The Best Hawaiian Macaroni Salad Recipe

Name: The Best Hawaiian Macaroni Salad Recipe
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 1 h 35 min
Yield: 10
Ingredients: 1 pound elbow macaroni, cooked; ¾ cup shredded carrots; ½ cup green onions, diced (both the white and green portions); ½ cup celery, diced; ¼ cup yellow onion, finely diced; 2 cups mayonnaise; ½ cup milk; 2 tablespoons yellow onion, finely diced; ¼ cup apple cider vinegar; 2 tablespoons brown sugar; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; 1/2 teaspoon salt

posted by Michelle Goth on May 31, 2022 (updated Jan 15, 2024)

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Get ready for your summer BBQ with this traditional Hawaiian Mac Salad! This creamy macaroni salad is a GREAT recipe and the perfect side dish for cookouts.

With summer’s arrival, we all need some good pasta salad recipes in our arsenal. This Hawaiian Macaroni Salad recipe is easy to make, using simple ingredients to make a sweet, creamy dressing.

The only macaroni salad recipe you’ll ever need! I made this a few weeks ago and it was delicious!!!
-Angie

It’s a staple on the Hawaiian Islands as part of Hawaiian plate lunch with dishes like Huli Huli Chicken, Teriyaki Chicken or Kalua Pork, but I love to serve it as the side dish star of Midwestern barbecues!

Although I’ve never been to Hawaii, I’ve had this Hawaiian style macaroni salad more times than I can count at our local Hawaiian restaurant, Hawaiian Bros! It’s the perfect balance of creamy, sweet and tangy flavor.

Making authentic Hawaiian mac salad is easier than you think! This simple recipe combines cooked macaroni pasta with a creamy, sweet and tangy dressing. Then, a handful of ingredients are chopped and included to give the recipe some crunch and freshness!

If you have more macaroni pasta to use up, I recommend checking out this Tuna Macaroni Salad.

For the mayonnaise, many prefer to use Best Foods brand mayonnaise. Using this brand of mayonnaise will make the most authentic Hawaiian macaroni salad.

You are fine to use any type of real mayo, but I would not recommend using Miracle Whip. This creamy side dish relies on the quality of the mayonnaise that you use, so pick a good one!

You can also easily convert this to a Hawaiian potato salad, using 8 cups of cooked, cubed potatoes instead of macaroni noodles.

Storage:

This recipe will store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 4-5 days without loss in quality. Add a splash of cold water and stir if the noodles have started to clump before serving.