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Home » Recipes » Side Recipes » Simple Macaroni Salad

Simple Macaroni Salad

By Lynette on June 18, 2019 · Leave a Comment

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simple macaroni salad in bowl

This is by far the best simple macaroni salad you will ever have the pleasure of eating.  Crisp vegetables in a creamy sauce make this recipe one of our favorite old fashioned summertime side dishes.

simple macaroni salad in bowl

Are you looking for a simple Macaroni recipe?  While I love macaroni casserole, sometimes you need a fresh and more chilled recipe depending on the season.Well I have one!  Here’s why I find this to be the best recipe out there:

  • It’s super creamy.  I like my macaroni salad on the creamier side and even the day after making it, it keeps it creamy-ness.
  • It’s super easy to pull it all together.
  • It’s best the second day!  I highly recommend making this recipe the day before you need to serve it. The homemade sauce get thicker and makes the perfect base for this crunchy macaroni salad.

How to Make Macaroni Salad

chopped crisp vegetables for macaroni salad

Chop up the red onions, celery, red pepper and green pepper.  While you’re chopping you can boil the elbow macaroni until it’s fully cooked.

elbow macaroni and crisp vegetables in bowl for macaroni salad

Combine all chopped vegetables and cooled macaroni in a bowl and let sit for 10 minutes.  I like to let the flavors of the vegetables soak into the macaroni before I add the creamy homemade sauce.  This step is similar to what I do with the homemade potato salad recipe.

creamy macaroni salad sauce poured over vegetables

Combine the sauce ingredients in a large bowl and add to the chopped vegetables and cooled macaroni.

simple macaroni salad in bowl

This recipe could not be creamier!  After a full day in the refrigerator, the homemade sauce gets thicker but keeps it creamy-ness.  This simple macaroni salad is now one of my favorites.  Enjoy!

More Side Dishes

  • Orzo Pasta Salad
  • Calico Beans Recipe
  • Homemade Cornbread Recipe
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simple macaroni salad in bowl with spoon

Simple Macaroni Recipe

  • Author: Lynette Rice
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 mins
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 12 1x
  • Category: Side Dish
  • Method: Combine
  • Cuisine: American
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Description

Simple macaroni salad made with crisp vegetables and a homemade creamy sauce.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 oz macaroni, fully cooked and cooled
  • ½ green pepper, chopped
  • 4 celery stalks, chopped
  • ½ red pepper, chopped
  • ½ small red onion, chopped
  • 1 Cup mayonnaise
  • ½ cup sweetened condensed milk
  • ¼ cup + 1 Tablespoon white vinegar
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Boil the macaroni. Let cool.
  2. Chop the vegetables and place in large bowl.  Add cooled macaroni and let sit for 10 minutes.
  3. In a large bowl, combine the remaining ingredients.  Combine with vegetables and macaroni.
  4. Refrigerate overnight and serve chilled.

Keywords: simple macaroni salad, macaroni salad with sweetened condensed milk, how to make macaroni salad

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Tag @cleverlysimple on Instagram and hashtag it #cleverlysimple

This recipe was originally published March, 2015.  It has been updated to better the recipe for you!

« Egg Casserole Recipe
Life at Our Farmhouse (June 2019) »

About Lynette

Lynette is the home cook, recipe tester and photographer for Cleverly Simple which she created in 2010.  Most of her recipes come from the treasured recipe box passed down from her great-grandma, grandmother, and mother.

Lynette’s recipes and projects have been featured in Country Living, Good Housekeeping, House Beautiful and others.

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Lynette Rice head shotHi, I’m Lynette. My desire is to help women who feel uninspired weave time honored recipes into their routines to create a sense of simplicity. Most of my recipes come from the treasured recipe box passed down from my great-grandma, grandmother and mother. And I want to share them with you.  Learn more.

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