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Creamy comfort meets party-ready appeal with this macaroni salad, packed with pasta, peas, and ham – a potluck winner in minutes!

Quick + Easy Pasta Salad

In search of a grea pasta salad to bring to your next family dinner, picnic, BBQ, shower or brunch?

We have lots of pasta salad recipes on the site, but we have a few that have become our go-to’s for such events, and it includes today’s recipe for classic Macaroni Salad (and our classic Pasta Salad).

This particular recipe has been made my whole life and is one our mom has made for holidays, summer get togethers and more. We especially love that this one is so simple, quick and tasty. When we are looking to make it a little more hearty, our Chicken Macaroni Salad is great too!

WHY WE LOVE IT:

  • Quick & easy crowd-pleaser. This champion of simplicity comes together in minutes, making it a perfect BBQ side dish for potlucks or a quick weeknight dinner idea.
  • Endless customization. Tailor this easy side dish to dietary needs, add your favorite protein like shredded chicken or tuna, or experiment with different spices, herbs, and veggies for a personalized flavor profile.
  • Budget-friendly. Macaroni salad is kind on your wallet. You can easily stretch it further by incorporating leftover cooked chicken or other protein.
Dry pasta ready to cook.

Ingredients

  • 24 ounces (or 6 cups) elbow macaroni Anything that is bite-sized and has grooves works well, such as shells, wagon wheels, bow ties, penne, or rotini.
  • 1 ยฝ cups cubed ham or tuna or diced chicken
  • 1 (12-ounce) bag frozen peas thawed you can also use diced celery, tomatoes, red bell peppers, black olives, or sliced radishes. Don’t add too many extras otherwise, there won’t be enough sauce to cover it all.
  • 1ยฝ cups mayonnaise
  • 1 cup milk
  • ยฝ cup ranch dressing
  • salt and black pepper to taste – you can also season with garlic powder, fresh parsley, and paprika
  • paprika to taste

How to Make Macaroni Salad

  1. COMBINE. Cook 24 ounces of macaroni in salted water according to package directions. Drain and rinse.
    • In a large bowl, combine cooked macaroni, 1ยฝ cups ham, and 12-ounce bag frozen peas.
  2. DRESSING. In a separate bowl, mix the 1ยฝ cups mayonnaise, 1 cup milk, and ยฝ cup ranch dressing.
    • Add dressing to the pasta and mix until coated.
  3. SEASON. Season with salt, pepper, and paprika to taste. Stir in any additional desired mix-ins and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Extra Flavor

Salting the water beautifully seasons the pasta. Once the water is boiling, right before adding the macaroni, youโ€™ll want to add 1 tablespoon of salt per pound of pasta to the pot.

Close up image of macaroni salad in white bowl with peas and ham cubes.
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4.98 from 111 votes

Macaroni Salad

By: Lil’ Luna
Creamy comfort meets party-ready appeal with this macaroni salad, packed with pasta, peas, and ham – a potluck winner in minutes!
Servings: 16
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 20 minutes

Equipment

Ingredients 

  • 24 ounces (or 6 cups) elbow macaroni
  • 1ยฝ cups cubed ham
  • 1 (12-ounce) bag frozen peas, thawed
  • 1ยฝ cups mayonnaise
  • 1 cup milk
  • ยฝ cup ranch dressing
  • salt and black pepper to taste
  • paprika to taste

Instructions 

  • Cook macaroni in salted water according to package directions. Drain and rinse.
  • In a large bowl, combine cooked macaroni, ham, and peas.
  • In a separate bowl, mix the mayonnaise, milk, and ranch dressing.
  • Add dressing to the pasta and mix until coated.
  • Season with salt, pepper, and paprika. Stir in any additional desired mix-ins and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Video

Notes

Make ahead of time.ย Macaroni salad can be made 24 hours ahead of time. Mix most of the dressing in before storing in an airtight container in the refrigerator, but reserve a little dressing to add right before serving, to freshen up the salad in case it is a little dry.ย 
Try a different pasta. Anything that is bite-sized and has grooves works well, such as shells, wagon wheels, bow ties, penne, or rotini.
Perfect for parties.ย We use this recipe for many get-togethers, like holidays and baby showers. It makes a lot, so be sure to halve it if youโ€™re looking to serve closer to 8 people.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g, Calories: 353kcal, Carbohydrates: 33g, Protein: 8g, Fat: 21g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 12g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Trans Fat: 0.04g, Cholesterol: 18mg, Sodium: 349mg, Potassium: 127mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 42IU, Vitamin C: 0.03mg, Calcium: 31mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Recipe FAQ

  • Itโ€™s not recommended for any food to be left out for longer than 2 hours at room temperature and less in the heat. This is especially true for mayo-based dishes.
  • Only set out a little at a time and leave the rest in a cooler with ice.
  • Set the bowl of macaroni salad inside a large bowl with ice in it. 
  • Add some of your favorites to change up the salad a little. However, don’t add too many extras otherwise, there won’t be enough sauce to cover it all. 
    • Use sweet pickles or even sweet pickle relish.
    • Add chopped red onion or scallions.
    • Add in a diced boiled egg or two.
    • Add cheese chunks: cheddar cheese or Colby jack is yummy.
    • Add a dab of Dijon mustard or a splash of apple cider vinegar.
    • Add a bit of crunch with chow mein noodles.
  • Macaroni salad can be made 24 hours ahead of time. Mix most of the dressing in before storing it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reserve a little dressing to add right before serving, to freshen up the salad in case it is a little dry. 
  • Leftover classic macaroni salad can be stored covered, in the fridge for up to 5 days. If it gets dry, mix up a little more macaroni salad dressing and re-toss. 

For More Pasta Salad:

About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and Iโ€™m the mom of SIX stinkinโ€™ cute kids and the wife to my smokinโ€™ hot hubby, Lo. My momโ€™s maiden name is Luna, and Iโ€™m one of the many crafty โ€œLilโ€™ Lunasโ€ in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

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4.98 from 111 votes (87 ratings without comment)

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48 Comments

  1. Shelly Hunter says:

    5 stars
    I made this today with some leftover ham. This is what I did different: I used rotini noodles because it was what I had on hand. I also added green onion and celery for the crunch. Because my pasta is gluten free it absorbs more liquid so I added a little more milk and some dried ranch powder. Totally making it for my next potluck!!