Old Fashioned Macaroni Salad Recipe
Old fashioned macaroni salad is the retro recipe that will remind you of growing up at Grandmas. Cue the big scoops of creamy macaroni salad on the side! Let’s get busy making this simple, but delicious, party macaroni salad side dish. Makes a great side for holidays like Thanksgiving, you cannot go wrong adding this one to the menu this holiday season. This classic macaroni salad recipe is my grandma’s macaroni salad. It’s creamy, delicious, and a perfect retro recipe from the past. Truly authentic, this macaroni salad recipe goes amazing at potlucks, picnics, gatherings, and a side dish for lunch. Complements wraps, chicken breasts on the grill, and BBQ.
Servings: 5 cups
Calories: 217kcal
Ingredients
- 4 cups cooked macaroni about 2 cups dry
- 1 cup real mayonnaise
- 3 hard boiled eggs chopped
- 1/2 cup diced celery
- 2 green onions thinly sliced and divided
- 1 tablespoon prepared yellow mustard optional
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Boiled elbow macaroni noodles per instructions on box. Rinse with cold water and drain completly.
- Add prepped macaroni noodles (cooled!), sliced boiled eggs, all but 1 tsp. sliced green onions, and chopped celery in a mixing bowl and mix well.
- Stir in Real mayonnaise, prepared yellow mustard, onion powder, salt, and pepper and mix well.
- Refrigerate Old Fashioned Macaroni Salad for 4 hours or the recipe does best overnight for full flavor.
- Serve macaroni salad with extra green onions sprinkled on top.
Video
Notes
Macaroni Salad Variations
To mix your macaroni salad up, you can add green olives or colored peppers, and feel free to experiment with different pasta sizes as well. If you choose something other than the macaroni's and go with farfalle or fusilli (the corkscrew pasta) it can bring a texture change that a lot of people really love as unique.
Best way to cool down noodles
No matter whether you are making this day ahead of time, it’s imperative to make sure your cooked macaroni is COLD. If you need this done quickly, rinse pasta immediately with cold running water and let drain super well before moving on. Any excess water or heat in the pasta can result in the creamy dressing being too liquid.
What can you serve with macaroni salad?
Macaroni salad is a common side dish for potlucks and cookouts and goes great with burgers, hot dogs, chicken, and ribs. Serve with a bowl of fruit fluff, fresh fruit watermelon slices, or a side of fruit kabobs for a full meal.
How long can macaroni salad be stored in the fridge?
Sealed in an airtight container, this salad can be left in the fridge for about 3-4 days. Occasionally the noodles dry out a bit, so additional mayo may be needed to bring the freshness back. Just add a tablespoon or so and stir well before serving.
Can Dijon mustard or brown mustard be used?
Yes! Mustards can actually really alter this side dish and to mix up up the taste, I have been known to add some sweet Dijon mustard or honey mustard.
Can you freeze macaroni salad?
I do not recommend freezing macaroni salad due to the dressing.
Nutrition
Serving: 0.5cup | Calories: 217kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 65mg | Sodium: 289mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g