Hawaiian Style Mac Salad (Printable)

Creamy, tangy macaroni salad with a smooth texture, featuring a rich mayonnaise dressing and crisp vegetables.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 2 cups elbow macaroni

→ Dressing

02 - 1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
03 - 1/4 cup whole milk
04 - 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
05 - 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
06 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Vegetables

07 - 1/4 cup finely grated carrot
08 - 1/4 cup finely chopped celery
09 - 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
10 - 2 tablespoons finely chopped green onions

# How-To Steps:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add elbow macaroni and cook until very soft, approximately 1-2 minutes beyond the al dente package directions. Drain thoroughly and let cool slightly.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, whole milk, apple cider vinegar, granulated sugar, salt, and black pepper until completely smooth and well incorporated.
03 - Add the slightly warm macaroni to the prepared dressing. Toss vigorously to ensure every piece is thoroughly coated with the creamy mixture.
04 - Stir in grated carrots, chopped celery, onion, and green onions. Mix until all ingredients are evenly distributed throughout the salad.
05 - Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. For optimal flavor development and texture, refrigerate overnight before serving.
06 - Before serving, taste and adjust seasoning if needed. If the salad appears too thick, add additional mayonnaise or milk to achieve desired creaminess.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The pasta absorbs the creamy dressing better than any macaroni salad youve had before creating that signature Hawaiian plate lunch texture you cant quite place
  • It actually tastes better after sitting in the fridge overnight so its the perfect make ahead side for parties and potlucks
02 -
  • The pasta must be cooked past al dente to get that authentic soft texture that characterizes Hawaiian mac salad
  • Adding the dressing while the pasta is still warm helps it absorb the creamy mixture much more effectively
03 -
  • Use the large holes on your box grater for the carrots so they add texture without disappearing into the salad
  • If you can find it Best Foods mayonnaise is the closest to what Hawaiian restaurants use though Hellmanns works perfectly too

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