The BEST Macaroni Salad Recipe Ever (With Video)

Check out some of my other delicious salad recipes: World’s Best Soul Food Style Potato Salad, THE BEST Tuna Macaroni Salad, and World’s Best Seafood Pasta Salad Recipe

Ok, so… I have to give my aunt Lorretta a huuuuge shoutout because she’s partly responsible for creating what is, hands down, the best macaroni salad EVER.

She has a knack for knowing just the right amount of ingredients to use to perfect a dish. Since I had never made a classic mac salad before, I called her right over to help me build this recipe from scratch.

Watch Me Make It

Macaroni salad: A misnomer in the Black community

There is a major misnomer frequently used in the Black community. I say this because if you ask the average African American to make macaroni salad, they’re probably gonna throw some tuna in it! LMBO!

When I asked Retta to come over and help me create this, the first thing she asked was, “Ok, what kind of tuna do you use?” I responded, “Tuna? What do we need tuna for?” She looked at me like I was crazy. LMBBO!

That’s because, in the Black community, we rarely ever make plain “macaroni” salad. We always make what is called “tuna macaroni salad,” so that’s what most of us instantly think of when we hear the words macaroni salad.

I think we’ve been making it with tuna for so long that it’s just second nature to us. But no, there’s a big difference between macaroni salad and tuna macaroni salad. Lol! Because of this, I’m totally guilty of assuming people mean tuna macaroni salad whenever they bring up “macaroni salad.” Lol!

I remember one of my subscribers asking me to do a video on how to make macaroni salad. I told her I had already done two videos on how to make it, and she said, “Two videos on how to make TUNA macaroni salad, not macaroni salad.”

When she said that, I knew she wasn’t a sistah because, as I said, most Black folks mistakenly refer to tuna macaroni salad as macaroni salad, and they just aren’t the same. Lol!

Kim’s Poppy Store

Okay, STORY TIME! I remember this Chinese deli store back in the 90s that was right around the corner from my aunt’s old house in Philly. Aunt Janet—remember the one I told y’all always brought that banging Italian seafood salad to every family cookout?

I stole a few ingredients from her salad lol and created my super delicious Creamy Spaghetti Seafood Salad Recipe I shared with y’all a few months back. Anyway, this store, right around the corner from where she lived, was called Kim’s! They sold the best macaroni salad I’ve ever had in my life.

It tastes incredible with fried fish. They used to serve it in a little container as a side dish on fish platters. Everybody loved Kim’s macaroni salad, so that’s the exact flavor Lorretta and I were chasing when we created this recipe…

We tried our absolute best to emulate it and get ours to taste as close to theirs as possible, and we did just that! Now, I may be a bit biased, but I think mine tastes a little better—I lie to you not!

Recipe Ingredients

• Macaroni Pasta: This is your main ingredient and the star of the show.
• Carrots: I peel fresh carrots with a potato peeler and shred a very small amount—about a tablespoon worth—using a grater. If you want to save time, you can always grab pre-shredded carrots at your local grocery store.
• Red Onions: I love using red onions because of their neutral, mild flavor. They won’t overpower the salad, and they add beautiful color. I use them in almost all my salads for that exact reason.
• Red Peppers: I throw in red peppers for the color, too, because they make the salad look so pretty!!! Yeah, you can call me superficial, but I like my food to taste good and look good!!
• Celery: You just can’t NOT add celery to macaroni salad. It’s an absolute MUST!! This is the one vegetable I probably use the most in my salad recipes. The same goes for onions—you just have to have them!

Ingredients for the Salad Dressing

Aiiight, here are all the ingredients you’ll need to make the salad dressing. 

• Mayo: Mayonnaise is the main ingredient and the whole base for the dressing. Make sure you use a good brand like Duke’s or Hellmann’s, since it’s the base and you’re gonna taste it the most.
• Sweet Relish: Sweet relish gives the dressing its classic pickle flavor and adds a pinch of sweetness. It’s just as important as the vinegar, and honestly, both of these condiments together are what make this salad what it is.
• Mustard: The mustard adds a nice hint of tartness to balance the salad’s sweetness. It also gives the dressing a nice color, turning it from bright white to a perfect beige.
• Vinegar: Apple cider vinegar is one of the most important ingredients for its bright tanginess. It actually took me a few days to figure out that this was the secret ingredient KIM’s put in their mac salad to give it that special tangy kick.
• Seasonings: Salt is used to taste and enhance all the flavors, while the garlic powder adds a little depth (I only use a tiny bit because too much can get way too pungent). The sugar adds a hint of sweetness to balance everything out, and black pepper just makes everything taste better.

Common Questions About Macaroni

Let’s quickly talk about the macaroni itself, because I want to clear up the most common questions I get asked about cooking pasta.

• What brand of macaroni do you use? Grab a GOOD BRAND! Great options include Barilla, Mueller’s, Ronzoni, De Cecco, and San Giorgio. I’m not overly picky about pasta brands, but as long as it’s a reputable one, you’re good.
• Do you have to use macaroni? Not necessarily! It’s obviously called “macaroni” salad for a reason! But look, if you love this dressing and want to use these exact ingredients with a different type of pasta shape, go for it!!!
• Should you boil macaroni with oil? It’s not necessary at all! Some people think oil keeps the macaroni from sticking, but even if it clumps a little, the noodles will easily separate once you stir in all your ingredients and dressing.
• Why add salt to pasta water? Adding salt seasons the macaroni from the inside out and helps release some of the starch. Seasoning the pasta early is super important because it enhances the dish’s overall deliciousness.
• What does it mean to “cook until al dente”? When a recipe tells you to “cook pasta until al dente,” it just means to cook it until it’s tender but still firm to the bite. You don’t want to cook the macaroni until it’s bloated and mushy.
• Should you rinse the macaroni with cool water once it’s done? YES! Rinse it immediately to cool it down and stop the cooking process, because hot pasta will keep cooking in the colander. Remove it from the hot water right away, strain it, and hit it with cool water.
• Can you use gluten-free macaroni? Yes, but gluten-free macaroni is more fragile. Don’t boil it as long, and make sure to rinse it immediately once done. Gently fold in the ingredients, because they can break apart and turn into mush if you aren’t careful.

