Classic Macaroni Salad

Written by
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Diana Rattray
Updated 09/29/20
Classic Macaroni Salad

The Spruce
Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 8 mins
Total: 28 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
300 Calories
23g Fat
13g Carbs
10g Protein
See Full Nutritional Guidelines Hide Full Nutritional Guidelines
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 300
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 23g 30%
Saturated Fat 5g 23%
Cholesterol 236mg 79%
Sodium 537mg 23%
Total Carbohydrate 13g 5%
Dietary Fiber 2g 6%
Protein 10g
Calcium 46mg 4%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Whether you are going to a backyard barbecue or just looking to make a good side dish or snack, macaroni salad is a classic. This macaroni salad is made with hard-boiled eggs, chopped vegetables, and a distinctively seasoned mayonnaise dressing.

It is fairly easy to throw together this meal, and it is a definite crowd-pleaser. Bring it to your next party and watch it disappear. Just remember that it includes egg and mayonnaise that can go bad if left in warm temperatures for too long. Refrigerate before serving so the ingredients do not spoil. A similar recipe you may consider is pasta salad with chicken and bacon, but nothing is quite like the classic macaroni salad.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups cooked macaroni pasta (drained, rinsed and cooled)
  • 2 hard-boiled eggs (chopped)
  • 1/4 cup celery (chopped)
  • 1/4 cup onion (chopped)
  • 1/3 to 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon prepared mustard
  • Pepper (to taste)

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Macaroni salad ingredients
     The Spruce

  2. Prepare macaroni pasta and hard boil the eggs. Let them cool.

    Macaroni salad ingredients
    The Spruce 

  3. Combine all of the recipe ingredients except for the pasta. Thoroughly mix the ingredients into a dressing. You may want to start with 1/3 cup of mayonnaise and then add more if you want to or feel that you need more. 

    Macaroni salad ingredients partly mixed in bowl
     The Spruce

  4. Add in the cooled pasta. Stir gently, so you do not break apart the macaroni. Coat all pieces of pasta evenly.

    Macaroni salad
     The Spruce

  5. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. 

  6. Cover and chill the macaroni salad for several hours before serving. 

    Macaroni salad in a bowl
     The Spruce

  7. Enjoy!

Tips

Here are a few tips you may want to try when hard-boiling the eggs for the salad:

  • Fill the pot with cold water to start.
  • Add salt to the water before boiling.
  • After the water and eggs reach a boil, turn off the heat and cover them. Let the mixture sit for 13 minutes.
  • Drain the eggs immediately. You can place them directly into the refrigerator to cool them, or sit them in an ice bath.
  • To peel the egg after it is hard-boiled, tap it on a countertop until you see a crack in the shell. Then place it on the countertop and move it by rolling your hand over it, breaking the entire shell up as it rotates along the counter. Begin to peel it from the large end. Hold it under cold water if you need help getting the shell off. 
  • You can store them in the fridge, unpeeled, for up to one week.