A Southern classic, soul food macaroni salad is a fabulous, creamy dish featuring macaroni noodles, mayonnaise, and seasonings. Similar to Black folks’ cookout favorites, potato salad, and coleslaw.
Soul food macaroni salad is a cousin to soul food pasta, and it’s the perfect side dish for summer barbeques and potlucks!
Take a break from your bland steamed veggies and try this old-fashioned soul food macaroni salad recipe.
Black folks’ soul macaroni salad is deliciously creamy, with the perfect crunch and the right amount of sweetness and tang.
What makes this the best macaroni salad?
Each bite contains a creamy mayonnaise dressing with crunchy carrots for richness, tender noodles, a medley of savory seasonings, plus celery and onion for crunch.
Why is your macaroni salad bland?
Southern macaroni salad is a classic in the South. However, this recipe is a soul food twist on the classic that only uses traditional mayonnaise, mustard, salt, and pepper.
How do you make Black macaroni salad?
Black folks’ soul food macaroni salad incorporates flavorful ingredients like carrots, onions, and celery. Plus, seasonings that pack a delicious punch. Thyme, celery salt, and even cayenne pepper for a tiny touch of sweet heat!
This Southern-inspired macaroni salad is the perfect pasta side dish for backyard barbecues, whether you’re tailgating at the stadium or hosting a family reunion or graduation party.
Tender macaroni noodles are the base for this pasta side dish, consisting of a mayonnaise creamy dressing and fragrant mustard flavor.
This dish is a healthy side dish and excellent picnic food because it can be made ahead of time and transported easily without worrying about spoilage.
And with barbecue season upon us, you can have an easy side dish ready to go, eliminating the hassle of cooking for your guests at your next cookout!
Kitchen equipment
- Instant pot electric pressure cooker (optional)
Shop my kitchenware!
The Pioneer Woman Instant Pot | Amazon similar wood cutting board | Amazon classic onion saver | Courtly Check heart pot holder | The Pioneer woman similar bowl | Anthropologie rainbow wooden serving spoon | Anthropologie cloth napkin |
Ingredients for Black folks soul food macaroni salad
- 8 oz. uncooked macaroni noodles
- 1 ½ cups of water
- ½ a teaspoon of olive oil
- ¼ cup of carrots, shredded
- ¼ cup of celery, diced
- ¼ cup of yellow onion, diced
- 3 tablespoons of mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon of mustard
- 2 tablespoons of sugar
- ½ a teaspoon of dill weed
- ¼ teaspoon of dried thyme
- ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon of celery salt
- ¼ teaspoon of black pepper
Instructions for Black folks soul food macaroni salad
- To cook the noodles, open the Instant Pot lid and add the water and olive oil to the steel inner pot.
- Use a spoon to stir the macaroni to ensure the noodles are submerged in the liquid.
- Close the Instant Pot lid (make sure the valve is up – in the position for sealing) and pressure cook on high for 3 minutes.
- While the macaroni is cooking, use a chef’s knife or food processor to shred the carrots, and dice the celery and onion.
- Set the finished vegetables aside.
- When the macaroni cooking time is finished, allow a natural pressure release for 5 minutes.
- To open the Instant Pot lid, move the valve to ‘venting’ and manually release any remaining pressure, if applicable.
- Give the macaroni a stir to loosen any clumps.
- Use a colander to drain any excess water.
- Then pour the cooked pasta into a large bowl.
- Add the set aside shredded carrots and the diced celery and onion to the bowl with the noodles.
- Sprinkle in the sugar, dill, thyme, cayenne pepper, celery salt, and black pepper.
- Then add the mayonnaise and mustard to the pasta mixture.
- Stir and fold the ingredients into each other until thoroughly combined.
- Serve Black folks soul food macaroni salad right away, or for cold macaroni salad, place it in the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving. Then serve, and enjoy!
Should the pasta cool down before adding the dressing, so it doesn’t get absorbed by the noodles?
Pro tip: After boiling the pasta, drain it and rinse like normal, then transfer the cooked pasta to a bowl of olive oil and toss. This will prevent the dressing from sticking to the pasta and absorbing the mayonnaise.
What can you serve with macaroni salad?
