By Becky Hardin
Updated Jun 30, 2025
I love this easy Macaroni Salad because it’s a delicious and simple side, perfect for BBQs, potlucks, and parties. It’s a cool and creamy pasta salad that’ll knock your socks off!
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5-Star Review
“I love the ingredients and amounts for the dressing and this will be my go-to pasta salad dressing! The portions are perfect and this is my second time making this salad within the last 2 days. Thank you for sharing.” – Dell
Easy Macaroni Salad
Pasta salad is such a popular summer side dish and for good reason. This Easy Macaroni Salad recipe was sent to me by one of my lovely readers and it’s delicious!
Perfectly cooked pasta covered in a dreamy, creamy dressing and bejeweled with peppers, onions, carrots, and celery— it’s so good! I can even make a big batch the night before. I love that this pasta salad has so many variations so I never get bored of serving it.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 2 cups elbow macaroni uncooked
- ▢ ¾ cup mayonnaise Miracle Whip also works, or do 50/50
- ▢ 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar white wine, red wine, or distilled also works
- ▢ 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- ▢ 1 tbsp yellow mustard Dijon also works
- ▢ 1 tsp salt
- ▢ 2 stalks celery finely chopped (~ ½ cup)
- ▢ ¾ cup red or orange bell pepper seeded and finely chopped
- ▢ ½ cup carrot grated
- ▢ ½ cup red onion finely diced
Instructions
- Boil macaroni and cook until al dente, about 7-8 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water. Do not overcook pasta or it will not be able to hold up once the other ingredients are added. 2 cups elbow macaroni
- While macaroni is cooking, stir together mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, mustard, and salt until combined. ¾ cup mayonnaise, 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 2 tbsp granulated sugar, 1 tbsp yellow mustard, 1 tsp salt
- Stir together macaroni, mayonnaise mixture, celery, and bell pepper. Place in the refrigerator and chill for 1-2 hours before serving. 2 stalks celery, ¾ cup red or orange bell pepper, ½ cup carrot, ½ cup red onion
Becky’s Tips
- Use dried pasta instead of fresh. It can be served chilled or at room temperature, and holds up well when tossed with dressing and other ingredients.
- Use extra-salted water and the pasta will be well-seasoned by the time it’s cooked. Be sure to taste and adjust the seasoning as necessary as you add the dressing and other ingredients.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Macaroni Salad Step by Step
Cook the macaroni: Boil 2 cups of macaroni and cook until al dente, about 7-8 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water. Do not overcook pasta, or it will not be able to hold up once the other ingredients are added.
Make the dressing: While macaroni is cooking, stir together ¾ cup mayonnaise, 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 2 tbsp granulated sugar, 1 tbsp yellow mustard, and 1 tsp salt until combined.
Combine the remaining ingredients: Stir together macaroni, mayonnaise mixture, 2 ribs celery, ¾ cup red or orange bell pepper, ½ cup carrot, ½ cup red onion, and place in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours before serving.
Serve and enjoy: Serve the pasta salad straight from the fridge or bring to room temperature, and enjoy.
Variations
This creamy pasta salad is divine as is, but also serves as a great base for a variety of ingredients. Here are some of the variations that mix well:
- Green bell peppers
- Pimento Peppers
- Peas
- Ham or salami
- Cheese
- Hardboiled eggs
How to Store
You can make macaroni salad one day ahead of time. I recommend keeping the dressing and pasta separate and refrigerated until needed. When you are ready, stir the dressing and pasta together and serve.
Store uneaten pasta salad in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. If you can, set a bit of the dressing aside to add the next time you eat it, as the salad may get dry as it sits.
more macaroni dishes we love
Loaded Chili Mac and Cheese
One Pot Mac and Cheese
Instant Pot Chili Mac Recipe (Pressure Cooker Chili)
King Ranch Chicken Mac and Cheese
Easy Macaroni Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups elbow macaroni uncooked
- ¾ cup mayonnaise Miracle Whip also works, or do 50/50
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar white wine, red wine, or distilled also works
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp yellow mustard Dijon also works
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 stalks celery finely chopped (~ ½ cup)
- ¾ cup red or orange bell pepper seeded and finely chopped
- ½ cup carrot grated
- ½ cup red onion finely diced
Instructions
- Boil macaroni and cook until al dente, about 7-8 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water. Do not overcook pasta or it will not be able to hold up once the other ingredients are added. 2 cups elbow macaroni
- While macaroni is cooking, stir together mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, mustard, and salt until combined. ¾ cup mayonnaise, 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 2 tbsp granulated sugar, 1 tbsp yellow mustard, 1 tsp salt
- Stir together macaroni, mayonnaise mixture, celery, and bell pepper. Place in the refrigerator and chill for 1-2 hours before serving. 2 stalks celery, ¾ cup red or orange bell pepper, ½ cup carrot, ½ cup red onion
Notes
- Use dried pasta instead of fresh. It can be served chilled or at room temperature, and holds up well when tossed with dressing and other ingredients.
- Use extra-salted water and the pasta will be well-seasoned by the time it’s cooked. Be sure to taste and adjust the seasoning as necessary as you add the dressing and other ingredients.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
