This Easy Macaroni Salad Recipe is certain to be a favorite summer side dish! Simple pasta salads are some of my favorite side dishes to cook. Some people prefer potato salad but I love this classic macaroni salad. Try these other simple pasta recipes!
I also love to add in sweet pickle slices as well for a fun and unique flavor. The best part about this side salad dish is that you can change it up however you’d like!
The elbow macaroni and Dijon mustard literally do create a perfect combination. Just be certain to add it to a large bowl so that you have enough room to stir! An easy side dish option!
Easy Macaroni Salad Recipe
Even though this recipe isn’t hard to make, everyone tends to forget to cook the pasta and rinse under cold water! This is important for getting that macaroni the perfect texture. You can also add in a tiny bit of olive oil if the macaroni is sticking together after rinsing.
My boys LOVE this simple recipe and ask for it all the time. Since it takes no time to make, I have no issues cooking it up. It’s great for leftovers, too! Which means that they get to enjoy it over and over again.
Table of Contents
What are some other ingredients that could be added to this pasta salad?
A hard boiled egg could be a great addition as would grilled corn on the cob. (that you cut off the kernels and add!) Chunks of goat cheese could also make a super delicious taste.
Specialty Ingredients:
The following ingredients are affiliate links on Amazon because they may be a bit hard to find in your normal store. I wanted you to be able to see exactly which things we are using.
Reminder, not all ingredients in the Simple Pasta Recipe are linked above, just the ones that may be a bit difficult to find or that you might be unsure of what to look for
Shop My Kitchen:
The following farm decor can be found on Etsy. Simply click the image that interests you – yes, they do contain affiliate links.
Must Have Resources:
When making Cold Macaroni Salad at home, you really need to have the following Amazon affiliate tools on hand.
Make it a Meal:
Ready to give meal planning a try? It’s really simple and easy to do! I love that I can plan out the meals for the day and let everyone in the family know what to expect. This example below shows just how simple it truly is to meal plan!
Main Dish: Blue Cheese and Turkey Club Sandwich
Vegetable Side: Creamy Ginger Carrot Soup Recipe
Refreshing Drink: Cotton Candy Non-Alcoholic Drink Recipe
Don’t forget Dessert: Crazy Good Instant Pot Banana Split Cheesecake
Best Pasta Recipes:
Once you make this Cold Salad Recipe, I bet that your mind is going to want more easy pasta dishes. I’m with you on that so I’ve gathered up some of my favorite summer side pasta dishes to enjoy!
Check out this simple Tropical Pasta Salad Recipe!
This Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad is so super simple to whip up!
I love the flavor of this Summer Pasta Salad!
This Broccoli Pasta Salad is really good and refreshing.
These Pasta Dinner Recipes are so delicious and easy!
I really enjoy the flavor of this Buffalo Style Pasta Salad.
Once scoop of this Bacon and Broccoli Salad Recipe will have you hooked.
How do you store leftover pasta salad?
You need to be certain that you store the leftover pasta in the fridge. This will keep it nice and cold and ready for when you’re wanting to eat it again.
More Macaroni Recipes:
- Ultimate Grilled Macaroni and Cheese Sandwich
- Macaroni and Cheese Recipe Revolution
- Delicious Ground Beef and Velveeta Recipes
Easy Macaroni Salad Recipe
This is the easiest pasta salad recipe, ever!
Ingredients
- 16 ounces of Elbow Macaroni
- ½ of Red Onion
- 1 Green Bell Pepper
- 1 Red Bell Pepper
- ¼ cup of fresh Parsley
- 1 Carrot
- ¾ cup of Mayonnaise
- 1 T Spicy Dijon Mustard
- Salt and Pepper, to taste
Instructions
Cook the macaroni per the directions on the box. Drain, and rinse. Put in a large bowl and cool.
Chop up the onion, peppers, parsley, and carrot. Set aside.
Put in the chopped items plus the mayonnaise and mustard (and salt and pepper) to the macaroni. Mix. Put in the fridge to chill.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 244Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 9mgSodium: 224mgCarbohydrates: 21gFiber: 2gSugar: 2gProtein: 4g
Are you going to add any other ingredients to this simple pasta salad recipe?
