The Best Hawaiian Macaroni Salad Recipe
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, I 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!
Serving Suggestions
I think this is one of the best side dishes for summer barbecues or potlucks! Try pairing it with a main dish like my Grilled Pork Steaks, Smoked Salmon, a delicious Green Chili Cheese Hot Dog, or Grilled Steak Kabobs!
If you need additional summer side dishes, I really love my Grilled Corn on the Cob in Foil, Greek Salad with Homemade Dressing and Easy Air Fryer Zucchini Chips!
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.
The Best Hawaiian Macaroni Salad Recipe
Ingredients
For the dressing:
- 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
For the macaroni salad:
- 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
Instructions
- Cook elbow macaroni according to package instructions.
- While the pasta cools, make the dressing, place all ingredients in a medium mixing bowl. Whisk vigorously until well combined, then allow the dressing to rest on the counter.
- In a large bowl, place cooked elbow macaroni. Pour half of the dressing over the top of the al dente pasta and gently fold with a spatula or large spoon to incorporate. Add the remaining dressing and stir gently.
- Sprinkle carrots, green onions, celery and yellow onion over the to the creamy mac salad. Toss gently to combine.
- Cover the dish and refrigerate for at least one hour.
- Serve chilled.
I added small diced cubes of Spam to enhance the Hawaiianness of this dish.
good