Grandma’s Macaroni Salad – The Best Picnic Side Dish Recipe

Macaroni salad is a classic side dish of summer gatherings, potlucks and picnics but I have to say that I have never had one that tastes better than my Grandma’s recipe. Although you could easily go out and purchase a tub of this popular side dish, it is getting quite expensive when compared to making a homemade recipe.

Not to mention that it tastes so much better when you make it yourself. While recipes may vary from region to region and family to family, there are ways to take macaroni salad from ordinary to extraordinary. Its creamy texture, refreshing taste, and versatility make it a favorite dish for any occasion where people come together to enjoy good food and good company.

Best of all it is easy to make and can be prepared ahead of time. In fact it tastes even better if the flavors have had time to meld in the refrigerator for a day or two before serving.

What Pasta Makes The Best Macaroni Salad

One of the key factors in creating the perfect macaroni salad is choosing the right type of pasta. While any short pasta will technically work, traditional elbow macaroni is the most popular choice.

The curves of the pasta create the ability to hold onto the creamy dressing and diced vegetables. Its small size and ridged shape provides the perfect balance of texture and flavor when tossed with the other ingredients.

However, there are other varieties that also work well in Grandma’s macaroni salad recipe.

Other Pasta Varieties

1. Rotini: Rotini pasta, with its corkscrew shape, adds visual appeal to macaroni salad. The spirals provide extra surface area for the dressing to cling to, resulting in a salad that is both creamy and well-coated.
2. Fusilli: Fusilli is another popular spiral pasta. It has a similar spiral shape to rotini but with a looser twist, giving it a more elongated appearance. Fusilli works well not only in Grandma’s pasta salad recipe but also in baked dishes with thick sauces.
3. Cavatappi: Cavatappi is a twisted pasta with a rigid surface. It has a hollow tube which helps to trap sauce making it a good choice in all types of salad recipes.
4. Shell Pasta: Conchiglie, or shell pasta, is another excellent option for macaroni salad. The concave shape of the shells catches the dressing and other ingredients, creating pockets of flavor in every bite.
5. Farfalle: Farfalle, also known as bowtie pasta, adds a touch of elegance to macaroni salad. The distinctive shape of the bowties not only looks beautiful but also provides great texture that pairs well with the creamy dressing and crunchy vegetables.

No matter what type of pasta that you choose the key is to cook the pasta to al dente consistency. Then drain and give it a good rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. This will help prevent it from becoming mushy when tossed with the dressing.

What Vegetables Are In Macaroni Salad

When it comes to selecting the ideal vegetables to include, the possibilities are endless. Crisp, colorful vegetables not only add flavor and texture but also enhance the visual presentation of the dish which may be important when you are trying to impress your family and friends.

Grandma’s macaroni salad always includes crunchy celery, diced bell peppers, and finely chopped onions. These three veggies provide a nice crunchy contrast to the soft noodles.

However, you can also add other vegetables for a touch of sweetness as well. Juicy cherry tomatoes, shredded carrots, and diced cucumbers are all great additions.

Homemade Macaroni Salad Dressing

However, one ingredient that truly sets Grandma’s macaroni salad apart from the others is the dressing. While store-bought dressings may suffice in a pinch, there’s nothing quite like the flavor of a homemade dressing that you can make taste exactly how you prefer.

There are a couple of ingredients that make this dressing unique and delicious. A little sweet pickle relish adds an element tanginess and sweetness that perfectly compliments the creamy texture of the salad.

In addition, pickle juice is used to provide even more flavor. Mixed in with the standard macaroni salad dressing ingredients of mayonnaise, mustard, and a few seasonings and you have the perfect flavor combination.

However, be sure to give it a taste and adjust the seasoning to your liking. For instance, if you like a sweeter dressing simply add more sugar. And if you want more of a tangy bite add more pickle relish or mustard.

Helpful Recipe Tips

Choose the Right Pasta: Use elbow macaroni or any small pasta shape with nooks and crannies to hold the dressing and other ingredients well.

Add Salt to Pasta Water: Season the cooking water with salt to flavor the pasta from the inside out.

Cook Pasta Al Dente: Cook the pasta just until al dente to prevent it from becoming mushy when mixed with the dressing.

Rinse Pasta: After cooking, rinse the pasta under cold water to stop the cooking process and to cool it down quickly. This helps prevent it from becoming overly soft and sticky.

Mix Dressing Separately: Mix Grandma’s macaroni salad dressing ingredients separately before adding them to the salad. This ensures even distribution of flavors throughout the salad.

Don’t Overdress: Start by adding a little dressing at a time and toss well. You can always add more dressing if needed, but it’s difficult to remove excess dressing once added.

Let It Chill: Allow the macaroni salad to sit in the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving. This allows the flavors to develop and meld together.

Stir Before Serving: Before serving, give the salad a final toss to redistribute the dressing.

Serving Tips

If you are making Grandma’s macaroni salad for a potluck or picnic be sure to be cautious on how long it sits out on the food table. It should not be left out at room temperature for more than two hours.

If the temperature is above 90°F (32°C), the time that it can safely sit out is reduced to just one hour. After this time, the risk of foodborne illness increases significantly.

To ensure food safety, it’s best to keep macaroni salad refrigerated when not being served and to return it to the refrigerator promptly after serving. However, you can also use a large temperature controlled bowl that will keep the salad cold for a longer period of time. They are also great to use throughout the summer months for potato salad & pasta salad. (Affiliate Link: 70 ounce Hot & Cold Temperature Controlled Bowl).

Grandma’s Macaroni Salad Recipe

*Complete recipe instructions including specific measurements, cook temperatures and times are located in a printable recipe card at the bottom of this article. However, be sure to keep reading for helpful tips and tricks when making this recipe.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 pound elbow macaroni, cooked
• 3 hardboiled eggs, diced
• 2 ribs of celery, diced
• 1 red or green bell pepper, seeded and diced
• 1/4 red onion, diced
• 1/4 cup sweet pickle relish
• 3/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup pickle juice
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1½ tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• Green onions or parsley for garnish (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. To a large bowl add cooked and drained pasta, eggs, celery, red bell pepper and onion.

2. In a small bowl combine the relish, mayonnaise, pickle juice, sugar, Dijon mustard, garlic powder and season with salt and pepper to taste.

3. Add the dressing to the macaroni and toss until evenly coated.

4. Refrigerate Grandma’s macaroni salad for at least 1 hour before serving.

**Add additional salt and pepper to taste and garnish with green onions or parsley (optional).

Enjoy!

Mary and Jim

Jim and Mary Competti have been writing gardening, DIY and recipe articles and books for over 15 years from their 46 acre Ohio farm. The two are frequent speakers on all things gardening and love to travel in their spare time.

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