If you’re searching for a crowd-pleasing, nostalgic dish that’s perfect for the any time of the year, consider this classic creamy pasta salad. For a classic macaroni salad with a twist, this recipe has it all. Tender pasta coated in smooth, tangy dressing is extremely rich without feeling overly heavy–perfect for a mid-afternoon snack or as a side dish with your favorite meat or protein. Crisp vegetables add fresh crunch and pops of color, while simple seasonings keep the flavors familiar, comforting, and irresistibly savory!
If you’re searching for BBQ sides you can make ahead of time or picnic food, this is the best macaroni salad I’ve yet to make. This dish is ideal for potlucks, backyard barbecues, picnics, and family gatherings. The result of the combination of flavors is a salad that’s cool, refreshing, and packed with a classic appeal. Best of all, no fancy ingredients are required to make the most of this dish. This recipe is one of the most endlessly versatile and customizable sides you can make and bring to any type of gatherings. Simple, satisfying, and always a hit, this timeless creamy dressing and macaroni salad is one you’ll find yourself making on repeat, year-round.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Versatility Year-Round: This is one of the most simplistic macaroni salad recipes available. Whether you want to make this dish for a picnic or as a side dish to your favorite type of chicken, this creamy dressing is always a winner.
Staples: Most often, you’ll find the recipes you need for this pasta salad in your refrigerator or pantry.
Flavorful, but light: If you’re searching for a pasta that packs plenty of flavor without the heaviness of many carb-rich meals, this pasta may be for you.
Nostalgic: If you love traditional pasta salad, you’ll find this to be one of the most nostalgic pastas you can create at home.
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
This is one of my favorite pasta dishes because it’s not only easy, but versatile when it comes to ingredients. You can swap ingredients and add your own to make it truly a one-of-a-kind staple in your home.
- Chicken – Dice up some chicken breast and add into the mac salad recipe and you can have a complete meal. This adds plenty of protein to an existing refreshing pasta salad.
- Spice – If you want to take your pasta salad to the next level with spice, consider adding a few dashes of cayenne pepper.
- Onion – If you’re not a fan of onion in cold dishes, consider swapping it with onion powder or onion salt (depending on the level of saltiness you’re going for with your pasta).
- Celery – The same applies for celery. You can swap chopped celery for celery salt seasoning, if you have it available.
- Veggies – Adding your own preferred veggies is also possible with this pasta salad, based on your household’s tastes.
Tips for Success
When making cold pasta salad like this recipe, it’s fine to rinse the noodles with cold water. This will actually help cool the noodles down much quicker than letting them sit. If you are making something that is intended to be served hot, like goulash for example, then you should rinse the macaroni. The reason being that it simply cools the noodles off, which is the opposite of what you are needing.
Storage & Reheating
The best defense to prevent pasta from being dry is not to overcook it. If you let the noodles boil too long, they will become mushy, and they will absorb all the dressing quickly.
You can also add a bit of olive oil over pasta you intend to keep in airtight containers for 3-5 days in the refrigerator. This will help prevent the noodles from becoming stuck to one another. It’s important to keep your leftover pasta in the refrigerator, as mayonnaise will go bad if it is left on the counter for too long.
Storing your pasta cooled will allow you to easily grab it and go when you’re searching for another side for a dinner. There is no need to reheat this pasta, as it’s designed to be served and enjoyed cold.
Serving Suggestions
Serving your pasta salad on its own is perfectly fine–this is especially true if you’ve added canned tuna or chicken to the salad for an extra dose of protein. If you want to pair this macaroni picnic food with other sides, consider pairing it with a steak sandwich or a grilled turkey and cheese sandwich!
Notes
Always store your macaroni salad in the refrigerator or in a cooled pan. Never allow your salad to sit out even if you’re serving it all day, as the mayonnaise can go bad.
Classic Creamy Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 16 oz. Elbow Macaroni
- ½ Red Onion
- 1 Green Bell Pepper
- 1 Red Bell Pepper
- ¼ cup Parsley
- 1 Carrot
- ¾ cup Mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp. Spicy Dijon Mustard
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Chop or dice your bell peppers, carrots, and red onion. Chopping and prepping the ingredients in advance helps streamline this entire recipe.
- Thinly chop the fresh parsley you’re planning to use.
- Follow the directions on the macaroni noodles package you intend to cook with for this salad. Boil hot water and allow your noodles to cook thoroughly. You can use al dente noodles or boil them a bit longer for a softer pasta texture.
- Place the macaroni in a bowl once it has been drained and cooked thoroughly. Allow the noodles time to cool down before adding ingredients.
- Add in the parsley, chopped carrots, bell peppers, and red onions. Toss to mix. Add the recommended amount of Dijon mustard, mayonnaise, salt and pepper to taste. Mix all the ingredients well and serve once it’s cold.
- Add the macaroni salad mixture to the fridge to allow it to cool down if you’re planning to serve it for dinner or you have plans to take the pasta salad to an upcoming gathering.
