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You are here: Home / Recipes / Small Macaroni Salad

Small Macaroni Salad

06/29/17 | Recipes, Side Dishes

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This Small Macaroni Salad is the perfect simple side for small get-togethers and dinners with friends!

This Small Macaroni Salad is one of my favorite side dishes ever!

I have a confession: You know what my favorite summer food is? It’s not ice cream. It’s not s’mores. It’s not even a perfectly cooked and marinated ribeye steak (though that’s a really close second). It’s spoonfuls of macaroni salad stolen from the fridge on a hot summer day.

I don’t know what makes this taste so good. Maybe it’s the blast of cold air you get every time you open the fridge or the delicious feeling that you’re doing something vaguely naughty and getting away with it, but for whatever the reason, it’s the best, and I highly recommend it.

Small Macaroni Salad is the best macaroni salad!

My go-to macaroni salad recipe (AKA the Best Macaroni Salad in the world) is party-sized. It’s made with a pound of macaroni and makes waaaay too much food unless you are having a party. And most of the time I make it, I’m not having a party, so it either ends up going to waste OR I eat a cutlery-drawer’s worth of spoon and forkfuls and don’t feel great about my life choices at the end of the weekend.

So, today I’m shrinking down my fav and sharing a Small Macaroni Salad recipe.  It uses just four ounces of pasta and makes two to four very reasonable servings, making it perfect for burger nights with one or two friends, and leaves you with a little left over for fridge stealing the next day. 😉

This Small Macaroni Salad is the perfect simple side for small get-togethers and dinners with friends!

Aside from being the perfect size, I LOVE THIS PASTA. I wasn’t kidding when I called the original the best macaroni salad in the world. And this small version is just as good. It’s not soaked in gallons of goopey mayonnaise like some pasta salad. There’s mayo to be sure, but just enough for a light dressing that’s sweet but not too sweet, tangy and not too vinegary. It’s loaded with crunchy bits of celery and bell pepper and is basically perfect.

Everyone I’ve ever served this pasta salad to falls instantly in love with it, even people who don’t normally like pasta salad. It’s that good.

So, serve with Tri-Tp Sandwiches. Serve with Oven-baked Ribs. Serve by itself in a bowl with a spoon. However you choose to eat it, it’s gonna be a good time.

This Small Macaroni Salad is the BEST pasta salad in the world!

This Small Macaroni Salad is the perfect simple side for small get-togethers and dinners with friends!

Small Macaroni Salad

This Small Macaroni Salad is the perfect simple side for small get-togethers and dinners with friends!
4.96 from 68 votes
Print
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes minutes
Servings (Hover or Click to Change Yield): 4
Calories: 205kcal
Author: Tracy

Ingredients

Pasta

  • 4 ounces (1cup) macaroni

Dressing

  • 1/4 cup (52g) mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon white vinegar
  • 1 to 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
  • 1 heaping teaspoon Dijon mustard or yellow mustard
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
  • Pinch of cayenne

Vegetables

  • 1 small green onion diced, use green and white parts
  • 1/2 cup finely diced bell pepper any color
  • 1/4 cup finely diced celery
  • 1/4 cup finely grated carrot

Instructions

  • Bring a medium pot of generously salted water to boil and cook macaroni according to package instructions. Drain and set aside to cool completely. Stir occasionally to prevent the noodles from sticking together too badly.
  • In a medium bowl, combine all of the dressing ingredients and whisk together until smooth. Add vegetables and toss to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until pasta is cool.
  • Once pasta is cooled, stir pasta into the dressing. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

*If you don't have green onions, you can use a tablespoon of very finely diced white or yellow onion.
If making in advance, stir an extra spoonful of mayonnaise into the pasta just before serving as the pasta will absorb some of the liquid as it sits and start to look a little dry, even tightly covered.
Did you make this recipe?I'd love to see it! Tag @BakingMischief or hashtag it #BakingMischief.

Adapted From Food Wishes

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission if you make a purchase using them. There is absolutely no additional cost to you.

This Small Macaroni Salad is the perfect simple side for small get-togethers and dinners with friends!

Comments | 53 comments

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Comments

  1. jenn - peas and crayons says

    June 29, 2017 at 8:00 am

    5 stars
    I love that this is just a small side of macaroni salad – sometimes making a party-sized amount is just too much!

