Classic Macaroni Salad Recipe

5 from 2 votes

A classic macaroni salad recipe with chopped eggs, dill pickles, pickle juice, and crunchy celery. A cherished old fashioned family recipe!

Prep Time30

Cook Time15

Total Time45

Course: Side Dishes & Vegetables

Cuisine: American

Keyword: classic macaroni salad, macaroni salad, macaroni salad recipe

Servings:

Calories: 334kcal

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.

I use a small macaroni pasta made by Anthony's Pasta, I love the way it looks, but any small pasta will work fine.

Keep this macaroni salad chilled at all times, or serve immediately.

Take a look at my all-time favorite method....steaming! It is fast and makes gorgeous perfect eggs that actually peel.

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.