The Best Macaroni Salad recipe starts with macaroni noodles, peppers, onions and radishes and is mixed with a secret-ingredient creamy dressing!
THE BEST MACARONI SALAD
WHAT VEGETABLES CAN I ADD TO MACARONI SALAD?
HOW DO YOU MAKE MACARONI SALAD?
mayonnaise
chicken stock
green pepper
radishes
red onion
salt & pepper
SECRET INGREDIENT
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS TO MAKE MACARONI SALAD:
Stir well until combined. Cover with plastic wrap.
Now, this next step is really important. You need to put it in the refrigerator and let it cool for at least 3 hours. This really helps the flavor come together and give the pasta a bit of time to soak up the mayonnaise mixture.
WHAT TO DO IF IT LOOKS DRY?
Sometimes when you go to serve your macaroni salad, you’ll notice that the noddles have absorbed a lot of the dressing. This happens and is totally normal. Some folks prefer it this way. But if you like your salad to be super creamy, all you need to do is mix up a small bowl of a bit of mayo and a little more chicken stock or milk. Whisk it together then stir into your macaroni salad. Give it a taste to make sure it has a good balance of salt and pepper, then serve. 
Originally published: June 2013
Updated & republished May 2019
THE BEST MACARONI SALAD (MOM'S SECRET RECIPE)
Ingredients
- 1 (16 oz) box macaroni noodles
- 2 cups mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup chicken stock
- 1 green pepper, diced
- 1/2 cup radishes, diced
- 1/2 cup onion, finely diced
- salt & pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare macaroni according to package directions.
- Drain macaroni well, and rinse with cold water until pasta has cooled.
- Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine mayonnaise with chicken stock.
- Whisk together well and season with a bit of salt and pepper.
- I do enjoy about a tablespoon or so of freshly ground black pepper in this.
- Add in drained pasta along with green pepper, radishes and onion.
- Stir well until combined.
- Cover with plastic wrap and store in refrigerator for at least 3 hours.
- Stir again before serving.
Video
Nutrition
CRAVING MORE PASTA SALADS? HAVE A LOOK AT THESE!
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My mom made this salad,too!The only difference is the chopped tomato she added to hers.Thanks for sharing your recipes!
Lisa Bryant
Hello Brandie ,
I have been following your blog , made some awesome things from you , apple crescents , LOVE how you inspire…have been in Germany now for 6 months to settle up Family Estate and can not wait to get home to Montana to try more of your ideas !!
Keep up the good food !
Karin
My mom would thin the mayo with some milk – either way, I think thinning it out is a good idea.
This is a great summertime salad! I usually leave out the radishes because dh doesn't like them. Sometimes I even add imitation crab meat chunks and a bit of seasoning and serve as a light main course. Thanks for sharing, now I'm hungry for it! Diane
Adding drained, canned salmon and serving w/sliced tomatoes and crackers is a great hot-weather meal at our house!! Also, add celery salt to taste gives it a kick too!
Just made this tonight. Put cubed cheese, celery, and red pepper in so far so good. Not sure if I can wait the 3 hours… Lol
Yum!! I love macaroni salad.
This is interesting as I have never seen or tasted this variation of macaroni salad but sure will be willing to give it a try. I have always made macaroni salad just the same as potato salad with the only difference being pasta instead of the diced potatoes. The basic edition would be hard cooked eggs, celery, pickle relish and onions with a mayo based dressing. Radishes and bell peppers have neve rbeen included in my experience. I wonder if this is a regional type deal as many recipes are.
I also make Macaroni Salad very much like potato salad. But I'm not picky, I'll try most recipes at least once.
But as to the point about prefering the way Mom made foods, when my sister and I were about 9 and 10, we were invited to my mother's friend's hous for dinner when my mother was in the hospital for surgery. She went to a lot of work and made homemade biscuits. Even though we were raised bettter than that, my sister and I told her that her biscuits looked like cookies because they were so flat. I'm sure she wanted to smack us but didn't even respond. My mother would have been so disappointed in us for being so rude. We just preferred Mom's biscuits.
