This creamy Hawaiian pasta salad is a simple yet flavorful dish that’s perfect for summer cookouts and picnics. With a hint of sweetness from the dressing and the crunch of fresh veggies, it’s a crowd-pleasing favorite that’s easy to prepare ahead of time!
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If you love pasta salad recipes, don’t miss this classic pasta salad, a zippy creamy pasta salad recipe, this spaghetti salad, and this easy pasta salad with mayo, lemon, and basil, too.
Simple is Best with this Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
An authentic Hawaiian pasta salad recipe is one of the easiest, tastiest, and simplest pasta salads out there. The classic combination of tender elbow macaroni pasta, shredded carrots, and thinly sliced celery tossed in a sweet, tangy, and creamy dressing is the perfect companion for grilled burgers, Southern crispy fried chicken, and Mississippi pulled pork.
In a classic Hawaiian mac salad, an abundance of creamy dressing is the true star of the show. You typically won’t find a bunch of “extras” like pineapple, ham, or other tropical ingredients, and you won’t see too many veggies like cucumbers, tomatoes, or broccoli. The dish is popular at diners and food trucks in Hawaii, since it pairs so well with baked or grilled meats like kalua pork and huli huli chicken. Whether you’re on a tropical island or not, this easy pasta salad is a must-have side dish at your next cookout or potluck!
Ingredient Notes and Tips for Success
- Elbows are the classic choice for an authentic Hawaiian macaroni salad recipe, but you can really substitute with any short pasta shape that you prefer. Just make sure that the pasta has curls or ridges for the dressing to cling to.
- I use the large holes on a box grater to shred the carrots and a mandoline to quickly slice the celery into thin, even pieces.
- Pick a high quality mayo for the dressing, since it’s really the highlight of the dish. We love Duke’s, but Hellmann’s (Best Foods) is also a good option.
- Plan ahead and make sure that you allow at least 2 hours for the salad to “marinate” in the dressing and the flavors to come together.
- Remember, a hallmark of a true Hawaiian pasta salad recipe is an abundance of creamy dressing. It will look like a lot of dressing when you first stir everything together; however, the pasta will absorb a lot of that as it sits in the fridge.
How to Make Hawaiian Pasta Salad
This is a perfect prep-ahead side dish for your next Sunday supper, family bbq, picnic, or potluck. It’s versatile, and it pairs well with almost any meat-based entrée! You’ll find detailed directions in the recipe card below, but here’s the overview:
- Boil the pasta until it’s al dente, and then drain and rinse under cold water. The cold water is an important step because it stops the cooking process, cools the pasta down quickly, and removes starches so that the noodles don’t stick to each other.
- Whisk together the dressing in a large bowl.
- Add the cooked pasta, carrots, and celery. Stir gently to combine.
- Cover and refrigerate the salad for at least 2 hours. You can even leave it in the fridge overnight.
- Give it a good stir again, and add any extra mayo or milk if it seems dry.
- Garnish with sliced green onions and serve!
Serving Suggestions
Serve the pasta salad alongside grilled burgers, chili dogs, a club sandwich, slow cooker pulled pork, baked teriyaki chicken, BBQ chicken breast, grilled salmon, these turkey Sloppy Joes, this fried chicken tenders recipe, baked chicken thighs, marinated grilled shrimp, marinated beef kabobs, or grilled steak tips.
Preparation and Storage Tips
- Make Ahead: The salad is best when it has at least a couple of hours to chill. You can assemble it in advance and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before serving. Just before you plan to enjoy it, freshen it up with extra mayo or milk if necessary.
- How to Store: While it’s best enjoyed within 24 hours, the dish will stay fresh in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- I do not recommend freezing the leftovers, since the ingredients will have a mushy, watery texture when thawed.
Hawaiian Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 8 ounces (about 2 cups) uncooked elbow macaroni pasta
- 1 cup mayonnaise, plus more to taste
- ¼ cup whole milk, plus more to taste
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- Kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste
- ½ cup peeled and shredded carrots (about 1 large carrot)
- ¼ cup thinly sliced celery (about ½ of a large stalk)
- Optional garnish: chopped green onions or chives
Instructions
- Cook the macaroni in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package directions for al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water. Set aside to dry and cool to room temperature.
- Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, milk, vinegar, and sugar. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add the pasta, carrots, and celery to the mayonnaise dressing. Toss gently until completely combined. There will be a lot of dressing initially, but the pasta will absorb a good amount of it as the salad chills. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (or overnight).
- Just before serving, give everything a good stir. If desired, add extra mayo and/or a little bit of milk to moisten the salad until it reaches the desired consistency. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper if necessary. Garnish with chopped green onion.
Notes
Nutrition
Recipe Variations
- While the basic mayo dressing, pasta, and carrots is most traditional, you can certainly get creative with other mix-ins of your choice. Good protein options include shredded or diced chicken, cooked bacon, spam, diced ham, cooked shrimp, tuna, or imitation crab.
- Stir in other veggies and fruits, such as green peas, red bell peppers, cucumber, sweet corn, or diced pineapple.
- For more variety in the dressing, add 1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard, replace some of the mayo with sour cream or plain Greek yogurt, or make it spicy with cayenne or hot sauce.
- Chopped toasted macadamia nuts and shredded coconut will give it a tropical feel.
More Picnic Sides
Easy Potato Salad
1 hour hr 40 minutes mins
Coleslaw Dressing
40 minutes mins
Ramen Noodle Coleslaw
10 minutes mins
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