29 of Our Best Macaroni Salad Recipes (2024)

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Updated: May 10, 2024

We've got plenty of pasta to go around in our collection of different macaroni salad recipes. These dishes range from classic combos to fun new favorites, guaranteed to satisfy all the tastebuds.

1/29

BLT Macaroni Salad

A friend served this BLT pasta salad, and I just had to get the recipe. My husband loves BLT sandwiches, so this has become a favorite of his. It’s nice to serve on hot and humid days, which we frequently get during summer here in Virginia. —Mrs. Hamilton Myers Jr., Charlottesville, Virginia

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If you love macaroni salad, you’ve got to try our other pasta salad recipes!

2/29

Deviled Egg Macaroni Salad

This macaroni salad mixes the cooked egg yolks into the mayonnaise dressing to give it that classic deviled egg taste. If there are other veggies you like, such as sweet red pepper or carrots, in your macaroni salad feel free to stir them in. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

3/29

Classic Macaroni Salad

This classic macaroni salad recipe is a refreshingly light take on an all-time favorite. It’s perfect for a fast weeknight dinner or a festive weekend barbecue. —Dorothy Bayes, Sardis, Ohio. If you want to try something different, learn how to make Hellman’s macaroni salad.

4/29

Fast Macaroni Salad

Chopped veggies provide crunch, and cherry tomatoes add vibrant color to this refreshing and creamy pasta salad. —Frankiee Bush, Freedom, Indiana

5/29

Taste of Home

Hawaiian Macaroni Salad

I had to figure out how to make Hawaiian macaroni salad at home because my husband was getting tired of ordering enough for our whole family from a local restaurant. Sometimes I use green onions and serve the salad with a drizzle of teriyaki sauce and a sprinkle of sesame seeds. —Blaine Kahle, Florence, Oregon

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6/29

Chicken Taco Macaroni Salad

I like to give macaroni salad a taco twist. Rotisserie chicken makes it quick. I’ll often serve this dish as a main course since it’s so hearty. —Lisa Allen, Joppa, Alabama

7/29

Quick Macaroni Salad

You can’t go wrong with this time-tested winner. Here it is pared down for two. —Carma Blosser, Livermore, Colorado

8/29

Bacon Macaroni Salad

This pleasing pasta salad is like eating a BLT in a bowl. Filled with crispy bacon, chopped tomato, celery and green onion, the sensational salad is coated with a tangy mayonnaise and vinegar dressing. It’s a real crowd-pleaser! —Norene Wright, Manilla, Indiana

9/29

Sweet Macaroni Salad

A sweet out-of-the-ordinary dressing makes this macaroni salad special. My aunt gave me the recipe and it has become one of my favorites. I occasionally leave out the green pepper if I know that people don’t like it, and it still tastes great. —Idalee Scholz, Cocoa Beach, Florida

10/29

Caprese Macaroni Salad

When fresh tomatoes and basil are abundant in the summer, I like to make this wonderful Caprese macaroni salad. —Debbie Glassco*ck, Conway, Arkansas

11/29

Easy Macaroni Salad

This hearty pasta salad is sure to please appetites of all ages—and it serves a lot of folks! —LaVerna Mjones, Moorhead, Minnesota

12/29

Polynesian-Inspired Macaroni Salad

I have always loved SPAM, so I decided to combine it with pineapple to make this Polynesian-inspired macaroni salad recipe. It reminds me of vacationing in Hawaii. —Susan Bickta, Kutztown, Pennsylvania

13/29

Creamy Macaroni Salad

When we grill, my mother asks me to make this summer pasta salad. To make it extra creamy, I like to keep a small amount of dressing separate and stir it in just before serving. —Carly Curtin, Ellicott City, Maryland

14/29

Scandinavian-Inspired Macaroni Salad

Give a humdrum side salad a Scandinavian touch by adding some freshly chopped dill and tiny shrimp. —Kallee Krong-McCreery, Escondido, California

15/29

Summer Chicken Macaroni Salad

For sunny, lazy days, I make a loaded macaroni salad that’s like three salads in one. The mix of fresh veggies, sweet peaches and crunchy pistachios is a surprisingly delicious combo. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada

16/29

Chicken Caesar Macaroni Salad

Give me a Caesar salad anytime, no matter what form it’s in. I like to add some chicken and artichokes to make this Caesar macaroni salad a little more hearty. —Shawn Barto, Palmetto, Florida

17/29

Judy’s Macaroni Salad

After finding this vintage macaroni salad recipe years ago, I tweaked the flavor and bumped up the pickles. Tuck this dill pickle pasta salad inside your picnic basket. —Elizabeth Kirchgatter, Maysville, Kentucky

18/29

Shrimp and Crab Macaroni Salad

This salad is a summertime staple in our house. If you want to splurge, go ahead and use real crab. —Darla Andrews, Boerne, Texas

19/29

I love to make healthy meals with produce from my latest farmers market trip. This pasta takes just 30 minutes from pantry to dinner table. You can easily make it a meat entree by adding cooked, shredded chicken. —Jerilyn Korver, Bellflower, California

20/29

Cubano Macaroni Salad

One of my favorite sandwiches is a hot Cubano, piled high with juicy pork, layers of ham and melty Swiss cheese. These same ingredients are amazing turned into a macaroni salad. —Marina Castle Kelley, Canyon Country, California

21/29

Everyone needs a perfect pasta salad that’s easy to make, especially on busy nights when your family wants a dish that’s fast, light and cool. This is just the thing. —Jill Donley, Warsaw, Indiana

22/29

Dill Pickle Pasta Salad

There’s a new salad on the scene, and wehave TikTok to thank for the recipe. Erikka Furseth shared this tangy dill pickle pasta salad on her@pastasaladgirl account and I was immediately intrigued. I love pasta salad and I love pickles, and I’m always looking for different macaroni salad recipes; this was all the enticement I needed to test this viral recipe! —Nancy Mock, Burlington, Vermont

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23/29

Grecian-Inspired Macaroni Salad

I love all Grecian flavors and tried adding them to a macaroni salad. Toss in whatever olives you can find; personally, I love kalamata olives. —Brigette Schroeder, Yorkville, Illinois

24/29

Shrimp Pasta Salad

I adore shrimp, so discovering it in this pasta salad recipe was a real treat for me. The lemon-dill sauce is light and bright. It’s one of our favorite cold pasta salad recipes! —Traci Wynne, Denver, Pennsylvania

25/29

Barbecue Macaroni Salad

My family loves a touch of barbecue sauce and ranch dressing in our mac salad. Not too much—just a hint of both makes this everyday salad something special. —Andrea Bolden, Unionville, Tennessee

26/29

Macaroni Coleslaw

My friend Peggy brought this coleslaw to one of our picnics, and everyone liked it so much, we all had to have the recipe. —Sandra Matteson, Westhope, North Dakota

27/29

Mexican Macaroni Salad

Enjoy this easy twist on macaroni salad for a lunchtime change of pace. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

28/29

Middle Eastern-Inspired Macaroni Salad

This creamy, tangy macaroni salad is inspired by the many wonderful flavors of the Middle East. The za’atar seasoning gives it an earthy (and delicious!) taste. —Ruth Hartunian-Alumbaugh, Willimantic, Connecticut

29/29

Vegan Macaroni Salad

All the classic flavors come through in this vegan macaroni salad, from the pickle relish to the ground mustard. The only thing you’ll be missing is leftovers! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Originally Published: September 11, 2018