Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
I’m thrilled to share one of my go-to recipes from the heart of Hawaii: Classic Hawaiian Macaroni Salad. Picture creamy goodness mingled with vibrant flavors, creating a taste sensation that transports you to the island’s sandy shores and gentle breezes. This dish isn’t just a side; it’s a culinary vacation.

This Hawaiian Macaroni Salad is the perfect companion to a plate piled high with smoked baby back ribs, adding a creamy contrast to the savory meat. Pair it with a scoop of deviled egg potato salad for a true feast. And don’t forget to save room for a refreshing Hawaiian fruit salad on the side, bursting with tropical flavors to complete your culinary journey to paradise.
What you’ll love about this recipe:

Ingredients for Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
Hawaiian Macaroni Salad Recipe
- Cook the Macaroni: In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the elbow macaroni
- according to package instructions until it is very soft, not al dente. Drain well and return
- to the pot.
- Season the Warm Macaroni: While the macaroni is still warm, sprinkle it with apple
cider vinegar. Toss to combine and let it cool for about 10 minutes.
- Prepare the Dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, milk, sugar,
salt, and pepper until smooth and well blended. Taste and adjust the seasoning as
needed. - Combine Ingredients: Add the grated carrots and grated onion to the cooled macaroni.
Pour the dressing over the macaroni mixture and stir until everything is well coated and
combined.
- Chill: Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight. This
allows the flavors to meld and the salad to thicken. - Serve: Before serving, stir the salad once more and adjust seasonings if necessary.
Garnish with sliced green onions if desired. Enjoy!


Tips & Tricks
Soft Macaroni: Cooking the macaroni until it’s very soft is key to the authentic texture of
this salad. It absorbs the dressing better and gives the salad its signature creamy
consistency.
Dressing Adjustments: If the salad seems too dry after chilling, feel free to add a little
extra mayonnaise or milk until you reach your desired creaminess. This can vary
depending on the brand of mayonnaise used and personal preference.
Customization: Feel free to add other ingredients based on your taste preferences.
Common additions include chopped hard-boiled eggs, celery for crunch, or even a bit of
cooked and shredded chicken to turn it into a main dish.
Make Ahead: This salad tastes best when made ahead of time, allowing the flavors to
blend together in the refrigerator. It’s a perfect dish for picnics, potlucks, and BBQs for
this reason.

FAQs about Hawaiian Macaroni Salad


Hawaiian Macaroni Salad Recipe
I’m thrilled to share one of my go-to recipes from the heart of Hawaii: Classic Hawaiian Macaroni Salad. Picture creamy goodness mingled with vibrant flavors, creating a taste sensation that transports you to the island’s sandy shores and gentle breezes. This dish isn’t just a side; it’s a culinary vacation.
Ingredients
- 1 pound elbow macaroni
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 carrots, peeled and grated
- 1/4 cup finely grated onion
- 2 1/2 cups mayonnaise (preferably Best Foods or Hellmann's)
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Green onions (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook the Macaroni: In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the elbow macaroni according to package instructions until it is very soft, not al dente. Drain well and return to the pot.
- Season the Warm Macaroni: While the macaroni is still warm, sprinkle it with the apple cider vinegar. Toss to combine and let it cool for about 10 minutes.
- Prepare the Dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, milk, sugar, salt, and pepper until smooth and well blended. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
- Combine Ingredients: Add the grated carrots and grated onion to the cooled macaroni. Pour the dressing over the macaroni mixture and stir until everything is well coated and combined.
- Chill: Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight. This allows the flavors to meld and the salad to thicken.
- Serve: Before serving, stir the salad once more and adjust seasonings if necessary. Garnish with sliced green onions if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
- Soft Macaroni: Cooking the macaroni until it's very soft is key to the authentic texture of this salad. It absorbs the dressing better and gives the salad its signature creamy consistency.
- Dressing Adjustments: If the salad seems too dry after chilling, feel free to add a little extra mayonnaise or milk until you reach your desired creaminess. This can vary depending on the brand of mayonnaise used and personal preference.
- Customization: Feel free to add other ingredients based on your taste preferences. Common additions include chopped hard-boiled eggs, celery for crunch, or even a bit of cooked and shredded chicken to turn it into a main dish.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 587Total Fat: 53gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 43gCholesterol: 32mgSodium: 495mgCarbohydrates: 22gFiber: 2gSugar: 4gProtein: 5g