Authentic Hawaiian Macaroni Salad (Easy Recipe)
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Hawaiian Macaroni Salad is a deliciously creamy, meatless side dish with tangy and sweet flavors. This easy Hawaiian pasta salad is perfect for summer! This is the perfect side dish! You’ll be hooked the first time that you make it!
At the heart of any Hawaiian lunch plate is the humble macaroni salad!
I love this simple recipe – and I think you will, too. It’s one of those side dishes that have the perfect creamy texture with a little bit of prep work needed.
Amazing recipes like this use simple ingredients to make the perfect texture. Forget about traditional macaroni salad, and try my most popular side dish.
There’s a good reason that this Hawaiian dish is a great addition to any main course.
The green onions, the creamy dressing, and the cooked pasta create a new family favorite. If you’re a fan of Hawaiian cuisine, this easy recipe needs to happen!
Hawaiian Macaroni Salad Recipe
Incredibly tasty and budget-friendly, this is one easy pasta salad recipe that you’ll want to make again and again!
The concept of noodles and vegetables tossed in dressing can be found around the world, but the combination of flavors used is unique to this string of islands.
Creamy homemade dressing with a touch of brown sugar adds a delightful sweetness to this Hawaiian mac salad.
And tiny bits of red onion, celery, scallions, and carrot add texture and crunch for one delicious bite!
There’s one secret ingredient that you won’t want to miss — apple cider vinegar! It adds just the right amount of bite without leaving an unpleasant aftertaste.
I love the sweet and tangy flavor of so many Hawaiian-style dishes.
From ham and beef kabobs to BBQ pulled pork sliders, there are plenty of options to have you dreaming of sandy beaches.
Hawaiian Mac Salad Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Don’t skip the apple cider vinegar! Tossing the hot, drained noodles with this ingredient allows them to really soak up that tangy flavor.
For extra zip, you can add some to the dressing as well. - Follow the steps carefully. The noodles need time to soak up the ACV while you prepare the dressing.
Also, mixing the warm pasta with a portion of the dressing and the firmer vegetables helps create a nice creamy dish. - Chill well before serving. Chill the Hawaiian style macaroni salad for 1 hour in the refrigerator before adding the last of the ingredients, then chill again for 3 to 4 hours for best results.
- Time saving tip: Look for pre-grated carrots in the produce department of your local store.
Or, get thick grated carrot pieces by putting whole, peeled carrots through the grater attachment of your food processor.
Hawaiian Pasta Salad Serving Suggestions
This Hawaiian macaroni salad recipe is a staple of the traditional “plate lunch” that is common across the islands.
It includes this creamy side, a big scoop (or two) of rice, and some sort of protein, while a “mixed plate” has an additional entree for a heartier meal.
Pulled pork or teriyaki chicken are great choices, or try smoked salmon for something a bit lighter.
Hawaiian Style Macaroni Salad Kitchen Tools
- Large Pot and Strainer for the pasta
- Mixing Bowls – I like to have a variety of sizes on hand, and this set has them all.
- Quality Knives and a big solid Cutting Board make prepping a breeze and are well worth the investment.
Hawaiian Macaroni Salad FAQ
This Hawaiian mac salad recipe is very simple and combines tender pasta and diced or shredded vegetables.
Apple cider vinegar is used to create a tangy flavor, which is balanced with a sweet dressing made with mayonnaise, milk, brown sugar, and spices.
There are plenty of ways to customize it too! Add in some chopped ham or bacon, pineapple chunks, or green peas. Some canned tuna or imitation crab would be delicious as well. You can use sweet pickle relish or dill pickle relish, or a combination of the two!
You sure can! As written, it feeds 8-10 people, but you can increase the amounts to feed a crowd. Mixing in extra veggies or meat is another great way to stretch your servings.
This simple pasta salad recipe is easy to double or triple! That’s just one of the reasons that it’s the best Hawaiian macaroni salad recipe there is!
Keep this dish refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Because the noodles will continue to soak up all of the flavors, you can also make this easy pasta salad recipe the night before! Just add a little more mayo or ACV if it seems dry.
This authentic Hawaiian macaroni salad is perfect for a summer cookout and a great way to add fun flavors to a classic macaroni salad. You’re going to love the soft noodles of this salad – and the best part? This true Hawaiian macaroni salad is fun and easy to make. Perfect for every family member to dig in and enjoy!
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
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Other Easy Pasta Salad Recipes
Authentic Hawaiian Macaroni Salad (Easy Recipe)
Ingredients
- 1 pound elbow macaroni
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, or Himalayan sea salt
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1/4 red onion, diced small
- 1 1/2 cups carrots, grated
- 2 stalks celery, diced
- 3 scallions, sliced
Instructions
- In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the macaroni noodles until they are very plump (several minutes longer than recommended cook time).Drain pasta. Sprinkle apple cider vinegar over the pasta and toss to combine.
- Place the pasta in a large mixing bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Allow the apple cider vinegar to soak into the pasta for about 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, whisk together mayonnaise, milk, pepper, salt, and brown sugar. Taste mixture and adjust seasoning to taste. You can also add additional apple cider vinegar to this dressing mixture for a bit of extra zing.
- Pour half of the dressing mixture over the pasta and add the red onion and carrots. Toss together (the pasta should still be warm). Cover with plastic wrap (or a lid) and refrigerate for about 1 hour until pasta has cooled completely and the dressing mixture has soaked into the pasta.
