Last Updated July 31st, 2023 at 10:01 am by Lisa
A classic macaroni salad recipe loaded with flavor from chopped eggs, crunchy celery, dill pickles, and the secret ingredient pickle juice! A cherished old-fashioned family recipe and a real crowd-pleaser. The chopped pickles and pickle juice make it super tangy and tasty.
Make a big bowl of the best macaroni salad, and watch it disappear at your next party, I guarantee it will become one of your family's favorite recipes...
How To Make Macaroni Salad
Serve mac salad to a large crowd for cookouts, potlucks, BBQs, or serve as picnic food. Friends and family have laughed as they fill up their plates chuckling at themselves, can't stop eating this, and go back for seconds. I have seen thirds happen, the struggle is real.
With just a few simple ingredients you will be enjoying a small bowl (or huge) of this salad, the flavorful dressing comes from you guessed it, all the pickles! Here are the macaroni salad ingredients you will need.
- 16 ounces short pasta 1 lb bag short pasta - Anthony's brand
- 6 hard-boiled eggs chopped
- 3 cups chopped celery
- 2 cups green onions sliced
- 2 cups dill pickles chopped
- 2 cups picked juice from dill pickles
- 1 cup black sliced olives (2 small cans)
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- Make and peel 6 hard-boiled eggs. Try my recipe to make Steam Hard Boiled Eggs.
- Fill a large pot with cold water, and add a teaspoon of sea salt. Heat on the stove to boil the pasta. Follow the cooking time and the package instructions of your pasta brand. Adding salt is optional but recommended.
- Gradually add pasta, stirring to separate it, and return to a boil. Boil uncovered, stirring occasionally until you have tender macaroni that is al dente pasta.
- While the pasta is boiling, chop the fresh ingredients: celery, green onions, dill pickles, and chop the eggs into small pieces.
- Drain the large pot of pasta, and pour it into a very large bowl.
- Into the large bowl, add the chopped ingredients to the warm cooked pasta. Add celery, green onions, chopped pickles, pickle juice, chopped eggs, black olives, mayonnaise, yellow mustard, sea salt, and black pepper.
- Stir well to combine, and chill for several hours or overnight. The warm pasta will absorb the pickle juice as it sits in the refridgerator, that is what makes it so good!
- Optional: Slice a couple of eggs and places them on top with sprinkles of paprika to make it pretty.
- Serve macaroni pasta salad in a large bowl or inexpensive paper Chinese takeout containers (order online), great for picnics and parties. Keep this macaroni salad chilled at all times in an airtight container, or serve immediately.
For the absolute best way to make Steamed Hard Boiled Eggs, be sure to take a look at my all-time favorite method....steaming! It is fast and makes gorgeous perfect eggs that actually peel.
Mac Salad Recipe Swaps & Variations
This Pasta Salad recipe calls for classic ingredients. But you can add different things you love or have on hand:
- Crunchy celery is one of my personal favorite things, but you could swap or add in red bell pepper, carrots, or green peppers.
- Creamy mayonnaise is classic, but you can use miracle whip or sour cream. It will not be as creamy but works just fine in a pinch. You can also add some Dijon mustard with regular yellow mustard.
- Dill pickles or sweet pickles both work, even sweet pickle relish will add a nice crunch, and sweet pickle juice works too!
- Season it your way, garlic powder tastes great, and so does some chopped fresh parsley.
- Elbow macaroni or any macaroni noodles will swap in just fine, the Anthony brand short pasta is easy to find in most grocery stores.
- Chicken is a nice addition, toss in some cooked cubed diced chicken or shred in a rotisserie chicken.
What Main Dishes Go With Macaroni Salad?
So what else goes with this easy macaroni salad recipe? Well, here are some of my favorite ways to eat mac salad all summer long...
Take it on a picnic with Pressed Italian Sandwiches which you make the night before, then grab the cooler and go! Cheeseburgers or Spiral Grilled Hot Dogs go great with a side of cold pasta salad.
Next time you are hosting a gathering, you can serve a delicious macaroni salad alongside other classic side dishes, and some main course recipes like Oven Pulled Pork or Cowboy Baked Beans.
The first time I made these baked beans people were begging for the recipe! Or take a look at my entire collection of 60+ Cookout recipes, ideas, and tips.
Side Dishes To Serve With Mac Salad
And here are more sides and salads that are always perfect with macaroni pasta salad. Here are my go-to faves for summertime parties.
Watermelon Salad is a simple side dish that steals the show with a carved-out watermelon for the serving bowl.
The best Potato Salad BBQ side dish loaded with crispy bacon and blue cheese for summer cookouts, potlucks, and a great picnic food idea.
