Classic Macaroni Saladjust like you’d get from your grocer’s deli – only better! Loaded with celery, carrots, peppers, and eggs, and topped with a creamy dressing.

Classic Macaroni Salad in a white bowl resting on a white napkin.

If you love a super simple classic macaroni salad from the deli,you’re going to be amazed at how easy it is to make your own at homein just the time it takes for the macaroni to cook.

You can serve it alongside aClassic Burger, aHealthy Turkey Burger, someGrilled Chicken, or even aPork Chop Sandwich. Add some fresh seasonal fruit and you have the perfect summer meal!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Super easyto make – cook some pasta, chop some vegetables, and make a simple dressing.
Perfect salad totake to any kind of party/picnic/cookout/potluckduring the summer – it goes with everything!
Budget friendly– add some extra macaroni to stretch it a little further if you need to.

Recipe Ingredients

Macaroni pasta:You could also use another noodle of a similar size.
Hard boiled eggs:Make these a day or two ahead of time so they are ready when you want to make the salad.
Vegetables:Red bell pepper, carrots, celery, red onion are the basics in the classic version of this macaroni salad.
Mayonnaise
Sour cream
Mustard:You can use either yellow mustard or Dijon mustard.
White vinegar
Sugar:This is optional but does contribute to the flavor of the salad.
Salt and pepper

See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Ingredients for Classic Macaroni Salad in a white bowl including grated carrot, cooked macaroni pasta, and chopped red bell pepper, celery, red onion, and hard boiled eggs.

How to Make Classic Macaroni Salad

Step #1.Bring a pot of water to boil and cook the macaroni according to the package instructions.
Step #2.Drain the macaroni and rinse it in cold water.
Step #3.Grate the carrots and chop up the other vegetables into small, even pieces.
Step #4.Make the dressing in a small separate bowl by stirring together the mayonnaise, sour cream, mustard, vinegar, and sugar.
Step #5.Put the macaroni, vegetables, and dressing into large mixing bowl and stir together until everything is evenly coated.
Step #6.Add salt and pepper to taste and serve right away.

Recipe FAQs

How long should I cook pasta?

Only cook the pasta until it is al dente (the shortest cooking time recommended on the package). Over cooked pasta gets mushy and tends to break when stirred.

Should I rinse the pasta in cold water?

Yes. It’s a good idea to rinse cooked pasta in cold water when making pasta salad because it lowers the temperature and stops it from cooking. And, it takes off the starchy coating that causes cooked pasta to stick together.

What is the best mustard to use for pasta salad?

The type of mustard you use will change the flavor. If you like mustard, use yellow mustard because its flavor is more pronounced. If you want the tang with a less distinct mustard flavor, use Dijon mustard.

Can I make this macaroni salad dairy-free?

Yes! You can substitute a non-dairy sour cream. While I haven’t tested it in this recipe, I have found that non-dairy sour cream is a very good substitute, especially the Forager brand. Be sure to check that the other ingredients you’re using are dairy-free.

Expert Tips

Chop the veggies just about as small as you canif you are after a true “deli-style” macaroni salad.
Sugar is not necessary for this recipe;however, I think it makes the flavor more classic.
If you want to use Miracle Whip instead of mayonnaise,keep in mind that it’s a lot sweeter than mayo, so you’ll probably want to omit the sugar if using it.
To save yourself some time,you could buy hard boiled eggs and buy a bag of shredded carrotsat the grocery store.