As a Southern girl myself -it is so nice to see that southern manners were still taught. Ladylike is not a word used very much anymore. Such a shame! Just an FYI this kind of salad tastes better with the macaroni warm when mixed and it will absorb the flavors better. Thanks for the recipe.
I seriously think I may be eating that recipe right now. I went to a friend's party over the weekend and they sent us home with leftover pasta salad that looks / tastes like this recipe I think! 🙂
I have never seen radishes in pasta salad! I'm sure they give this a great crunch. We love them in my house so I will definitely be leaving them in. Can't wait to try this one. Made your mexican taco bake this past weekend and everyone raved. I'm still just scratching the surface on your site. The coca cola cake is next! Cheers, Elizabeth
Oh my goodness! Incredible article dude! Thanks, However
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I like to throw some tuna fish in my macaroni salad (which I make like yours, except I have never put in the chicken stock) and I put chopped up cukes in it. The best ones to use are the little pickling cukes. Now, my Mother would always put Spam (cut up into cubes) into her macaroni salad.
Have never made it with chicken stock, but will try it next time!
Love macaroni salad! Have never used radishes or chicken stock. Can't wait to try 🙂
Tried Three Of Your Recipes Tonight….Crockpot Italian Beef….Mom's Macaroni Salad….3-Ingredient Lemon Crumb Bars……Everything Was a HUGE HIT!!!!…..Love The Flavor of Everything n How Easy To Prepare Everything Was!!!….I Think I Also Tried Your Crockpot Chicken Bacon n Cheese Casserole Last Weekend….It Was Very GOOD ALso!!!….Thanx So Much For Your Recipes n I Will Continue To Try MORE of THEM!!!!!!
I just want to say thanks for your Recipes.they all look so good the only thing i tried so far is the butter dip biscuits and well they didnt come out to good but i think its something i did wrong lol.the flavor was good but they came out heavy not light and fluffy.but i will try again.I just wanted to thank you for your time you put in these recipes and you share them with all of us.I get tired of the same old things and can never come up with things just out of my head like that so here's to you for the extra brains thank you!!!!!
I just seen this site today an have been strolling thur all your recipes for the last two hours cannot wait to start cooking tomorrow I love that you have print friendly I have copied them will surly be using them all in the days ahead Thank you so much for sharing all your great recipes!!!!
Radishes are such an underrated veggie. So easy to grow and if the kids grow it they will eat it. Will need to add radishes next time I make mac salad
I always put celery, cucumber, onion green pepper or red pepper for color. Thin mayo with little milk, but will try stock next time, also pinch of sugar in mayo. Love your receipes!
I am going to try it, as I never judge a dish without tasting it.
I added shrimp to this recipe. Awesome.
can't wait to try the chicken stock i have always just used milk, thanks for the tip!
Made this macaroni salad for the first time today and it is the best macaroni salad I have ever tasted! The chicken stock gives it a great flavor.
The salad is great!! I have one question-is chicken broth the same as chicken stock? I ask this because I used chicken broth and it did not taste the same as when I first made the recipe.
How many servings will this make? I need to make a salad for 12. Thanks!
I like the idea of using chicken stock, since I don't like mayonaise.I use more chicken stock than mayo when I make chicken salad. And speaking of things that never taste like Momma's.I can never cook turnip greens like her. I do them the same way she did. but they never taste like hers . She passed a way 12 years ago and I still can't get them right. I'm the same way about my mil's sweet potato cobbler. I've just about got it right but not exactly
I made this today as a lighter, out-of-the-potato-side-dish-rut to go with our burgers and beans tonight. My fiance' and I did some "quality control" sampling before I put it in the fridge to "schmiel" (as he says). Boy, was it a hit! The proportions of dressing to ingredients is spot on, and I agree, a tablespoon of fresh ground black pepper was perfect! Took me about 4 radishes to finally get the hang of dicing one, but I'll be ready for next time. And there WILL be a next time! Thanks again!
I love to cook and have found your website to be a real jewel. I like that you have pictures that show each step. This is a great thing for a beginner cook and is even helpful for us older cooks.