Black folks’ soul food macaroni salad is a versatile recipe that can be served as an appetizer or a side dish with seafood, chicken, or beef.
It’s an excellent starter for lunch or dinner with almost any main course.
What goes good with macaroni salad?
Several soul food cookout favorite recipes pair perfectly with macaroni salad. From burgers to hot dogs, fried chicken, chicken salad, salmon, tuna salad, or tuna fish, to name a few.
And of course, all kinds of BBQ meats go good with macaroni salad, from chicken to beef or pork.
Black folks soul food macaroni salad FAQs
What is your favorite pasta for this?
Can you use another pasta noodle other than elbow macaroni?
Elbow is ideal because it’s a sturdy bite-sized pasta that also absorbs the flavors of other ingredients very readily.
Why is your macaroni salad runny?
So how do you keep macaroni salad from getting watery?
The reason for runny macaroni salad depends on many factors. To avoid this problem, consider these recommendations:
- Drain all the water before adding the other ingredients to the pasta to ensure the macaroni salad will not be runny. If not, the noodles will soak up the water and make the salad watery.
- Cook pasta al dente because macaroni salad is tricky because the pasta absorbs the liquid it’s mixed with. To avoid this problem, cook the macaroni as quickly as possible, drain it thoroughly, and rinse it with cold water – preferably in a colander or sieve.
- Check the ingredients – if the recipe calls for watery vegetables (like tomatoes, peppers, and onions), balance them with dry vegetables. For example, shredded carrots. Combined with the appropriate amount of mayonnaise and mustard will keep the macaroni salad from becoming runny.
Should the pasta cool down before adding the dressing, so it doesn’t get absorbed by the noodles?
Pro tip: After boiling the pasta, drain it and rinse like normal, then transfer the cooked pasta to a bowl of olive oil and toss. This will prevent the dressing from sticking to the pasta and absorbing the mayonnaise.
What does al dente pasta mean?
Al dente describes pasta or rice cooked firm to the bite – the ideal consistency for pasta.
Al dente pasta should be chewy and firm, holding its shape in whatever sauce.
Should you rinse macaroni when making macaroni salad?
To rinse or not to rinse? Should you rinse the pasta after you drain it?
When working with pasta that will make a cold salad, it’s recommended to rinse the hot pasta with cold water and then drain.
Why is pasta rinsed in cold water after boiling?
Rinsing will help lower the temperature of the pasta, which is ideal given that it will be served chilled and often alongside other cool ingredients. In addition, rinsing stops the cooking process immediately.
What type of mayonnaise should you use?
What folks really want to know is, “Is it OK to use Miracle Whip in soul food macaroni salad?”
Or can you use Miracle Whip instead?
The answer is yes. Either is acceptable.
It’s a personal preference, and the amount you use is the same, whichever you choose.
What mustard do you use?
Yellow mustard. Nothing fancy.
Why does mayo disappear in pasta salad?
The mayonnaise will disappear from pasta salad because the starch in the pasta absorbs the liquid. The starch in the pasta bonds to the fat in the mayonnaise and gets absorbed by the pasta.
How do you keep pasta sauce creamy?
For this soul food macaroni salad recipe, after boiling the pasta, drain it and rinse like normal, then transfer the cooked pasta to a bowl of olive oil and toss. This will help prevent the mayonnaise dressing from sticking to the pasta and absorbing.
What type of onions do you recommend using?
Yellow onions for the sweet flavor.
Can you put an egg in the macaroni salad?
A chopped or diced hard-boiled egg can be an excellent addition to macaroni salad.
Can you make macaroni salad ahead?
Yes, you can pre-prepare this pasta salad recipe ahead of time, and it tastes better the longer it sits.
It’s possible to make this creamy macaroni salad up to a day before it’s served.
The flavors are given a chance to take on a deeper flavor profile, which is perhaps why many pasta salad recipes taste better the following day!
Can you cook the pasta ahead of time for pasta salad?
Yes, and keep the cooked noodles in an airtight container separate from the seasoning and dressing until it’s time to mix and serve!
Do you start with dry macaroni, then cook it?
Yep! start with uncooked macaroni and either pressure cook or boil the noodles.
How long is homemade macaroni salad good for?
