There are so many versions of Macaroni Pasta Salad, isn’t there? If you went to a potluck and 10 different people brought Macaroni Salad, I bet you’d end up with 10 different versions. I personally love all the differences. It’s fun listening to what is one person’s ideal Macaroni Pasta Salad versus another person. The same can be said of Potato Salad.
This recipe is nothing fancy. It’s very simple, but it’s my version of the Macaroni Pasta Salad I grew up with. It consists of only pasta, cucumbers, sweet pickles, hard-boiled eggs, paprika, and mayonnaise. You’ll notice in the photo below that I didn’t actually use “macaroni”…we use the term “macaroni” loosely around here. Basically, I use whatever small salad type pasta I’m in the mood for. This time I used tiny shells.
Want to know a secret? I don’t eat the cucumbers in this salad. Well, I actually try to not spoon any onto my plate in the first place. Some always seem to get on my plate though. I used to never eat cucumbers, but over the last couple of years, I have started eating them on sandwiches. But, I still pick them out of this salad just like I did when I was younger. The rest of my family? They eat it all.
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Mom’s Macaroni Salad
Description
A simple macaroni pasta salad recipe from my childhood — that I make for my family today.
Ingredients
- 1 lb small pasta (salad macaroni, shells, etc)
- 1 cucumber (peeled, sliced and cut into quarters)
- 8 oz whole sweet baby pickles (I usually use Sweet Gherkins, drained)
- 6 eggs (hard-boiled, cooled and peeled)
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to directions — do not overcook, you will want it to be al dente (slightly firm). After draining hot water from pasta, keep pasta in strainer and immediately cool the pasta by running cold water over it until all the pasta is cool to the touch. Drain pasta again and place in large bowl.
- Peel cucumber and cut off ends; discard ends and peel. Slice cucumber in half lengthwise and then cut each half in half again, so you have 4 long piece of cucumber. Cut the long pieces into smaller bite-size chunks. Slice sweet pickles. Chop peeled hard-boiled eggs.
- Combine cucumber, pickles, eggs, and mayonnaise with the pasta. Sprinkle with paprika and stir gently to combine with the salad. Season with salad and pepper.
- Category: Salad
- Cuisine: American
And, yes, if you were to ask me to bring Macaroni Salad to a potluck, this is the one I would most likely bring.
Now it’s your turn:
What do you put in your macaroni pasta salad?
Val says
This is the exact same recipe that I grew up with! The cucumbers give the salad such a great flavor. My family loves it also. I came online looking for the recipe, as I haven’t made it in a few years, to be sure that I remembered correctly because it seemed so simple. But it’s just as I remembered. Thank you for posting this. I made this macaroni salad just yesterday.
Sally leggett says
Small shell macaroni
Boiled eggs
Green onion
Celery
Cheese cubes
Sometimes grape tomato
Miracle whip,little mustard, dash vinegar, little bit sugar, mixed with little milk to make the dressing mix, mix throughly with other ingredients and chill… Mmmmm
Beth says
Love the variety of pasta salads out there, but my most common ingredients when I make it, are very (very) thinly sliced capsicum/bell pepper (yellow, red, green), very thinly sliced red onion, shaved carrot, thin ‘sticks’ of pickles, and mayo. I add the pasta to the vegetables and mayo while it’s still hot, and the salad is good both hot and cold.
jenny - sugar loco says
Looks like a recipe I’ve never had. And looks amazing!
Minnie(@thelady8home) says
Looking so delish!!! Yum!
Ratna says
Ooh and yet another yummy veggie recipe I can use. Thanks! Now I am hungry at 11pm. Thanks 🙂 haaa