How To Make Macaroni Salad

1. Place a large pot over high heat.
2. Add cold water and salt, then stir well.
3. After 10 minutes, or once the water comes to a boil, add the pasta.
4. Boil for 10 minutes.
5. Once the pasta is done, drain the hot water, and rinse with cold water for about 2 minutes. (Let it sit for about 10 minutes to dry a bit.)
6. Peel and grate the carrot.
7. Chop the onion, pepper, and celery into small pieces.
8. Add in the mayo, relish, mustard, and vinegar to a big mixing bowl.
9. Add in the seasonings, then fold well.
   
   
   

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10. Add in the chopped vegetables, then fold well.
    
    
    

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11. Add in the macaroni, then fold well.
    
    
    

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12. Garnish the salad with parsley flakes.
13. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate to chill.

Tips for Best Results:

• Make the salad ahead of time: For the absolute best results, make this salad the night before you plan to serve it! If your cookout is on a Saturday afternoon, make it Friday night and let it chill in the fridge. It makes a world of difference because the ingredients have time to marry, which massively enhances the flavor.
• Don’t overcook the Macaroni: Boil the macaroni until it’s al dente! If you let it go too long, the macaroni will bloat up and turn into a soft, mushy mess. Remember, it will soak up the condiments and soften even more as it sits in the fridge. Start with a firm noodle, so your salad actually holds up and keeps some texture by the time you’re ready to serve it!
• Always rinse with cool water: As soon as you drain the hot pasta water, rinse the macaroni with cool water for 30 to 40 seconds. This instantly stops the cooking process and washes away excess starch, so your noodles don’t stick together.
• Control the Moisture: Let the macaroni sit in the colander to steam off excess water before mixing. If you rinse the vegetables, ensure they’re thoroughly patted dry. Excess water trapped in the pasta or clinging to the vegetables will dilute the condiments, ruining the salad’s creaminess and flavor.
• Chop Small: Aim for uniform, small pieces. You want veggies in every single bite!
• Add the salt last: If you’re skeptical about the amount of salt or you are salt-sensitive, just salt to taste at the very end. Add a small amount once the salad is completely put together, taste-test it, and then add more until it’s exactly how you like it.

What to Serve with Macaroni Salad:

Since macaroni salad is the ultimate summer cookout side dish, I figured I’d list a few things we always love to bring to a family cookout that taste incredible paired up with it:

• Baked BBQ Chicken Recipe
• The Best Homemade Turkey Burgers
• Simple Juicy Oven Roasted Whole Chicken
• Grandma’s Sunday Dinner Meatloaf

Storage

To keep the salad fresh for as long as possible, make sure it’s tightly covered. You can leave it right in the serving bowl wrapped securely with plastic wrap or foil, or transfer it to an airtight container with a tight lid. Just pop it in the fridge on the bottom rack to keep it perfectly chilled.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How long does macaroni salad last? Definitely eat it by day three… after three days, mayo-based salads rarely taste the same or as good. They aren’t meant to last long, but honestly, it’s so good I don’t think it’ll even last that long anyway. Lol!
• How to double or triple recipes? If you want to scale the recipe up, just double or triple the amount of each ingredient. You’ll obviously need more water and either a bigger pot or multiple pots, since you’ll be boiling more macaroni.
• Why is the salad soupy? It looks that way because of the amount of condiments we added. If the salad looks “wet” and “soupy,” don’t worry—it will stiffen after a few hours as it chills in the refrigerator.
• How do I fix a runny salad? Just add more macaroni to absorb the excess moisture. You may have to add a little more seasoning since more pasta was added.

Equipment Needed

We’re going to be using quite a few cooking utensils to prepare this delicious macaroni salad. Having most of these on hand will make preparing this salad an absolute breeze, so I hope you have them ready to go:

• Potato Peeler: Quickly peels your fresh carrots.
• Cheese Grater: This makes it super easy to shred the carrots into fine shreds.
• Large Pot: Needed to boil your macaroni.
• Large Mixing Bowl: Needed for mixing and assembling the salad.
• Knife: Keep a sharp knife on hand to chop your veggies into very small pieces.
• Spatula: Perfect for stirring the noodles and gently folding in your ingredients.
• Big Spoon: You’ll need a big spoon to serve up the salad once it’s done.
• Measuring Cups: Super useful for measuring out your mayo accurately.
• Measuring Spoons: Great for measuring out your seasonings and add-ins.

I want you all to give this recipe a shot. It might just end up being everyone’s favorite macaroni salad recipe. My friends tried it, and after literally two spoonfuls, they were grunting and shaking their heads.

That means they were experiencing a full-blown foodgasm. LMBBO!! Anywhoooo, the recipe card is below and available to print, so check it out and let me know what y’all think.

Please like, comment, share, and subscribe for more recipes! Follow me on social media for the latest updates and info on everything Philly Jay Cooking.

Enjoy, later!

PBJ~

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