Classic Macaroni Salad
Tossing the macaroni with oil and vinegar first gives this salad its tangy deli-style backbone. The creamy dressing and crisp vegetables taste even better after a few hours in the refrigerator.

Recipe link
Prep time10 min
Cook time10 min
Total time4 hr 20 min
- Course
- Side Dish
- Cuisine
- Granny's Recipes, American
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Est. calories / serving
- 330
Ingredients
Macaroni Salad
- 8 oz medium shell macaroni — about 3 cups
- ½ cup finely grated yellow onion — finely grated
- ½ teaspoon salt — plus more for the pasta water
- 3 Count — no visible unit text hard-boiled eggs — peeled and roughly chopped
- to taste black pepper (optional) — to taste
- ½ cup dill pickles — finely diced
- ½ cup celery — thinly sliced
- 6–8 Count — no visible unit text radishes — thinly sliced into rounds
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Cook the Macaroni: Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil over high heat and season it generously with salt. Add the macaroni and cook, stirring occasionally, until fully tender but not falling apart, usually about 1 minute beyond al dente. Drain thoroughly in a colander; do not rinse. Let cool for 2–3 minutes, until warm rather than steaming hot.8 oz macaroni, salt for the cooking water
- Prepare the Dressing Base: In a large mixing bowl, whisk the apple cider vinegar, grated onion, and salt for about 30 seconds, until evenly combined. Slowly whisk in the vegetable oil.2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, ½ cup grated onion, ½ tsp salt, 3 tbsp vegetable oil
- Combine and Chill: Add the warm macaroni and chopped eggs to the dressing base. Using a rubber spatula or large spoon, fold gently for about 1 minute, until everything is evenly coated. Cover and refrigerate promptly for at least 4 hours or overnight, until thoroughly chilled.8 oz macaroni, 3 eggs
- Finish the Salad: Just before serving, add the dill pickles, celery, radishes, mayonnaise, and black pepper. Fold gently for 1–2 minutes, until creamy and evenly coated. Taste and add more salt or pepper if needed.½ cup pickles, ½ cup celery, 6–8 radishes, ¾ cup mayonnaise, black pepper
- Serve: Transfer to a serving bowl and serve cold. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
Notes
- Season the Pasta Early: Tossing warm, well-drained macaroni with the vinegar, onion, salt, and oil allows the pasta to take on flavor before the mayonnaise is added. Do not rinse the macaroni for this method.
- Cook the Pasta Until Tender: Cold pasta firms as it chills, so the shells should be fully tender before draining rather than slightly undercooked.
- Grated Onion Works Best: Measuring ½ cup of finely grated onion keeps its flavor evenly distributed without leaving large onion pieces throughout the salad.
- Make Ahead and Creaminess: Prepare the seasoned macaroni-and-egg base up to 1 day ahead. Fold in the mayonnaise and crisp vegetables just before serving. If stored salad becomes dry, stir in a small spoonful of mayonnaise before serving again.
- Storage and Food Safety: Store covered in the refrigerator for 3–4 days. Keep the salad at 40°F or below, and discard it if it remains unrefrigerated for more than 2 hours, or more than 1 hour when the temperature is above 90°F.
- Optional Garnish: If desired, finish the salad with a light dusting of paprika or a little chopped parsley.
- Serving Suggestions: Serve with BBQ Meatloaf, Summer Lime Chicken Breasts, or Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches.
Nutrition (Approximate Per Serving)
Yield
About 8 cups — Serving size: About 1 cup
Some ingredients could not be modeled and may meaningfully change the totals. Treat these values as a rough estimate.
- Calories
- 330
- Carbohydrates
- 22.5 g
- Protein
- 6.5 g
- Fat
- 23.5 g
- Saturated Fat
- 3.5 g
- Cholesterol
- 80 mg
- Sodium
- 320 mg
- Fiber
- 1 g
- Total Sugars
- 1.5 g
Equipment
- Large pot
- Colander
- Large mixing bowl
- Whisk
- Rubber spatula or large spoon
- Knife and cutting board
- Measuring cups and spoons