Having this chilling in the fridge right now. Can't wait to eat it
I mix half mayo and half Miracle Whip and thin it out with peppercorn ranch. This really makes a very creamy and flavorful dressing.
I make macaroni salad in some form all the time, and your recipe is quite similar to mine. I've never heard of adding radish, and probably wouldn't because I don't like them. Some things that I do different, is to add diced celery. I also thin my mayo, either with milk, or with some Marzetti's southern recipe sauce. I also like to throw in a little parmesan and dill for flavoring. Sometimes I will even add a dash of garlic powder. I probably don't make it the same way twice, LOL! But it always gets eaten, and I get a lot of compliments. I love your recipes!
Have a empty nest now. Just myself. One of my 3 children was soooooo picky, so I would have to cook according, a lot of times…dang it!
Now I am "free" to make anything I want… and I am enjoying it. Radishes….YES…I love them!!! Their going in next time. My Mom use to wash them and cut off ends and put them in a bowl on the dinner table. A sprinkle of salt…YUMMY. Same with sliced red onions and green peppers's. Looking forward to trying your recipes…Thank-you, Cindy
Thank you for all the wonderful recipes you share with us. This was another winner!
Soooo happy I found this recipe!!! Our favorite macaroni salad and the only one I’ll make from now on!!! I think the addition of chicken stock really makes a difference!!
Woot! Woot! I’ll be sure to let my Mom read your comment. It will make her day!!!
MY HUSBAND DISLIKES MAYO SO i USE MIRCLE WHIP CAN i USE MIRCLE WHIP INSTEAD OF MAYO
Yes you can
Instead of chicken stock, can vegetable stock be used?
Loved your macaroni Salad recipe.
Hi Maureen! Thanks so much for coming back to let me know – yay!!
I just finished putting my macaroni salad in the fridge when I read about yours. Only difference is I added some chopped celery and cayenne pepper. When I serve it Saturday, I will garnish with celery and poppy seeds. I used rotini instead of elbow just to mix it up this time.
Thanks so much for your mom’s mac salad recipe. I made it according to directions Sunday night for family gathering the next day. Everyone loved it! I’m finishing off the last of it today for lunch by adding a small can of tuna.
Was wonderful – thank you! I just added some diced cucumber – no other changes.
Delicious! Only difference is I added diced celery and grated my radishes (because I often cut myself) I only used a few so I could introduce it to my picky eater.
Love hearing that Dolores! This is totally one of those salads you can tailor to your tastes. I sometimes add cucumber and tomatoes. I love the idea of celery! Thank you so much for coming back to comment!
I didn’t see an answer to the above question of is chicken broth the same as chicken stock?
Hi Amy. No it’s not. Chicken stock is much more rich than chicken broth.
Did salad for yesterday’s supper myself & hubby said it was the best salad we ever had.i think it was the chicken stock mix with the mano is what but the flavour .never ever use chicken stock before until I seen this recipe.going to make this again for our b.b.q outing when my brother gets home.thanks for sharing
This made my day Pauline!! Thank you so much! It seems like such a small addition and you don’t think it would really add anything to the salad but it adds a certain depth of flavor that’s kinda hard to describe. So, so thrilled y’all loved it!!
This was SO flipping good!! Thank you, thank you!!
Usually do not rate until I try a recipe as noted first. Then I tweek to our taste buds. But this one sounds almost like Mom used to make. Never could get recipe since she added a “pinch” of this & a “dab” of that- which was never the same 2 times. Tried to get Pop’s Hamburgs In Sauce” once cause they were so yummy. Literally sat at counter top & wrote as he added stuff to make them. But alas – mine did not come out like his. For years after getting married I had to have a recipe to cook & Mom was surprised since most of her generation cooks never used them unless they had a new recipe or one different than she cooked. Just found your site today and spent several hours in very pleasant checking things out. Will be back – thanks for giving me a nudge to get back into cooking and baking. Husband will wonder what happened to me – chuckle.
Made this for a BBQ and everyone loved it. Easy and yummy!