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My mama has made this CLASSIC MACARONI SALAD my whole life and it’s always a favorite with friends and family. Just a few simple ingredients add big flavor to this summer staple!
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Summer is here and that can only mean one thing!
Macaroni Salad!
My mama’s macaroni salad recipe, to be precise. I love this stuff.
There are a million ways to make macaroni salad and I’ve shared a few versions here, including our Amish macaroni salad. But this right here is the one I grew up with!
Loaded with cold macaroni noodles, mayo, minced onion, boiled eggs, and plenty of green olives, this salad just comes together quickly, easily, and it’s always delicious!
Now, I know that green olives aren’t everyone’s favorite thing. But man, they’re really good in here.
Combined with the pasta and mayo they get toned down enough that a lot of people who normally don’t like them will devour them in this salad!
Classic Macaroni Salad Ingredients:
Macaroni – You could really use any small shape of pasta, but it is called macaroni salad, so…
Hard Boiled Eggs – Boil them yourself or buy the pre-boiled and peeled kind to keep this extra easy!
Onion – We mince this up really finely.
Mayonnaise – We’ve never used Miracle Whip in place of mayo for this recipe and I wouldn’t recommend it.
Mustard
Vinegar – We’ve always used white distilled vinegar here, but apple cider vinegar will also work.
Green Olives – They add the perfect salty, briny flavor to this salad. They’re a must!
Salt & Pepper
What Readers are Saying!
“Did make this for July 4th celebration. OMG-SOOOO good!!! So used to biting into pickles in regular mac salad, it was a real treat to be biting into mellow green olives instead. Was a hit with everybody-definitely a keeper!!” – Elizabeth
How to Make Classic Macaroni Salad:
Macaroni: You’re going to love how quick and easy it is to prepare this! Boil your macaroni according to package directions, drain, and place in a large mixing bowl.
Mix-Ins: Chop the eggs and mince the onion. Add those to the macaroni, along with the sliced green olives.
Dressing: This homemade macaroni salad dressing is easy to make! Just add the mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar to a small bowl and mix well to combine. Pour it over the macaroni and stir well to combine.
Chill: This one is worth waiting for! Cover the dish and pop it in the fridge for an hour or two to chill.
This lets the mayo really soak into the macaroni and other ingredients, which makes it taste even better! Just give it a stir before you serve and add an extra spoonful of mayo if it’s gotten too dry and salt and pepper to taste.
If you try this easy macaroni salad, let me know what you think! I bet it’ll be a hit!
Serving Suggestions:
My mom has plenty of summer side dishes that she makes for cook outs, but this one is definitely a favorite of mine! It goes great with my turkey burgers, grilled teriyaki chicken, or some grilled chicken with white BBQ sauce.
Perfect with these air fryer brats too or this grilled halloumi burger!
Try my Italian pasta salad too!
Classic Macaroni Salad
Ingredients
- 1 pound macaroni cooked and cooled
- 10 ounces sliced green olives
- 4 hard boiled eggs
- 1 sweet onion
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon mustard
- 1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place the cooked and drained macaroni in large bowl along with the green olives.
- Chop eggs into small pieces and mince the onion. Add to the macaroni.
- In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, mustard, and vinegar. Stir well and pour over the macaroni. Stir well to coat.
- Taste and add salt and pepper, as needed.
- Chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour. Stir before serving. Add an extra spoonful of mayonnaise before serving if macaroni seems too dry.
Tips & Notes:
Nutrition Information:
This post was originally published in May 2016. It was updated with new photos and a video in June 2021.
Barbara Anne McMahon says
I love this recipe too & my mom also put green olives in it but I love to add green bell peppers chopped & parsley
Karly Campbell says
Sounds like a great addition!
Meli says
Just like my grandmother’s!! Brought back memories. Thanks!
Linda Swoveland says
I add sweet pickle relish, mini cucumbers, and green onions rather than sweet onion to mine. And only half as much mustard.
Karly says
Sounds delicious!
Carla says
This recipe is great, but I added a can of tuna, too. Delicious.
Karly says
Sounds delicious!
Linda Swoveland says
Me too! I always add tuna to mine. But then I suppose we should call it macaroni tuna salad. I don’t like egg whites so I only use the yolks and always add about 6 egg yolks. It’s delicious!!!
Patricia says
Great macaroni salad. I have a little trick to share when i make mac salad. Drain the cooked pasta but do not rinse. Instead put in a large bowl while still hot. Then I add some bottled italian dressing. A fair amount to coat it but not as much as you would use like when you make a non-mayo salad. The hot pasta will absorb the dressing as it cools to room temp plus keeps the mac from sticking together. Then proceed with the rest of your mayo-based recipe recipe. I like to use Zesty Italian but any will do.
Karly says
That sounds delicious! I do that with pickle juice when I’m making pickle pasta salad and it’s amazing! 🙂