Nana's Southern Style Macaroni Salad is the best ever pasta salad of all time. It is creamy with the perfect crunch and a little tang. It is exactly what I think of whenever summer sides come to mind. This recipe is so easy you can whip it up in less than 30 minutes.
I shared stories of my mom with you when we shared her Southern Style Potato Salad recipe which is so precious to me.
Now, I am sharing another of her famous recipes. Her southern style macaroni salad was on our table at every summer gathering, right next to that potato salad.
I remember she had this huge milking pail from my great grandma's childhood farm that she used to serve it in. I love that old pot.
A few weeks before my mom passed away she gave it to her best friend of 30 years, Susie Q. I was sad to see it go, but Susie Q is like a mom to me and I know she will cherish it.
Not to mention she promised to leave it to me in her will. Love you Susie Q and thank you for sharing these stellar recipes with my family so many years ago.
I have to tell y'all that your responses last week were overwhelming. I can't even begin to express how much your comments, emails and messages mean to us.
As a matter of fact, keep commenting. We love to hear from you.
My family enjoyed this recipe at every family gathering for most of my life and I am so happy to be able to share it with you.
Nana's Southern Style Macaroni Salad is so easy to make, you may find yourself preparing it every weekend.
A creamy dressing with added hard boiled eggs for richness, celery and onion for crunch and tuna for a little added protein.
This is my favorite macaroni salad recipe and I am sure you are going to love it too.
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Helpful Tips to make Southern Style Macaroni Salad:
- Best if chilled overnight.
What you will need to make Southern Style Macaroni Salad:
Enjoy!
With love from our simple kitchen to yours.
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Check out more of our favorite summer sides recipes:
Southern Style Potato SaladThe Best Ever Broccoli Salad
The Best Ever Oven Roasted Corn
See how easy this Southern Style Macaroni Salad is to make. Watch the video!!!
Yield: 16
Southern Style Macaroni Salad
Southern Style Macaroni Salad is the best ever pasta salad of all time. It is creamy with the perfect crunch and a little tang. It is exactly what I think of whenever summer sides come to mind. This recipe is so easy you can whip it up in less than 30 minutes.
prep time: 15 minscook time: 15 minstotal time: 30 mins
Ingredients
- 2 pounds dried elbow pasta
- 3 large hard boiled eggs
- 3 celery stalks, diced
- ½ medium onion, diced
- 1 (6.4 ounce) pouch chunk light tuna, in water
- 1 (30 ounce) jar Hellman’s/Best Foods mayonnaise
- ½ (30 ounce) jar Miracle Whip salad dressing spread
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons fresh ground black pepper
- Optional: paprika
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta (al dente) according to directions on the package. Pour into strainer to drain water and set aside (in strainer).
- Meanwhile: Dice onion and celery. Chop hard boiled eggs. Add ½ of mayonnaise and ½ of Miracle Whip to the pasta pot. Add tuna, onion, celery and eggs. Stir to combine. Add drained pasta and stir until well combined. Add remaining mayonnaise and Miracle Whip. Add salt and pepper to taste. Stir to combine.
- Sprinkle with paprika (if desired). Chill until ready to serve.
- Serve and enjoy!
DONNA'S NOTE
- Best if chilled overnight.
Recipe developed by Donna Elick The Slow Roasted Italian
Copyright ©2014 The Slow Roasted Italian – All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2014 The Slow Roasted Italian – All rights reserved.
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This is just SO good! Takes me back to my childhood. My Mom always put tuna in and I loved it. Thanks so much for posting. Everyone should try this one.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recipes, the pics all look just delicious. This peach cobbler desert will cost me (my 1st launching) in pounds on me!xxxx but I will make sure that I start sharing with my frends this episode.
ReplyDelete.
Yummy..!
ReplyDeleteThis recipe is so very similar to how my mom made her pasta salad. With or without tuna.I think the secret is the Miracle Whip.
ReplyDeleteSounds delicious, but my god, almost a quart and a half of mayo/Miracle whip? I love them both but that sounds like overkill !!!
ReplyDeleteIt serves 16 people, it needs to be a lot lol
Deletethat is 2 pounds of pasta, that is a lot of pasta.
DeleteYou can halve the recipe if that is what you need.
DeleteShouldn't the pasta be cooled down before adding the dressing so it doesn't get absorbed by the noodles????
DeleteWe've always used miracle whip and it's just so much better! No tuna for me though... just not my taste :)
ReplyDeleteDid you use the same measurement of all ingredients without the tuna?
Delete2 bags of pasta? This must make a TON! Sounds good though! Personally I'd add at least a dozen eggs to that much pasta. :)
ReplyDeleteI just made it with half of the noodles and 3 eggs and 3 celery and 1/4 of a onion but I only put in about 7 oz of may and 7 oz of whip that is enough and a can of tuna to don't know why so much mayo and whip it to much
ReplyDeletein your picture it looks like more celery is used with 2 lbs of noodles to me it could use more eggs in even have of it and more celery
ReplyDeleteYum. Love a great pasta salad in the summer. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteIf I omit the tuna should I use the same amount of the rest of the ingredients ?
ReplyDeleteRegardless if I'm making potato salad, macaroni salad, deviled eggs, tuna salad.......etc. I always use half mayo and half Miracle Whip. Everyone always asks me for my recipe & can't figure out just what it is that makes the salad.....LOL
ReplyDeleteMy mom used to make her Macaroni salad with boiled chicken and pineapple in it..it really is good..
ReplyDeletewould I can of chicken be good instead of tuna?
ReplyDeleteYummy! Can't wait to try this!
ReplyDeleteWhen the salad sits it soaks up the mayo, as I've used less and then had to add more. I don't make that much as there is only 2 of us, but I have been making it for years ! Lo
ReplyDeleteWould pickle relish work with the pasta? Then there is the question of sweet or dill! I have always made mac and cheese with tuna!
ReplyDeleteYes sweet pickle relish will make any maccaroni salad taste great
DeleteI imagine you have to let it sit in the fridge for a few hours to cool the pasta and let it soak up the mayo mix.
ReplyDeleteWOW VERY NICE
ReplyDeleteIs there a difference between Miracle Whip dressing and spread ?
ReplyDeleteAlmost like my recipe but I add in yellow mustard, a few more eggs, cucumbers and a little garlic powder
ReplyDeleteI agree, we've always used Miracle Whip for that little extra zip. But the salad is a misnomer...nowhere in you story or description does it ever mention tuna fish until you see it listed in the recipe. I love tuna, but not in my macaroni salad. I'll try it without.
ReplyDeleteThat's a small amount of tuna for so much pasta! I skip the eggs & add cut up cheddar cheese...yum!!! This is a family favorite, but have just used Miracle Whip. May have to add some mayo next time.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny how everyone has their own take on this recipe. Mine is very similar but I don't use onions. I have added cucumber and have used shrimp instead of tuna. Anyway you make it - it's yummy.
ReplyDeleteI use canned chicken and it’s great doesn’t have that fishy tuna taste, that’s what my family says. Instead of miracle whip I’ve used a little rasbeeey vinaigrette to get that little sweet tang and it works well but I always put peas in mine as well
ReplyDeleteThis is great especially in hot Summer with drained, canned salmon ....fresh tomato slices and crackers on the side!
ReplyDeleteSometimes I add a tad of home made relish
ReplyDelete