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4.98 from 106 votes

Macaroni Salad Recipe

This simple, creamy macaroni salad is loaded with pasta, peas, and ham. It's perfect for parties, family dinners, and potlucks!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Course: Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings: 16
Author: Lil' Luna

Ingredients

  • 24 ounces (or 6 cups) elbow macaroni
  • cups cubed ham
  • 1 (12-ounce) bag frozen peas thawed
  • cups mayonnaise
  • 1 cup milk
  • ½ 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. 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. 
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. We use this recipe for many get-togethers, like holidays and baby showers. It makes a lot, so be sure to halve it if you’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