Old Fashioned Macaroni Salad

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With a perfect blend of tender pasta, creamy dressing, and a medley of fresh vegetables, this Old Fashioned Macaroni Salad is bursting with flavor.

a horizontally aligned photo of a bowl of macaroni salad on a wooden tabletop with a blue and white napkin in the background.

Old Fashioned Macaroni Salad

Who doesn’t like a good macaroni salad? It’s definitely a staple at my summer gatherings. It brings a cool, refreshing taste to those hot summer afternoons, and it complements so many savory foods brilliantly.

Add to that the ease with which you can feed a crowd using this old fashioned macaroni salad recipe, and you’ve got a winning combination. This dish multiplies easily for larger groups.

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A vertically aligned photo of the macaroni salad in a white bowl on a wooden tabletop with a blue and white striped tea towel in the background.

Macaroni Salad with Egg

Have you ever tried macaroni salad with egg? Boiled eggs are one of my favorite ways to start the day. It’s a fabulous source of easy, healthy protein that requires so little effort to prepare.

Adding eggs to pasta salad adds a savory note that I adore. It’s more subtle than chicken or bacon. But, the change is distinctly delicious.

All of the ingredients for macaroni salad have been artfully arranged in a white bowl, showing the colorful vegetables and tender pasta.

Macaroni Salad with Cucumber

Classic macaroni salads are typically light on the vegetables, if they contain them at all. But, that just isn’t my style. I love the crunch of fresh vegetables in this macaroni salad with cucumber.

I’ve added red pepper and cucumber to this recipe. However, you could easily add whichever vegetables you like best. In fact, it’s exactly that endless versatility that makes pasta salad one of my favorite side dishes.

The sauce has been added to the bowl and it is ready to be mixed.

Old Fashioned Macaroni Salad Recipe

You’ll need the following ingredients:

  • elbow macaroni
  • hardboiled eggs
  • English cucumber
  • red bell pepper and green onions
  • mayonnaise and mustard
  • white vinegar
  • sugar, salt, and pepper
  • Italian parsley
The macaroni salad has been mixed and is ready to serve.

Start by cooking the pasta according to the directions on the package, adding a generous tablespoon of kosher salt to the water as it cooks. Drain into a large colander and rinse well with cold water to stop the cooking process.

Add the cooked and cooled macaroni to a large mixing bowl along with the eggs, cucumber, bell pepper, onions, and parsley. (Any color bell pepper will work in this salad. I just use what I have on hand.) Toss to mix well.

In a small bowl or glass measuring cup, combine the mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper. Then, whisk until smooth and pour over the salad ingredients. Toss well to coat and refrigerate until ready to serve.

A bowl of macaroni salad with a metal spoon with a wooden handle sticking out of it.

Creamy Pasta Salad Recipes

Looking for more creamy pasta salad recipes?

The irresistible combination of vibrant peas, crispy bacon, and savory cheese complemented by a luscious creamy dressing, creates a perfect harmony of flavors in this Pea Pasta Salad.

Tender bites of chicken, sweet grapes, and pasta, are combined and tossed with a creamy homemade dressing to make this simple Poppyseed Pasta Salad.

A close up shot of the macaroni salad, ready to eat.

You’re going to love this recipe for Creamy Macaroni Salad with ditalini pasta, broccoli, bell pepper, cucumber, olives, and red onions. It’s perfect for any occasion, whether it’s a family dinner or a picnic with friends.

Flaky tuna, crunchy bits of red onion, and bell peppers tossed with freshly cooked pasta in a creamy, tangy dressing make for a colorful Tuna Pasta Salad.

Tender pasta, fresh corn, and red onions are tossed with a creamy, spicy sauce of mayonnaise, lime, cilantro, and cotija cheese to create this Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad.

A bowl of macaroni salad with a metal spoon with a wooden handle sticking out of it.

Old Fashioned Macaroni Salad

The perfect blend of tender pasta, creamy dressing, and a medley of fresh vegetables, this Old Fashioned Macaroni Salad is bursting with flavor.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients 

Salad Ingredients

  • 8 ounces elbow macaroni
  • 2 hardboiled eggs chopped
  • 1 English cucumber peeled and chopped small, about 1½ cups
  • 1 red bell pepper chopped small, about 1 cup
  • 6 green onions thinly sliced, about ¼ cup
  • 2 tablespoons fresh Italian parsley finely chopped

Dressing Ingredients

  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 2 teaspoons mustard
  • 1 teaspoon white vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt adjust to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper adjust to taste

Instructions

  • Cook the pasta according to the directions on the package, adding a generous tablespoon or so of kosher salt to the water as it cooks. Drain into a large colander and rinse well with cold water to stop the cooking process.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked and cooled macaroni with the eggs, cucumber, bell pepper, onions, and parsley. Toss to mix well.
  • In a small bowl or glass measuring cup, combine the mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper. Whisk smooth and pour over the salad ingredients. Toss well to coat and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Notes

Any color bell pepper will work nicely in this salad. I use a combination of whichever ones I have on hand. 

Nutrition

Calories: 235kcal · Carbohydrates: 25g · Protein: 6g · Fat: 12g · Saturated Fat: 2g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g · Monounsaturated Fat: 3g · Trans Fat: 0.03g · Cholesterol: 53mg · Sodium: 269mg · Potassium: 201mg · Fiber: 2g · Sugar: 3g · Vitamin A: 754IU · Vitamin C: 23mg · Calcium: 29mg · Iron: 1mg
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White lettering has been overlaid this top down shot of a large bowl of macaroni salad. it reads, "Macaroni Salad"

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