The Best Macaroni Salad

The Best Macaroni Salad is a staple for every cookout, holiday dinner or special occasion at our house. We love this macaroni salad with a sweet dressing that will taste great with just about every meal. 

Have you ever had a rich and creamy macaroni salad with a sweet dressing? I have to say that sounds all the way crazy, but it totally works. I think many people call this Sweet Macaroni Salad.

Why You’ll Love this Recipe

• Easy Make Ahead Recipe: This is an easy side dish to make ahead for holidays, cookouts or just to have on hand for busy families. It lasts well in the fridge for several days.
• Feeds a Crowd: Makes a large batch for potlucks, holidays, cookouts and family dinners.
• Vintage Recipe: An old fashioned macaroni salad recipe from my mother in law that everyone enjoys.

Ingredients for Sweet Macaroni Salad

• Macaroni or Cavatappi Noodles
• Bell Pepper: use green bell pepper or red bell peppers
• Red Onion
• Carrots
• Celery
• Mayonnaise
• Sweetened Condensed Milk
• White Vinegar
• Cheddar Cheese

How to Make The Best Macaroni Salad

1. Boil macaroni according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water to cool down. Drain well.
2. Chop celery, carrots, bell peppers and red onion. Shred cheese.

3. Mix sweet condensed milk, mayonnaise and vinegar together.

4. Mix macaroni and dressing together in a large bowl until well combined.
5. Stir in vegetables and shredded cheese.
6. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or until ready to serve.

Recipe Notes

• Storage: Keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator 3- 4 days.
• Variations: I have changed the original creamy dressing by leaving out the sugar in the dressing. Use any veggies that you have on hand, roasted red peppers, peas and green onions to change up the flavor of this classic macaroni salad.

More Side Dishes to Check Out

• Easy Pasta Salad Recipe – a lighter version with summer veggies and a creamy dressing.
• Classic Potato Salad – with pickle relish, hard-boiled eggs and a mayo and brown mustard dressing.
• Skillet Mexican Street Corn – everyone begs for this recipe when I make it and it’s incredibly easy to make.
• Asian Ramen Salad ~ Julie’s Eats & Treats

Sweet Macaroni Salad is always a crowd favorite, perfect for backyard barbecues, holiday gatherings, or special celebrations with family and friends. The delicious sweet dressing pairs wonderfully with just about any meal, making it an ideal side dish for any occasion.

Try this easy recipe soon, and if you love it as much as we do, please leave a comment or rating below—we’d love to hear from you!

Print Recipe

4.58 from 7 votes

The Best Macaroni Salad (Sweet Macaroni Salad)

The Best Macaroni Salad is a staple for every cookout, holiday dinner or special occasion at our house. We’ve been making this macaroni salad that has a sweet dressing that just goes perfectly with just about every meal. 

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time15 minutes mins

Total Time25 minutes mins

Course: Side Dishes

Cuisine: American

Servings: 10

Calories: 304kcal

Author: Milisa

Ingredients

• 16 oz elbow macaroni or cavatappi
• 1 bell pepper diced
• 1 red onion diced
• 3 stalks celery diced
• 1 carrot diced or shredded
• 2 cups mayonnaise
• 1 can sweetened condensed milk
• ½ cup white vinegar
• 8 oz shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

• Cook macaroni according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water until cooled. Drain well.
• In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, sweetened condensed milk and vinegar.
• Add macaroni and dressing together in a bow, mixing to combine.
• Add vegetables and shredded cheese and mix well.
• Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or until ready to serve.

Notes

Refrigerate up 3-4 days in an airtight container.

Nutrition

Calories: 304kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 19g | Cholesterol: 26mg | Sodium: 279mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g

This recipe has been updated with new photos and text, originally published in October, 2010.