    Reply
    • Tracy says

      June 29, 2017 at 5:58 pm

      Right!? Thanks, Jenn!

      Reply
      • Ruby says

        July 8, 2022 at 6:00 am

        Can I use red onion and double recipe?

        Reply
  2. Mindy says

    June 29, 2017 at 8:12 am

    5 stars
    This sounds so good!! I normally don’t eat much macaroni salad but i’m going to have to try this one!

    Reply
    • Tracy says

      June 29, 2017 at 5:58 pm

      I didn’t used to eat much either…until I started making it this way. 😉 It made me a total macaroni salad convert!

      Reply
  3. Kristina @ Love & Zest says

    June 29, 2017 at 9:19 am

    5 stars
    This looks great! Great recipe for the weekend!

    Reply
    • Tracy says

      June 29, 2017 at 5:57 pm

      Thanks!

      Reply
  4. Allison - Celebrating Sweets says

    June 29, 2017 at 9:44 am

    This looks fantastic! And your photos are beautiful! Love all those crunchy veggies in there.

    Reply
    • Tracy says

      June 29, 2017 at 5:57 pm

      Thanks so much, Allison!

      Reply
  5. Emily says

    June 29, 2017 at 9:49 am

    5 stars
    I love pasta salads in the summer, this looks so good I can’t wait to try it!

    Reply
    • Tracy says

      June 29, 2017 at 5:57 pm

      Thanks, Emily! Hope you enjoy it!!

      Reply
  6. Meg | Meg is Well says

    June 29, 2017 at 11:03 am

    5 stars
    I haven’t had a good macaroni salad in forever so I need to check this out. As soon as you mentioned tri-tip sandwiches and ribs it really brought me back to visiting my grandparents in Texas, where macaroni salads like this were a must for so many bbq meals!

    Reply
    • Tracy says

      June 29, 2017 at 5:56 pm

      Ooo, I bet you had tons of good BBQ every time you visited your grandparents!

      Reply
  7. Kristine says

    January 28, 2018 at 11:31 am

    5 stars
    I just made this now. Husband loves macaroni salad but I only wanted a small batch. I added some frozen peas, sweet pickles, and cheese and doubled the dressing.
    FYI….first ingredient says 4 oz of macaroni (1 cup). There are 8 oz in a cup. Just had to chuckle. We all make boo-boos.
    I am thinking this is going to be perfect for us!

    Reply
    • Tracy says

      January 29, 2018 at 8:06 am

      Hi, Kristine. Hope you guys enjoyed the pasta salad! Sweet pickles sound like an awesome addition!

      And you’re right that 8 fluid ounces = a cup, but for cooking ingredients, they all have different weights, so a cup of shredded cheese might weigh 4 ounces where a cup of chocolate chips weighs 6 ounces. In this case, if you weigh out 4 ounces of macaroni, it will measure out to (about) 1 cup. Hope that makes sense!

      Reply
  8. Dana Lammer says

    May 15, 2018 at 4:35 pm

    I’d love to try this! I love macaroni salad and never make it. Would you also send a link to your party-sized macaroni salad? Thanks!!

    Reply
    • Tracy says

      May 16, 2018 at 5:21 pm

      Hi, Dana, the original is actually not one of mine. It’s from Food Wishes and you can find it here: http://foodwishes.blogspot.com/2015/06/classic-macaroni-salad-delicious-is-in.html Hope you enjoy it! 🙂

      Reply
  9. Nina Hettema says

    May 24, 2018 at 11:03 pm

    I’m from Hawaii, and if you’ve ever been there you know that for folks in the Islands, mac salad isn’t a food, it’s a religion. And I’ve never made less than a baby’s bathtub full at a time. And as you say, it’s a slippery slope; the stuff just calls you from the fridge and unless you’re having a party, you end up feeling a little bit sick and very penitent. And if no one else is around you actually might have to eventually throw some out (no!). So it’s great having this mini recipe. My family would think I’m nuts making it this way but it’s perfect for a party of one. Thank you so much!
    Just FYI We like parsley, chopped hb eggs, sliced black olives and chopped sour dill pickles in ours but otherwise it is very much like yours, seasoning wise and with carrot, celery, gr. onion etc. And it’s always much better the next day so make a day ahead. Those extras I listed would be a lot of work to add to your Small salad – prob. turn it into a salad for two or three! I like your simplicity. Aloha and mahalo –

