This creamy cold macaroni salad is the newest addition to my go-to summer side dishes. Once the weather warms up, you can almost always find a bowl of it chilling in my refrigerator.

Perfect for BBQs, picnics, and potlucks, this easy make-ahead pasta salad gets even better as it chills and always disappears fast.

If it’s not this cold pasta salad I’m whipping up, it’s Crab Pasta Salad, Deviled Eggs Pasta Salad, or Pickle Pasta Salad.

Clear bowl with pasta, onions, relish, celery and dressing.

What Makes This Recipe Unique?

My pasta salad recipe differs from others because it uses both fresh and dried dill. Fresh dill is bright, while dried dill is deeper and more concentrated.

Freshly mixed macaroni salad in a clear bowl.

Things To Keep In Mind When Making

Cook pasta just to al dente. Slightly firm pasta holds up better in the salad and won’t become mushy once mixed with the dressing.
Rinse the pasta with cold water. This stops the cooking process and cools the pasta quickly so it doesn’t warm the dressing.
Chill before serving. Refrigerate the salad for at least 60 minutes so the flavors can blend together.
Keep it creamy but balanced. If the salad thickens after chilling, stir in a small spoonful of mayo to loosen it.
Make in advance. Cook and store the pasta up to a day in advance and store seperately from the dressing. Combine all the ingredients right before serving.

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Recipe Variations for Pasta Salad

Stir in sour cream: For an extra creamy dressing, mix in a spoonful of sour cream along with the mayonnaise. It adds a subtle tang and makes the salad even richer.
Add pickled pepperoncinis, pickled red onions, or capers for extra tang.
Spicy Pasta Salad: Add diced jalapeños, pickled jalapeños, a pinch of cayenne pepper, or a few dashes of hot sauce to the dressing for a little heat.

What To Serve With Macaroni Salad

Cold pasta salad pairs well with bbq chicken thighs, sandwiches, hamburgers, tri tip, or a fresh green salad.

More Easy Summer Salad Recipes

Classic Macaroni Salad

Classic Macaroni Salad is a creamy blend of tender pasta, mayonnaise, mustard, relish, crisp onions, celery, and fresh dill, all tossed in a signature pasta salad dressing. Quick to make and always a crowd-pleaser.

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Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 15

Total Time: 30

Servings: 8 people

Calories: 446kcal

Author: Darcey Olson

Cost: $8.00

Ingredients

1 lb elbow macaroni (*Note 1)
½ cup diced red onions
3 stalks celery, diced
1 tbsp minced fresh dill (*Note 2)

DRESSING

1 cup mayonnaise (*Note 3)
½ cup sour cream
2 tbsp white vinegar (*Note 4)
1 tbsp yellow mustard
1 tbsp relish
1 tbsp white sugar
1 tsp garlic powder
½ tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
⅛ tps dried dill (*Note 5)

Instructions

Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil. Cook pasta al dente, according to the package directions. Transfer the pasta to a colander and run under cold water to stop the cooking. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.
While the pasta is cooking, make the dressing. Add all of the ingredients to a small mixing bowl and stir to combine.
Add the red onions, celery, fresh dill to the mixing bowl with the cooked pasta. Use a spatula and gently toss to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.

Notes

Note 1 – You can sub in your favorite small pasta shape.

Note 2 – If you only have dried dill, add in 1 teaspoon of dried dill in place of the fresh dill.

Note 3 – Use your favorite brand of mayo. If you use a sub-par brand the final product will suffer.

Note 4 – You can use red wine vinegar instead, if preferred.

Note 5 – Omit if you only have fresh dill. You may need to add an extra teaspoon of diced fresh dill at the end, if the dill flavor isn’t strong enough.