The Best Macaroni Salad (+Video)
The Best Macaroni Salad recipe starts with macaroni noodles, peppers, onions and radishes and is mixed with a secret-ingredient creamy dressing!
A SOUTHERN STYLE MACARONI SALAD
Over the years, as more and more people have made this recipe for macaroni salad, it has become one of the most loved and popular recipe on my site! It’s so simple but so delicious!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
I keep it basic but delicious: elbow macaroni, mayonnaise, chicken stock, salt and pepper, green peppers, onions and radishes.
I love that pepper-y crunch of radishes and you don’t often see them in pasta salad so it’s a nice crunchy surprise. You could also add red peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, celery, onion or even green peas.
Sometimes when you go to serve your macaroni salad, you’ll notice that the noodles 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.
For pasta salads I do. I want to rinse off any extra starch that might get in the way of my noodles soaking up that delicious dressing.
I always estimate about one cup per person. So if you are doubling this recipe or even tripling this recipe, you would want to use that estimation in helping you figure out how much to make and then add an additional 8 servings to be on the safe side. There’s always someone who will take more than one serving in a buffet setting.
I don’t recommend it. The mayonnaise in the sauce does not hold up well to freezing. When you go to thaw out the salad, the mayonnaise will separate and become pretty gross and you’ll also lose the creaminess.
Absolutely! It needs to be kept covered and refrigerated, of course. Also, use my above tips to add additional creaminess if you find your macaroni has soaked up a lot of the dressing.
If you have a pasta salad recipe that calls for just mayo, consider adding a touch of chicken stock to your dressing. It helps smooth out the mayo and keeps the salad from getting too “goopy” while adding a bit of extra flavor. You can also use milk instead of chicken stock but the chicken stock is going to give that aded flavor.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)
- elbow macaroni
- mayonnaise
- chicken stock
- green pepper
- radishes
- red onion
- salt and pepper
HOW TO MAKE THE BEST MACARONI SALAD:
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.
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.
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The Best Macaroni Salad (+Video)
Ingredients
- 16 ounce box macaroni noodles
- 2 cups mayonnaise
- ¼ cup chicken stock
- 1 green pepper, diced
- ½ cup radishes, diced
- ½ cup onion, finely diced
- salt and 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 and salt and pepper to taste (about a teaspoon of each to start).
- Add in drained pasta along with green pepper, radishes and onion.
- Stir well until combined. Give it a taste to see if you would like more seasoning.
- Cover with plastic wrap and store in refrigerator for at least 3 hours. Stir again before serving.
Video
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Originally published: June 2013
Updated & republished February 2022
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.
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.
can't wait to try the chicken stock i have always just used milk, thanks for the tip!
I added shrimp to this recipe. Awesome.
I am going to try it, as I never judge a dish without tasting it.
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!
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 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!!!!
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!!!!!
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!!!!!!
Love macaroni salad! Have never used radishes or chicken stock. Can't wait to try 🙂
Have never made it with chicken stock, but will try it next time!
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.
Oh my goodness! Incredible article dude! Thanks, However
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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
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! 🙂
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 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.
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.
Yum!! I love macaroni salad.
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
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!
My mom would thin the mayo with some milk – either way, I think thinning it out is a good idea.
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 made this salad,too!The only difference is the chopped tomato she added to hers.Thanks for sharing your recipes!
Lisa Bryant