    Reply
    • Tracy says

      May 28, 2018 at 10:35 am

      Thanks, Nina! And I totally cracked up over your description of a “baby’s bathtub full” size. I feel like that amount of pasta salad is just a challenge waiting to be accepted. 😉

      Reply
  10. Supriya Naidu says

    May 29, 2018 at 8:06 am

    5 stars
    Tracy! This was perfection! I absolutely loved this salad and cant wait to have the leftovers tomorrow. Please share more salad recipes! I’d love to try them out – maybe a potato salad? or just more pasta ones 😀

    Thank you! <3

    Reply
    • Tracy says

      May 29, 2018 at 4:51 pm

      Thanks, Supriya!! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, and your request for more salads has been noted. 😉

      I do have a potato salad recipe on the site. (It’s not small-batch, but it is very tasty!) https://bakingmischief.com/2016/06/13/loaded-baked-potato-salad-with-yogurt/

      Reply
  11. Bev says

    May 30, 2018 at 5:21 pm

    4 stars
    Thanks for such a tasty recipe. It was so good on a hot day here in Arizona.

    Reply
    • Tracy says

      May 30, 2018 at 9:27 pm

      So happy you enjoyed it, Bev!

      Reply
  12. Jean Ferrario says

    June 1, 2018 at 8:42 pm

    5 stars
    Hi, This reminds me of our beloved macaroni salad from my childhood except for a couple of crucial changes. First, always use what’s called salad macaroni, short little tubes, instead of elbow. Then replace the mustard and sugar with a quarter cup ketchup!! It makes slightly Russian dressing-y salad and seems to stay moister longer. I like my mac salad a little squelchy and ketchup makes it so!! As usual I enjoy ur blog, keep up the good work! Jean

    Reply
    • Tracy says

      June 3, 2018 at 8:54 pm

      Oh, interesting! I’ve never even seen macaroni salad with ketchup before, but now I’m kind of dying to try it!

      Reply
  13. Shane says

    February 15, 2019 at 12:23 pm

    5 stars
    WOW. This is mind blowing. Thanks for posting.

    The only thing I didn’t have on hand was celery, but I’m not sure it’s missed.

    Thanks again.

    Reply
    • Tracy says

      February 19, 2019 at 11:45 am

      Lol. Thanks, Shane! So glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply
  14. Mary Ann says

    April 21, 2019 at 3:37 pm

    Everyone loved this, I’ve been looking for a easy and tasty recipe so happy I found this one . Next time I will be doubling the batch.

    Reply
    • Tracy says

      April 22, 2019 at 3:49 pm

      So glad everyone enjoyed it!! Thanks for reporting back!

      Reply
  15. Patricia Kuchevar says

    April 22, 2019 at 4:58 pm

    5 stars
    This was so quick and delicious. I added taco seasoning and a little chilli powder. Yummy

    Reply
    • Tracy says

      April 22, 2019 at 5:19 pm

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Patricia!! Loooove the idea of adding some taco seasoning!

      Reply
  16. Amanda says

    November 7, 2019 at 12:17 pm

    Added some Frank’s hot sauce for a little kick but this is an excellent easy recipe!

    Reply
    • Tracy says

      November 13, 2019 at 6:38 am

      Love that idea! So glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply
  17. Shreela says

    April 11, 2020 at 4:53 pm

    Thanks for the small size, it’s perfect for me and DH, we eat smaller now that we’re seniors and he eats it with crackers. Subbed with frozen seasoning blend that thawed with the hot pasta. Cholula instead of Cayenne. DH approved for more quarantine meals, whew!

    Reply
  18. Suzanne says

    August 20, 2020 at 1:28 pm

    This looks delicious, thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  19. Confused says

    December 17, 2020 at 6:06 pm

    In your recipe you say 1 green onion, use green parts and white…. Is the 1 only scallion onion? Do not see and green onion parts in your photo….

    Reply
    • Tracy says

      December 17, 2020 at 8:21 pm

      Yes, use one small green onion/scallion, both the white and green parts. I like mine pretty finely diced, so you can’t really tell from the photos, but they’re in there!

      Reply
  20. Linda says

    January 10, 2021 at 7:20 pm

    5 stars
    Fantastic! I actually made half recipe. It was delicious.