- Toss salad with remaining dressing, celery, and scallions. Refrigerate, covered for 3-4 hours longer.
- Serve pasta alongside traditional Hawaiian mixed plate dishes.
Donna’s Notes
- Serve pasta alongside traditional Hawaiian mixed plate dishes.
- Keep refrigerated in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
- We use pre-grated carrots from the produce department at the grocery store. You can also make matchstick carrot pieces by putting whole, peeled carrots through the grater attachment on your food processor.
- Tossing the hot pasta with the apple cider vinegar allows the noodles to really soak up the flavor. Mixing a portion of the dressing and some of the vegetables with the warm pasta aids in making a nice creamy salad.
- Adjust the seasonings to your personal taste. You can also vary the add-ins. Some diced ham and pineapple and a little extra brown sugar in the dressing would be delicious! Bacon or kahlua pork would also be yummy.
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Originally published March 2022, updated and republished April 2024
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When you say Hawaiian, I'm looking for pineapple 🍍 😋
We mother-in-law used to make somethi g line this, but no onions or scallions in it. She put a can of drained pineapple chunks, added small chunks of cheddar cheese and small chunks of ham and frozen peas uncooked also added some plain Greek yogurt with the mayo mixture. Mixed it all up with other ingredients and put in frig for 8 hours or overnight we'd eat it the next day. It was soooooo good.
I never realized there WAS a “number of servings slider”. GAME CHANGER!
what is ACV?
apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar
How is it Hawaiian? There is no pineapple or anything making it anything but plain old macaroni salad, unless you count a tablespoon of brown sugar. Did you forget something?
Shirley, I lived in Hawaii for several years, and this is indeed Hawaiian Macaroni salad. It has brown sugar in it, and they actually cook the noodles over the amount of time. This is the actual way they serve it. It isn't hawaiian because it has "hawaiian ingredients" in it, but the process they use to make it.
Though I have not tried this specific recipe, I have been making this salad for many years. I first tasted Hawaiian Macaroni salad in Hawaii, and there wasn’t any pineapple in it. I love the sweetness you get from the sugar, and the zing you get from the ACV. This is a staple at our house for backyard grilling, I’m always asked for the recipe from newcomers. Try it, you’ll be glad you did! And if you really need to, put your own spin on it by adding a small can of crushed pineapple…even though it’s not needed. Enjoy!
Hawaiian macaroni salad does not have pineapple in it.
This looks like an easy yet tasty recipe. Can't wait to try it!
Like the other posters, if a recipe has Hawaiian in the title, then I expect to see pineapple and/or coconut in the recipe. The recipe itself does sound good and I will try it for our next cookout. The recipe ingredients do seem to lend themselves well to pulled BBQ pork or teriyaki chicken. But I think putting Hawaiian in the title is a little misleading.
I’m so confused by others how have left comments. I have never had a Hawaiian macaroni salad that has had pineapple or coconut in it—Never in Hawaii or at a Hawaiian restaurant. Traditionally speaking this looks exactly like a side dish that goes with Hawaiian BBQ.
Sara, I agree with you. I have had Hawaiian macaroni salad from many Hawaiian restaurants and also in Hawaii, and never had pineapple or coconut in it. I have looked for many Hawaiian macaroni salad recipes and have never seen those ingredients in them.
What is a serving size?
Hi Jane,
The recipe serves 8-10 people. For 8 people, the serving size will be roughly 1 1/4 cups. It will vary based on the size of the diced vegetables. Hope this helps!
TSRI Team member,
Becca
This is exactly what I was looking for. I think a small tin if cocktail shrimp would make a great addition to this salad. I was wondering though: since I live alone, wouldn’t the somewhat overcooked noodles get mushy?
With the added protein I think it would be a great hot weather dinner all by itself. Thanks so much for sharing the recipe!
Hi Carol,
I think adding shrimp to the macaroni salad sounds scrumptious! If you live by yourself, it’s easy to adjust the servings for the recipe. Just use the serving adjustment slider in the recipe card by clicking on the servings and changing it to however many servings you want to make. It will adjust the ingredient amounts for you automatically! Hope this helps.
TSRI Team member,
Becca
Making this this weekend for a Labor Day luau! I can’t wait to try it. Is it necessary to overcook the pasta though? Or can I cook as I would for any other pasta salad. Thank you!
Hi Dawn,
Our apologies for the delay in a response. Yes, you can cook the macaroni just like you would for any other pasta salad. I hope you were able to make it and that you enjoyed it!
TSRI Team member,
Becca
This is delicious with Hula Hula chicken
Sounds good and I’ll have to try it but of course doing some add-ins.
Yum!! I did not have enough mayo so I used 1 cup mayo and 1/2 cup miracle whip. Used bowtie pasta and also added cheddar cheese chunks. Very good! Will definitely make this one again and add to my favorite recipes. Thank you for sharing. 🙂
Hi Cassandra!
Sounds delicious! Glad you enjoyed the recipe!!
TSRI Team Member,
Devlyn
Hey TSRI, When my husband and I were in Hawaii we popped into a McDonalds believe it or not! On their plates instead of fries or bread they had a Macaroni/Potato Salad mix. It was delicious! Instead of a Filet-O-Fish they had 2 of the filets on the plate! It was awesome. I have looked around but have never seen a recipe for this blended salad! Have you?
Hi Linda!
We’re so glad that you enjoyed the recipe.
TSRI Team Member,
Devlyn