Hawaiian Macaroni Salad is creamy, delicious and made with simple pantry ingredients. This pasta salad is the perfect side dish to make this summer.
This Hawaiian Macaroni is a simple pasta dish that is great served with all your summer barbecues. There are no tropical flavors in this pasta dish, just simple pantry ingredients.
During the summer, we love our easy macaroni salad and we make a lot of macaroni salad recipes and potato salads. They are an easy side dish to all of our grilled meats and they are easy to make. This Hawaiian Macaroni Salad is packed with simple flavors.
Check out more of our easy pasta recipes.
What is Hawaiian Macaroni Salad?
Hawaiian macaroni salad is a creamy pasta salad made mainly with macaroni and mayonnaise that originated in Hawaii. It has been popular there for generations and is commonly served as part of a plate lunch with rice and a favorite meat or other Hawaiian dish.
What makes it different from regular macaroni salad is its simple ingredients and extra creamy texture. Traditional versions often cook the pasta softer than al dente, so it soaks up more of the dressing, and vinegar is usually added while the pasta is still warm. We cook ours al dente for a little more texture, but you can cook it softer if you prefer the more traditional style.
Ingredients
Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe and ingredients for the recipe card.
Substitutions and Additions
- Macaroni – We used elbow noodles in this recipe. You can use other types of small macaroni options.
- Add in Vegetables – This pasta salad is known for being a very simple side dish. But if you prefer, you can add in white grated onion, celery rib, fresh crab or relish. But these items are not necessary. Frozen peas are another great addition. Just thaw before adding to the macaroni salad.
- Greek Yogurt – To try and make this pasta dish a little healthier, you can substitute the mayo for Greek Yogurt. But keep in mind it will change the taste.
- Milk – If you prefer, you can substitute the milk for other options. We have not tried it with an almond milk or a cashew milk but some recipes say it turned out delicious.
- Hard-Boiled Eggs – You can also add in chopped boiled eggs if you prefer. They are not necessary for this salad but some recipes add it.
- Pineapple – Adds sweetness, although it is not traditional in classic Hawaiian macaroni salad.
- Ham or Spam – Dice and stir in for a heartier version.
- Potatoes – Add cooked diced potatoes for a Hawaiian style potato mac salad.
How to Make Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
Step 1 – Cook Pasta – Cook the elbow macaroni based on the pasta instructions to al dente in a large pot. Drain the pasta. Rinse with water.
Step 2 – Toss Pasta with ingredients – Place in a large mixing bowl. Pour the vinegar on top and toss in the shredded carrots and onions. Set aside to cool.
Step 3 – Make the Dressing – In a separate bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, whole milk and sugar.
Step 4 – Mix Dressing and Pasta – Pour the dressing mixture over the pasta salad. Gently toss to coat the ingredients with the dressing.
Step 5 – Season Pasta Salad – Season with salt and black pepper. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (you can refrigerate overnight). Stir before serving and serve cold. Enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Mixing Bowl – We recommend using a large bowl to combine the pasta with the creamy dressing. This allows for the sauce to fully cover the cooked pasta.
- Cooking Pasta – Make sure to cook pasta according to package. We like the pasta to be al dente. Allow pasta to cool before mixing in the other ingredients.
- Make Ahead – We really like to make this pasta ahead of time so the ingredients marinate together. It gives it so much flavor and perfect for any gathering.
- Refrigerate Pasta – If you make the pasta salad on serving day, make sure to allow the pasta to refrigerate. We recommend placing in the fridge for at least 2 hours. This helps the ingredients to combine and gives it the best flavor. It is best to allow it to chill overnight.
- Mayonnaise – Since mayonnaise is the main ingredient in the dressing recipe, we recommend using the Real mayonnaise. It will give you better flavor than whipped mayonnaise.
Serving Suggestions
A classic Hawaiian plate lunch usually includes macaroni salad, white rice, and teriyaki chicken, Crock Pot Huli Huli Chicken, or Loco Moco. Other ideas include:
- Grilled Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs – We love grilled boneless chicken thighs and they are inexpensive to serve your family or a crowd. The cooking time is less than 20 minutes total for a super quick dinner idea.
- Pulled Pork Sandwich – Make a batch of pulled pork sandwiches for a delicious option to serve with this pasta salad. This recipe is so easy to make in the crock pot.
- Grilled BBQ Teriyaki Chicken – This is one of my family’s favorite recipes. The recipe is easy to make and the chicken is loaded with flavor.
Can you Make It Ahead of Time?
Yes, you can make this simple pasta salad ahead of time. Place in the refrigerator until ready to serve. If the pasta salad seems a little dry, just mix together mayo and milk. Then gently fold back in with the pasta ingredients.
This allows the pasta salad to turn back to be a creamy pasta salad.
How to Store Leftovers
Refrigerate the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Stir in well drained pineapple tidbits or crushed pineapple for a sweeter version. Pineapple is not traditional, but it works well if you like a sweet and savory salad.
Cook the pasta until soft, drain the pasta and add vinegar. Then chill the salad well before serving. Stir in a little extra dressing before serving if it has dried out.
Undercooking the pasta, not chilling it long enough, and letting it dry out are the most common problems. The pasta should be soft (or cooked until al dente) and the salad should stay creamy.
Spread the cooked pasta on a large baking sheet so it cools faster. Let it cool before mixing with the dressing.
More Macaroni Salad Recipes
We love to hear from you. If you make this Hawaiian Macaroni Salad Recipe, please leave us a comment or star review.
Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
Equipment
- Large Pot
- Colander
- Large Mixing Bowl
- Whisk
Ingredients
- 16 ounces Macaroni Pasta
- 2 Tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar
- 2 Carrots peeled and shredded
- 5 Green Onions thinly sliced
- 2 cups Mayonnaise Hellmann’s or Best Foods Real Mayonnaise
- ¼ cup Milk
- 2 teaspoons Sugar
- 2 teaspoons Pepper
- 1 teaspoon Salt
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Instructions
- Cook elbow macaroni according to the package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process. Transfer the pasta to a large mixing bowl.
- Pour apple cider vinegar over the pasta and toss to coat. Add peeled and shredded carrots and thinly sliced green onions. Stir to combine and allow the mixture to cool completely.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, milk, and granulated sugar until smooth.
- Pour the dressing mixture over the pasta salad. Gently toss to coat the ingredients with the dressing.
- Season with salt and black pepper, then stir to combine.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (you can refrigerate overnight). Stir before serving and serve cold. Enjoy!
I have made this so many times. Every one always loves it. Just like the macaroni salad on a hawaiian plate.
Allison – Thanks for taking the time to let us know! This made my day!
Hi! This recipe looks delicious! I make this just a little different. I add fresh or canned Pineapple (in it’s own juice). The pineapple gives it a real Hawaiian flavor! I also sometimes add red grapes cut in half.
Thank you for all the wonderful recipes you share!
Thanks for sharing – that sounds delicious!