Hawaiian macaroni salad is the perfect side dish to any plate lunch. Tangy elbow macaroni tossed in a mayonnaise sauce and served chilled. A delicious dish that is sure to be loved.
I mean every main dish needs a good side dish right? Just like every superhero needs its side kick. And this HAWAIIAN STYLE MACARONI SALAD is just that.
Hawai’i is well known for all it’s ono plate lunches. Everything from chicken katsu to loco moco, from pastele stew, to chow fun and everything in between.
Each plate will generally come with a scoop or two of sticky, white rice and a scoop of mac salad. I thought it was only fitting to share my favorite Hawaiian style macaroni salad.
Ingredients for Hawaiian macaroni salad
- 8 ounces elbow macaroni
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 carrot, grated
- 2 tablespoons onion, diced
Tips for a great macaroni salad
- This is one time where slightly overcooking the noodles is a good thing. Slightly overcooking the noodles will allow it to better absorb the flavors.
- Be sure to add the apple cider vinegar to the noodles while the noodles are still hot. This helps to absorb the flavor better.
- You need a good mayonnaise. The mayo is a large part of the flavor. I like to use Best Foods.
- Chill the macaroni salad at least two hours before serving to allow it to set.
Should I rinse my pasta after cooking?
Pasta that will be served cold should be rinsed. This will help stop the cooking process and also keep the pasta from sticking.
Can macaroni salad be made ahead of time?
Yes. The macaroni salad needs to be chilled for at least two hours prior to serving. You can also chill overnight. So making this a day in advance would work out fine.
Why is my macaroni salad dry?
Undercooking the macaroni makes it difficult to absorb the moisture and flavors. This can cause it to be dry. If this happens you can add a little more mayonnaise and milk to moisten it back up.
How to store Hawaiian macaroni salad?
Place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator.
How long does Hawaiian macaroni salad last?
About 3-5 days in the refrigerator.
Can you freeze macaroni salad?
I would not recommend freezing. When reheating mayonnaise can separate and create an undesirable taste and texture.
How to make Hawaiian macaroni salad?
Heat a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add salt and a splash of oil to the water. Then cook the macaroni according to package directions. You’ll want to cook the noodles just past al dente.
Drain the noodles and rinse with water. Toss the warm noodles with apple cider vinegar and set aside.
In a large bowl add mayonnaise, milk, sugar, salt, and pepper. Whisk to combine.
Then add the mayonnaise mixture to the macaroni noodles and stir to combine.
Add in carrots and onion and stir until well combined.
Cover and place in the refrigerator for 4 hours or overnight until cooled.
Serve cold and ENJOY!
Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 ounces elbow macaroni
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 carrot grated
- 2 tablespoons onion diced
Instructions
- Heat a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add salt and a splash of oil to the water. Then cook the macaroni according to package directions. You’ll want to cook the noodles just past al dente.
- Drain the noodles and rinse with water. Toss the warm noodles with apple cider vinegar and set aside.
- In a large bowl add mayonnaise, milk, sugar, salt, and pepper. Whisk to combine.
- Then add the mayonnaise mixture to the macaroni noodles and stir to combine.
- Add in carrots and onion and stir until well combined.
- Cover and place in the refrigerator for 4 hours or overnight until cooled.
- Serve cold and ENJOY!
Notes
Nutrition
© Relle Lum for Keeping It Relle. Please do not copy and paste or screenshot recipes online or on social media. I’d love it if you share a link with a photo instead. Mahalo!
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This looks perfect for summer! Thanks for all the extra tips.
You’re welcome. Thanks for stopping by.
love it when tossed macaroni with mayo.. i never tried hawaiian style sald.. will try for sure 🙂
Thank you! It adds a nice flavor.
Looks delicious and comforting. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you!
Mmm, I’ve never tried putting apple cider vinegar on the warm noodles. I’ll bet that makes for a great pop of flavor!
It sure adds a little zing. Thanks for stopping by.
Yum! I’m Japanese and this reminds me a lot of our style of macaroni salad!
Thanks for stopping by. Have a great day!
This Hawaiian pasta salad looks delicious. Perfect for summer picnics and as a side at BBQs!
I love simple and flavorful recipes like this.
I’m glad I doubled this. It’s so good! I love the slightly sweet tangy dressing.
Made this today and it was so good & authentic! Thanks for sharing!
Yay. Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing.
Can I use Japanese mayo or should I use Best Foods instead?
I use Best Foods, but you could use any mayo you’d like.
Made this macaroni salad for a potluck. It disappeared so fast and everyone loved the recipe. Both kids and adults loved it!
Aloha Annie. Yay, so great to hear. Mahalo for sharing. Have a great day.
Made this several times and it comes out excellent every time, even in triple batches to feed a hungry group of High School basketball players. One quick question: I’ve been slightly undercooking the noodles thinking that’s what I read in the notes but saw them again today and realized you say that slightly OVERcooking the noodles allow for better absorption. I could see logic in both ways but wanted to be clear. Thanks in advance for your reply and for the great recipes!
Aloha Jon. Slightly over cook the noodles.