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Home » Recipes » Pasta Recipes

Hawaiian Macaroni Salad

Published: Mar 5, 2025 · Modified: Jun 26, 2025 by Chef Ryan Littley

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This traditional Hawaiian macaroni salad recipe is a creamier, simpler, and softer version of classic Macaroni salad.

Although we might consider the pasta overcooked, this signature aspect of the recipe allows the macaroni to absorb the creamy, rich dressing.

Made with simple ingredients, this classic dish from the Aloha state is a sweet and tangy salad that is easy to make and guaranteed to become a family favorite!

The finished Hawaiian macaroni salad recipe in a white bowl.


 

The story goes that the Hawaiian mac salad originated in Hawaii during the plantation era when immigrants brought their culinary traditions to the islands.

Working in the fields, they packed their lunches, and as “Hawaiian Plate Lunches” evolved during this era, this recipe became a common, affordable side dish with those lunches.

The salad with ribs on a white plate.

You’ll find many macaroni salad recipes throughout the continental United States (or mainland, as Islanders call it), but this one stands out due to its simplicity and creaminess.

The key feature of this delicious pasta side dish is the soft, overcooked macaroni that absorbs the creamy dressing, enhancing the flavor.

If you enjoy classic side dishes, make sure to try our homemade coleslaw and classic potato salad recipes.

Table of Contents:
  • Ingredients
  • How to Make Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
  • Recipe FAQs
  • More Recipes You’ll Love!
  • Recipe: Hawaiian Macaroni Salad Recipe

Ingredients

Ingredients required to make the recipe.

Gather the ingredients needed to make our authentic recipe. In culinary terms, this is called the Mise en Place, which translates into “Everything in its Place.”

Setting up your ingredients not only helps speed up the cooking process but also helps ensure you have all of the ingredients on hand to make our simple recipe.

If you have leftover macaroni, you can always use it up in my tasty smoked macaroni and cheese recipe.

How to Make Hawaiian Macaroni Salad

  • Cook the dry elbow macaroni until it’s soft.
    *Regular macaroni salad cooks pasta al dente. For this recipe, cook past the suggested cooking time on the package directions.
  • Drain and rinse the pasta under cold water. Set aside until needed.
Collage showing how to make the recipe.
  • Add the mayonnaise, whole milk, apple cider vinegar, granulated sugar, salt, and black pepper to a large bowl.
  • Whisk the mayonnaise mixture until smooth.
  • Add the grated carrot, chopped celery, and chopped onion to the dressing.
  • Whisk to combine.
  • Add the cooled macaroni pasta to the bowl with the tangy dressing.
  • Use a rubber spatula to mix the elbows with the dressing until all of the pasta is well coated.

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the creamy pasta salad for at least 2 hours to allow the flavors to build. For best results, chill overnight.

Before serving, stir the pasta and re-season with salt and black pepper as needed.

The finished recipe in a white bowl on a wooden table.

Sweet, tangy, and totally addicting, our mac salad is the perfect side dish for barbecues, game days, potlucks, and family gatherings. Just make sure to double the recipe because everyone will be coming back for seconds and thirds!

Leftovers should be stored refrigerated in an airtight container or well-sealed with plastic wrap for 2-3 days. It is not recommended to freeze this dish.

This dish would be a delicious accompaniment to our Huli Huli Chicken and our Peri Peri Chicken.

Recipe FAQs

Can I use different pasta shapes to make this dish?

Absolutely, just make sure it’s one of the smaller-shaped kinds of pasta, like small shells, rotelle, or farfalle.

Should I rinse the macaroni after cooking?

Yes, but only briefly. Lightly rinsing the pasta helps remove some of the starch. The key is not to cool down the pasta too much; it needs to be warm enough to absorb the vinegar and dressing.
Be careful not to over-rinse the pasta; some starch is needed for the dressing to cling to.

What can I do if my Hawaiian macaroni salad dries out?

Make sure to keep it well-covered while in the refrigerator. If it looks dry when you’re ready to serve, add more mayonnaise or milk to the pasta to make it creamier.

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    Tortellini Pasta Salad
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    Classic Potato Salad Recipe
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    Easy Homemade Coleslaw Recipe

Hawaiian macaroni salad in a white bowl.

Hawaiian Macaroni Salad Recipe

Chef Ryan Littley
Creamy, sweet, tangy, and totally addicting, our Hawaiian macaroni salad is the perfect side dish for barbecues, game days, potlucks, and family get-togethers.
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 10 minutes mins
Chilling Time 2 hours hrs
Total Time 2 hours hrs 25 minutes mins
Course pasta side dish, Side Dish
Cuisine American, Hawaiian
Servings 12
Calories 382 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb elbow macaroni cooked the pasta until its soft
  • ½ cup carrot grated
  • ½ cup celery finely chopped
  • ¼ cup onion finely chopped
  • 1 ¾ cups mayonnaise Duke’s or Hellman's
  • ¾ cups whole milk
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon sweet paprika optional for garnish

Instructions
 

  • Cook the elbow macaroni according until it's soft.
    *Regular macaroni salad cooks pasta al dente. For Hawaiian Macaroni salad, cook past the suggested cooking time.
  • Drain and rinse the pasta under cold water. Set aside until needed.
  • Add the mayonnaise, whole milk, apple cider vinegar, granulated sugar, salt, and black pepper to a large bowl. Whisk until smooth.
  • Add the grated carrot, chopped celery, and chopped onion to the dressing. Whisk to combine.
  • Add the cooled macaroni to the bowl with the dressing.
  • Use a rubber spatula to mix the elbows with the dressing until all of the pasta is well coated.
  • Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to allow the flavors to build. For best results, chill overnight.
  • Before serving, stir the pasta and re-seasson with salt and black pepper as needed.

Notes

  • For extra creaminess, you can add more mayonnaise just before serving 1 tablespoon at a time until you reach the desired consistency.
  • If you prefer a tangier flavor, increase the amount of apple cider vinegar to 2 tablespoons.
  • Hawaiian Macaroni Salad can be made up to 2 days in advance.
  • Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 382kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 6gFat: 26gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 15gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 16mgSodium: 322mgPotassium: 161mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 1966IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 35mgIron: 1mg
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Comments

    5 from 1 vote

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Lisa R says

    April 26, 2025 at 4:48 pm

    5 stars
    This is positively the best Hawaiian Mac Salad I’ve ever made! Thanks for sharing the recipe.

    Reply
    • Chef Dennis Littley says

      April 26, 2025 at 4:54 pm

      You’re welcome and thanks for taking the time to let me know you enjoyed it!

      Reply


My name is Chef Dennis Littley, creator and owner of Ask Chef Dennis Productions. As a classically trained chef with 40+ years of experience in the kitchen, I share my time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen.

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