    Reply
  21. Darlene says

    February 9, 2021 at 12:34 pm

    Just made this to go with hamburgers for supper. My hubby is eating it by the spoonfuls from the bowl…haha. Good thing just him and I here. 🙂 Delicious recipe. Thanks for sharing Tracy.
    Darlene
    Nova Scotia

    Reply
    • Tracy says

      February 9, 2021 at 2:00 pm

      Lol the best way to eat it!! So glad you guys are enjoying the recipe!

      Reply
  22. BARBARA says

    March 1, 2021 at 3:53 pm

    5 stars
    I’m rating this a 5 star because it will be when I make it. I’ll add some seeded and diced cucumber, maybe a few cherry tomatoes cut in half and steamed shrimp for an entree. I like the guide to proportion this for a small batch. Thank you!

    Reply
  23. Karen says

    April 26, 2021 at 8:04 pm

    This looks exactly like the macaroni salad my Dad used to make when I was growing up. It was not super heavy with mayo like most are now. One thing that was added was a can of rinsed dark kidney beans. No idea where that cMe from but it worked. I have tried to find a “drier” macaroni salad for years. I think I just did, with the addition of those beans.

    Reply
    • Tracy says

      April 30, 2021 at 11:04 am

      Interesting!! I’ve never had kidney beans in pasta salad before, but it sounds kind of good now that I think about it!

      Reply
  24. Susan says

    May 9, 2021 at 11:00 am

    5 stars
    We have sandwiches for lunch. It gets old having chips with the sandwich every day. This is just the right size. It lasts the week and tastes good. I can add whatever I want. The dressing part is perfect – not too gloppy and not too dry

    Reply
    • Tracy says

      May 9, 2021 at 7:39 pm

      So glad you enjoy it, Susan!!

      Reply
  25. Linda Schnall says

    February 15, 2022 at 4:38 pm

    In the “small macaroni salad” recipe, it says to use 4 oz (1 cup) macaroni. Is that 4 oz dry or cooked?

    Reply
    • Tracy says

      February 15, 2022 at 5:50 pm

      4 ounces (by weight) dry.

      Reply
  26. Debbie Florio says

    March 25, 2022 at 6:19 pm

    5 stars
    I have tried a few macaroni salad recipes within the last year, some promising to taste like deli salad. Actually some were delicious, but something was missing.I came across this one , I wanted to try it, not only because of the reduced volume, but it looked similar to the recipe my mother use to make.Well I have to say this is my favorite by far of the many I have tried over the past year, and I have to admit it beats my mothers recipe. The proportions of the ingredients are perfect.

    Reply
  27. Debbie says

    April 3, 2022 at 7:11 am

    5 stars
    Great macaroni salad. Loved the dressing. So flavorful with the Dijon mustard I served along with sloppy joes. Will definitely make again YUM!

    Reply
  28. Tom says

    June 24, 2022 at 6:45 pm

    5 stars
    I just saw this recipe, but except for the cayenne, the ingredients are the same as I put in my macaroni salad. I typically make enough for a small army for family get togethers. This is the dish I am generally requested to make. Any leftovers get split up and taken home by multiple people. I do prepare all the vegetables in the food processor. That way they are all cut up into fine pcs and mix well in the salad.

    Reply
  29. GiannaTheChef says

    July 20, 2022 at 9:17 am

    5 stars
    Best macaroni salad ever!! This is amazing! I’ve made it twice and the second time I tripled the recipe because I needed more than 4 servings. Absolutely delish!

    Reply
  30. Sandra Stephenson says

    August 11, 2022 at 5:12 pm

    I love, love, love this salad! The only change I make is to substitute grated cheese for carrot…personal choice. On Saturday I will serve it for a family funeral, tripling the recipe. I hope that it isn’t all eaten so I can bring some home, but, if not, I can make myself the small version soon. Thank You!

    Reply
  31. Judy Shkolny says

    October 2, 2022 at 11:02 am

    I made this small macaroni salad and used Italian dressing instead of the vinegar. I also used more celery. I used 3 little red onions instead of green onion. It is a very good salad. I will make it again

    Reply

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Hi, I'm Tracy! Welcome to Baking Mischief, where we realize that not everyone is cooking every night for a family of four. We have delicious sweet and savory recipes, mostly scaled for one or two, and we love our pop culture around here, so keep an eye out for film, book, and TV-inspired treats as well! Read more»
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