Macaroni salad
Type of pasta salad
title: "Macaroni salad" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["macaroni-dishes", "noodle-salads", "world-cuisine"] description: "Type of pasta salad" topic_path: "general/macaroni-dishes" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macaroni_salad" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Type of pasta salad ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox food"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Macaroni salad |
| image | [[File:Macaroni salad.jpg |
| caption | Top: Macaroni salad from Dayton, Virginia |
| Bottom: Filipino chicken macaroni salad | |
| course | Side dish or appetizer |
| type | Salad |
| served | Cold |
| main_ingredient | Macaroni, usually mayonnaise, onions, pickles, celery |
| :: |
| name = Macaroni salad | image = [[File:Macaroni salad.jpg|230px]][[File:Chicken macaroni salad.jpg|230px]] |image_size= | caption = Top: Macaroni salad from Dayton, Virginia Bottom: Filipino chicken macaroni salad | alternate_name = | country = | region = | creator = | course = Side dish or appetizer | type = Salad | served = Cold | main_ingredient = Macaroni, usually mayonnaise, onions, pickles, celery | variations = | calories = | other =
Macaroni salad is a type of pasta salad also referred to as "mac salad", served cold, made with cooked elbow macaroni and usually prepared with mayonnaise. Much like potato salad or coleslaw in its use, it is often served as a side dish to barbecue, fried chicken, or other picnic-style dishes. Like any dish, national and regional variations abound but generally it is prepared with raw diced onions, dill or sweet pickles and celery and seasoned with salt and pepper.
By country
Australia and New Zealand
In Australia and New Zealand, it is commonly known as pasta salad, which is usually made with cooked shell pasta pieces and bought from supermarket delis.
Philippines
In the Philippines, macaroni salad is a dessert or appetizer with a mildly sweet flavor. It does not use onions, pepper, or celery. It typically uses native sweetened jellies, cheese, as well as various fruits in contrast to western macaroni salads. It is commonly consumed during holidays such as Christmas and New Year's Day, as well as parties and gatherings. A common variant adds shredded chicken and is known as chicken salad or chicken macaroni salad.
United States
In the United States, macaroni salad has been described as a "deli staple". In Hawaii, macaroni salad is a popular staple in plate lunches and is traditionally made with grated onion and macaroni cooked until very soft. In Puerto Rico, macaroni salad may contain mayonnaise, mustard, canned tuna or bits of Spam, onions, Cubanelle peppers and pimentos.
References
References
- The Christian Science Monitor. (September 24, 2014). "Buttermilk bacon cheddar macaroni salad".
- (2004). "The New Best Recipe". America's Test Kitchen.
- (2010). "Food, Cuisine, and Cultural Competency for Culinary, Hospitality, and Nutrition Professionals". Jones & Bartlett Learning.
- (2012). "Filipino Cookbook: 85 Homestyle Recipes to Delight Your Family and Friends". Tuttle Publishing.
- "Filipino Chicken Macaroni Salad Recipe".
- Paiva, Derek. (December 4, 2009). "How to make Hawaiʻi plate-lunch-style macaroni salad.".
- Cheung, Alexis. (February 25, 2019). "Hawaiian Mac Salad Isn't Mainland Mac Salad".
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