Storage Directions
Refrigerate leftovers in an hermetic container for as much as 4 days. Whilst you can simply put some plastic wrap over the bowl, it does hold higher if it’s saved in a separate sealed container.
Freezing isn’t beneficial because it turns to mush upon thawing.
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