Macaroni salad is a summertime favorite. It’s best when served chilled, so refrigerate it for at least an hour before serving.
So how long can macaroni salad sit out?
Macaroni salad should be served cold since it contains perishable ingredients. However, it should not be left at room temperature for more than 2 hours unless you’re actively serving it.
How do you know if macaroni salad is bad?
Several signs indicate that a macaroni salad may not be safe to eat. If the macaroni salad develops an unpleasant odor, flavor, or appearance, or if mold appears – don’t eat it.
What goes with tuna macaroni salad for dinner?
Adding tuna to macaroni salad is a great idea to enhance this side dish. Or, for many, the main dish.
But if you do not have tuna and want to add protein. You can use salmon, chicken, or ham.
How do you spice up store-bought macaroni salad?
What else can you add to your salad if you only have access to store-bought?
Here are some tips and tricks to spice up a store-bought macaroni salad:
Add a dash of salt or apple cider vinegar. Add a dash of lemon juice or black pepper. Or you could add red bell pepper, celery bits, red onion, green onion, yellow onion, onion powder, mayo, or mustard.
See how easy it is to add a soul food punch and kick to a batch of bland, old-fashioned macaroni salad!
Some like it hot and will go beyond cayenne pepper and use red pepper flakes! Folks will even add black olives, pickle juice, sliced dill pickle, sweet pickle, or dill relish.
How to store classic macaroni salad?
Classic macaroni salad is a favorite at barbecues and picnics. The creamy blend of pasta, mayonnaise, mustard, and spices makes this dish a crowd-pleaser.
But what’s the best way to store classic macaroni salad?
In an airtight container in the fridge.
How long does macaroni salad last in the refrigerator?
It’s possible to store macaroni salad in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Make sure that you store it in an airtight container or cover it with plastic wrap to keep it fresh for longer.
What do you think of this Black folks’ soul food macaroni salad recipe?
Soul food macaroni salad even includes chopped veggies such as carrots and onion to add a perfect crunch, seasoned with celery salt, cayenne pepper, onion, dried thyme, and black pepper.
Rich in flavor and a bit of spice, this Black folks’ macaroni salad recipe is the perfect side dish for BBQs, picnics, and holiday feasts.
Have you had it?
Would you make it?
Comment below and lemme know. Then subscribe HERE for all the soul food!
Equipment
- Instant Pot electric pressure cooker
Ingredients
- 8 oz elbow noodles uncooked
- 1 ½ cups water
- ½ teaspoon olive oil
- ¼ cup carrots shredded
- ¼ cup celery diced
- ¼ cup yellow onion diced
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon mustard
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- ½ teaspoon dill weed
- ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon celery salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- To cook the noodles, open the Instant Pot lid and add the water and olive oil to the steel inner pot.
- Use a spoon to stir the macaroni to ensure the noodles are submerged in the liquid.
- Close the Instant Pot lid (make sure the valve is up – in the position for sealing) and pressure cook on high for 3 minutes.
- While the macaroni is cooking, use a chef’s knife or food processor to shred the carrots, and dice the celery and onion.
- Set the finished vegetables aside.
- When the macaroni cooking time is finished, allow a natural pressure release for 5 minutes.
- To open the Instant Pot lid, move the valve to ‘venting’ and manually release any remaining pressure, if applicable.
- Give the macaroni a stir to loosen any clumps.
- Use a colander to drain any excess water.
- Then pour the cooked pasta into a large bowl.
- Add the set aside shredded carrots and the diced celery and onion to the bowl with the noodles.
- Sprinkle in the sugar, dill, thyme, cayenne pepper, celery salt, and black pepper.
- Then add the mayonnaise and mustard to the pasta mixture.
- Stir and fold the ingredients into each other until thoroughly combined.
- Serve Black folks soul food macaroni salad right away, or for cold macaroni salad, place it in the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving. Then serve, and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
This is a must try Macaroni Salad!
This recipe is amazing – finally got around to making it tonight. – I’m new to cooking and I’m still learning my way around the kitchen so I really appreciated preparation tips. Rinsing Macaroni with cold water, drain and then toss in olive oil worked wonders.
Will definitely remake
Author
I’m so happy you love this family recipe, and that you found these pasta tips super helpful!