Hawaiian Macaroni Salad

Name: Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 155 min
Ingredients: 16 ounces elbow macaroni, (cooked according to box directions, drained); ½ cup carrots, (finely grated ); ¼ cup sweet yellow onion, (grated); 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; 1 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper; 2½ cups mayonnaise; ½ cup whole milk; 2 teaspoons granulated sugar

Our classic Hawaiian macaroni salad is a great side dish or potluck option full of veggies, pasta, and sweet creamy dressing.

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Table of Contents

Hawaiian Macaroni Salad Ingredients
Substitutions And Additions
How To Make This Hawaiian Macaroni Salad Recipe
How To Serve This Simple Macaroni Salad
Storing This Hawaiian Salad Recipe
Frequently Asked Questions
More Recipes You’ll Love
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This Hawaiian macaroni salad recipe has been passed down from generation to generation, and now it’s our turn to share it with the world. Simple ingredients combine to create this fun tropical salad loaded with tender noodles and veggies smothered in a creamy dressing.

Hawaiian Macaroni Salad Ingredients

Hawaiian Macaroni Salad raw ingredients that are labeled

The creamy and tangy dressing is made up of mayonnaise, vinegar, and a touch of sugar that harmoniously blends with the macaroni noodles.

The noodles are generously coated in this dressing, accompanied by crispy carrots and onions, elevating the texture and making it all the more flavorful.

You’ll need:

For The Macaroni Salad:

16 ounces of elbow macaroni, cooked to al dente according to box directions, drained
½ cup of finely grated carrots
¼ cup of grated sweet yellow onion
3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon of kosher salt
1 teaspoon of fresh cracked black pepper

For The Dressing:

2½ cups of mayonnaise
½ cup of whole milk
2 teaspoons of granulated sugar

PRO TIP:

Any mayonnaise will work in this great recipe, I chose the lighter Kraft Mayo, but some swear by Dukes.

Substitutions And Additions

MIX-INS: You can add diced ham, finely diced celery, green onions, juicy pineapple, or even green peas to your authentic Hawaiian mac salad.

PASTA: You can use any short pasta noodles such as rotini, fusilli, or cavatappi in place of the macaroni noodles in this incredible salad.

How To Make This Hawaiian Macaroni Salad Recipe

Once you make the dressing and combine the other ingredients, all you need to do is toss them together and chill the salad to allow the flavors to mingle.

OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS

Follow the directions on the macaroni package for the cooking time of the pasta. You’ll want it to be al dente and not too soft.

STEP ONE: While the cooked, drained macaroni noodles are still hot, add the warm pasta, grated carrots, grated sweet onion, apple cider vinegar, kosher salt, and pepper to a large bowl. Gently stir to incorporate the salad completely. Cover the mixing bowl and let the mixture sit for 10 to 15 minutes.

pasta, grated carrots, grated sweet onion, apple cider vinegar, kosher salt and pepper added to a bowl and wrapped with plastic

STEP TWO: Using a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, milk, and sugar until smooth.

mayonnaise, milk, and sugar whisked into a bowl

STEP THREE: Gently fold the dressing into the macaroni salad. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours up to overnight. Before serving, gently stir the macaroni salad.

PRO TIP:

Just before serving, if the macaroni salad is a bit stiff, you can stir in 1 to 2 tablespoons of milk.

dressing folded into the bowl of macaroni salad

How To Serve This Simple Macaroni Salad

This Hawaiian-style macaroni salad would be the perfect side dish to bring to a potluck.

Add our cucumber salad or potato salad for another great addition to the menu.

This salad would be tasty any time of year, whether for a summer barbecue or holiday gathering.

Pasta salad recipes are the way to go when feeding a crowd. Check out our dill pickle pasta salad and Caprese pasta salad that you can whip up in a flash.

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Storing This Hawaiian Salad Recipe

Whether you’re planning to make it ahead for a potluck or have some leftovers after a satisfying meal, here are some handy storage tips to keep it fresh and delicious.

MAKE AHEAD: It’s a good idea to plan to make this salad ahead of time. After you’ve prepared the salad according to the recipe, let it cool down to room temperature.

Once cooled, cover it tightly with plastic wrap or transfer it to an airtight container. Pop it in the refrigerator, and it’ll stay fresh for up to 24 hours. Just before serving, give it a gentle stir to redistribute the flavors, and you’re all set!

IN THE FRIDGE: Store any leftovers of this creamy mac salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

IN THE FREEZER: We would not recommend freezing this Hawaiian pasta salad.

close up shot of a spoonful of Hawaiian Macaroni Salad

Add a little bit of tropical flavors of the Hawaiian islands to your pasta salad with this authentic Hawaiian macaroni salad. With a handful of ingredients and a tangy dressing, you’ll have a creamy side dish.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this salad ahead of time?

This simple recipe needs to chill in the fridge for at least a couple of hours up to overnight, so it is a great make-ahead recipe that you can prepare the day before.

Can I use a different type of pasta in this recipe?

This creamy macaroni salad would be yummy with any short type of pasta, such as rotini, fusilli, or cavatappi.

Can I freeze this pasta salad?

This delicious recipe won’t freeze as the dressing will separate, and the noodles will get soggy. We recommend making it fresh.

More Recipes You’ll Love

Hawaiian Macaroni Salad

5 from 1 vote

Our classic Hawaiian macaroni salad is a great side dish or potluck option full of veggies, pasta, and sweet creamy dressing.

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 15

Total Time 2 35

Servings

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Ingredients

Macaroni Salad

16 ounces elbow macaroni, cooked according to box directions, drained
½ cup carrots, finely grated
¼ cup sweet yellow onion, grated
3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper

Dressing

2½ cups mayonnaise
½ cup whole milk
2 teaspoons granulated sugar

Instructions

While the cooked, drained macaroni is still hot, add the cooked macaroni, grated carrots, grated onion, apple cider vinegar, kosher salt and pepper to a large mixing bowl. Gently stir to completely incorporate the salad. Cover the mixing bowl and let the mixture sit for 10 to 15 minutes.
Using a small mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, milk and sugar until smooth.
Gently fold the dressing into the macaroni salad. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours to overnight. Before serving, gently stir the macaroni salad.

Notes

Any mayonnaise will work in this great recipe, I chose the lighter Kraft Mayo, but some swear by Dukes.
Follow the directions on the macaroni package for the cooking time of the pasta. You’ll want it to be al dente and not too soft.
Just before serving, if the macaroni salad is a bit stiff, you can stir in 1 to 2 tablespoons of milk.

Nutrition

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Proudly Prepared by the Spaceships Kitchen

This recipe was developed, tested, cooked and photographed by the Spaceships Kitchen. From our dinner table to yours, we hope you think it's out of this world!