This easy cold Pasta Salad is a mayo-less salad, tossed with a macaroni salad dressing made from a little olive oil, red wine vinegar, or white vinegar, apple cider vinegar works too, or even a splash of lemon juice would work. The cavatappi pasta is tossed with chopped red onion, cubed cheese, and other crisp vegetables. Perfect to serve at outdoor picnics or cookouts. And it's okay to serve more than one kind of macaroni salad at your party. Doesn't Hawaiian macaroni salad sound good?
7 Layer Salad is a great option to take to a picnic party or cookout because you can put it together a day ahead and the creamy dressing goes right on top!
This version has classic ingredients like boiled eggs, cheddar cheese, cherry tomatoes, and other fresh vegetables but you can use what you love. I listed lots of ideas to inspire you, and probably some are already in your fridge. You can toss it together at the party, or just let people dig right in...
Picnic Pasta Mac Salad FAQ
Keep macaroni salad for up to five days stored in the refrigerator in a sealed container. Again, this mac salad should always be kept cold as it has eggs and mayonnaise.
Keep salads cold and or chilled if they have mayonnaise in the ingredients. For food safety, you don't want to keep it at room temperature, especially on a hot day.
You can place it on a bowl of ice, or ice packs during a party, or take it from the fridge right before serving, and put it back in the fridge or cooler after an hour.
There are also chilled platters and bowls available for serving chilled dishes outdoors.
Put macaroni salad in small inexpensive take-out boxes for picnics. They make it so easy to give a small container to each guest, making serving easy at your picnic. Plus kids and people love having their own little box to eat out of!
CRAVING MORE?
Get my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for more Delicious Table recipes!
Classic Macaroni Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 16 ounces short pasta 1 lb bag short pasta - Anthony's brand
- 6 hard-boiled eggs chopped
- 3 cups celery diced
- 2 cups green onions sliced
- 2 cups dill pickles chopped
- 2 cups picked juice from dill pickles
- 1 cup black sliced olives 2 small cans of sliced black olives
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Make and peel 6 hard-boiled eggs. Try my recipe to make Steam Hard Boiled Eggs.
- Put a large pot of salted water and heat on the stove to boil the pasta. Follow the cooking time and the package instructions of your pasta brand. Adding salt is optional but recommended.
- Gradually add pasta, stirring to separate it, and return to a boil. Boil uncovered, stirring occasionally until you have tender macaroni that is al dente pasta.
- While the pasta is boiling, chop the fresh ingredients: celery, green onions, dill pickles, and chop the eggs into small pieces.
- Drain the large pot of pasta, and pour it into a very large bowl.
- Into the large bowl, add the chopped ingredients to the warm cooked pasta. Add celery, green onions, chopped pickles, pickle juice, chopped eggs, black olives, mayonnaise, yellow mustard, sea salt, and black pepper.
- Stir well to combine, and chill for several hours or overnight. The warm pasta will absorb the pickle juice as it sits in the fridge, that is what makes it so good!
- Optional: Slice a couple of eggs and places them on top with sprinkles of paprika to make it pretty.
- Serve macaroni pasta salad in a large bowl or inexpensive paper Chinese takeout containers (order online), great for picnics and parties. Keep this macaroni salad chilled at all times in an airtight container, or serve immediately.
Notes
Pasta
I use a small macaroni pasta made by Anthony's Pasta, I love the way it looks, but any small pasta will work fine.Servings Tips
Keep this macaroni salad chilled at all times, or serve immediately.Hard Boiled Eggs
Take a look at my all-time favorite method....steaming! It is fast and makes gorgeous perfect eggs that actually peel.Swaps & Variations
This Pasta Salad recipe calls for classic ingredients. But you can add different things you love or have on hand:- Crunchy celery is one of my personal favorite things, but you could swap or add in red bell pepper or green peppers.
- Creamy mayonnaise is classic, but you can use miracle whip or sour cream. It will not be as creamy but works just fine in a pinch.
- Dill pickles or sweet pickles both work, even sweet pickle relish will add a nice crunch, and sweet pickle juice works too!
- Elbow macaroni or any macaroni noodles will swap in just fine, the Anthony brand short pasta is easy to find in most grocery stores.
Pam says
Very tasty. I'm not a macaroni salad fan, but this is yummy! But holy cow, it makes a ton! Shared it with some happy friends.
Lisa says
Pam! It really does....everytime I make it my friends laugh at the quantity, but they always want to take some home. Thank you so much for your super nice comment and rating!
Jessica Robinson says
This is the easiest and most delicious macaroni salad to make! Such a great summer recipe!
Lisa says
So glad you LOVE it Jessica, it's a family absolute favorite of mine!