Simple Macaroni Salad

Name: Simple Macaroni Salad
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 2 cups ditalini pasta (uncooked (or another small pasta shape of choice)); 1/2 Tablespoon olive oil; 1/3 cup red onion (finely diced); 1/3 cup celery (finely diced); 1/3 cup cherry tomatoes (finely diced (optional)); 3/4 cup mayonnaise; 1 teaspoon dry mustard; 1 1/2 teaspoon sugar; 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar; 4 Tablespoons sour cream; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1 Tablespoon fresh parsley (minced (or 1/2 Tablespoon dried)); black pepper

This recipe is for a lightly dressed salad. If you want it to have more sauce, double the sauce ingredients.

No barbecue is complete without a pasta salad to go along with it. This Simple Macaroni Salad is a crowd pleaser and takes just a few minutes to make!

Simple Macaroni Salad is a quick side dish recipe for summer BBQ and grilling parties like Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labor Day. Red onion, celery, and tomato are mixed with ditalini pasta in a creamy, tangy sauce. #pastasalad #macaronisalad #bbqsides

Why You Will Love This Recipe

When it comes to summer meals, a refreshing and delicious macaroni salad can be the star of any backyard barbecue, potluck, or picnic.

With its creamy texture, vibrant colors, and irresistible flavors, macaroni salad is a versatile dish that can please everyone’s taste buds.

This Simple Macaroni Salad has been a staple in my family when I was growing up. Almost every barbecue or grilled meal had this as a side.

The flavors are light and fresh, with some added crunch from the vegetables. I do not always use tomatoes, but I will always include the onion and celery.

Ingredients

These are the ingredients you need for this easy pasta salad:

Ditalini Pasta – any small shape works well
Celery
Red Onion – soaking the onion after cutting, before using, will make it less sharp tasting
Tomatoes
Mayonnaise
Apple Cider Vinegar
Parsley – I prefer fresh but fried will work
Dried Mustard
Sugar
Sour Cream – or plain Greek yogurt
Salt
Olive Oil

Instruction Overview

To make Simple Macaroni Salad, first cook the pasta until it is al dente (not too soft). Drain and refrigerate until it is cold.

Then make the sauce by combining all of the other ingredients together. The vinegar gives this salad a tang, so if you are not a fan either reduce the amount or skip it at first and then add a little by little until you reach your desired preference.

Chill the sauce separately.

When ready to serve, mix the sauce into the pasta.

Modifications and Substitutions

I am personally a fan of pasta and macaroni salads that are lightly dressed and not drowning in mayo. If you like it goopy, simply increase the amount of sauce you make.

Any small shaped pasta will do here, but I love to use ditalini as that is how I ate this growing up. Ditalini looks like a small, short tube and I find that the shape is perfect for holding the sauce and easier to eat than larger shapes.

This recipe has a tang from the amount of vinegar. If you are not a vinegar fan, reduce to 1/2 Tablespoon or consider finding a different recipe that better suits what you are looking for.

Kim’s Tips

If you store the sauce already mixed into the pasta, the pasta will continue to absorb the moisture and it will be less creamy. I recommend chilling and storing the sauce and pasta separately until within two hours of serving to avoid this.

The key to a great pasta salad is NOT overcooking your pasta! It should not be mushy!

This salad has a tang to it from the vinegar. It is not sweet nor overly creamy.

FAQs

Does macaroni salad have all purpose cream?

No! You get the creamy sauce from other ingredients like mayonnaise and sour cream.

How do you fix bland macaroni salad?

The key here is adding seasoning, such as salt and black pepper. If it does not need salt but is still missing something, try adding a splash of lemon juice.

Do you rinse pasta when making macaroni salad?

For pasta salad, you can if you wish. Rinsing pasta will remove the excess starch that is on the outside which can help keep your pasta salad sauce from getting thick. But it is not required.