The Best Hawaiian Macaroni Salad Recipe You’ll Ever Need

Hawaiian macaroni salad brings a vibrant splash of island comfort to any gathering.

Creamy, tangy, and impossibly satisfying, this beloved side dish represents more than just a recipe—it’s a cultural connection.

Local kitchens celebrate its simple yet powerful ingredients that convert ordinary pasta into something extraordinary.

Soft noodles absorb rich, velvety dressing with remarkable ease, creating a harmonious blend of textures and flavors.

The traditional preparation reflects Hawaii’s multicultural culinary landscape, blending influences from different immigrant communities.

Each forkful tells a story of community, sharing, and delicious heritage that goes beyond mere food.

You’ll find this dish transcends typical side offerings with its unique character and irresistible appeal.

Why Classic Hawaiian Macaroni Salad Is Summer-Ready Anytime

• Create Creamy Comfort: This Hawaiian macaroni salad delivers ultimate creaminess with its rich half-and-half and mayonnaise dressing, offering a luxurious mouthfeel that feels like a warm culinary hug.
• Master Flavor-Absorbing Technique: By overcooking pasta and adding apple cider vinegar, the macaroni becomes perfectly soft and absorbs dressing deeply, ensuring every bite is packed with delicious flavor.
• Enjoy Vibrant Vegetable Crunch: Green onions, celery, and carrots provide delightful texture and fresh color, transforming a simple pasta salad into a colorful, nutritious side dish that adds excitement to any meal.
• Chill for Maximum Deliciousness: Allowing the salad to rest and cool completely lets flavors meld together, creating a more complex and satisfying taste experience that gets better with time.

What Goes Into This Sweet and Creamy Macaroni Salad

• Elbow Macaroni: Classic pasta shape perfect for soaking up creamy dressing, choose a standard quality pasta for best texture.

.

• Half-and-Half, Mayonnaise: Rich and creamy base that creates smooth, luxurious dressing.
• Apple Cider Vinegar: Adds tangy brightness and helps pasta absorb flavors.
• Dark Brown Sugar: Provides subtle sweetness to balance the dressing.
• Grated Onion: Introduces deep, aromatic flavor throughout the salad.

• Green Onions, Celery, Carrots: Fresh vegetables that add crunch, color, and nutritional value, choose crisp and vibrant produce for best results.

.

• Salt, Black Pepper: Essential for enhancing and balancing overall flavor profile, use freshly ground black pepper for more robust taste.

How to Get That Signature Hawaiian Mac Salad Texture

Step 1: Create the Creamy Dreamy Dressing

Whisk together half-and-half, mayonnaise, grated onion, dark brown sugar, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl until silky smooth. Pop this magical mixture into the refrigerator while you work on the pasta.

Step 2: Cook the Pasta to Perfection

Boil the macaroni, but here’s the secret- add 5 extra minutes to the package instructions. You want super soft, plump noodles that’ll soak up all the delicious dressing. Drain the pasta, then return it to the pot.

Step 3: Splash and Infuse

Drizzle apple cider vinegar over the warm pasta and stir gently. Let the noodles absorb the tangy goodness. Cover and let cool at room temperature for 20 minutes.

Step 4: Build Your Flavor Layers

Pour half the dressing over the pasta and mix thoroughly. Cover and let rest for another 20 minutes. This allows the noodles to drink up all those incredible flavors.

Step 5: Mix in the Crunch

Add remaining dressing, chopped green onions, diced celery, and shredded carrots. Stir everything together and season with extra salt and pepper if needed. Let the salad cool completely for about 30 minutes.

Step 6: Chill and Serve

Transfer the salad to a serving bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. This waiting time lets all the flavors mingle and become absolutely delicious!

Enjoy your authentic Hawaiian-style macaroni salad that’ll transport you to tropical paradise with every bite!

Tips to Keep It Creamy Without Getting Soggy

• Maximize Softness: Cook macaroni 5 minutes longer than package instructions to achieve that signature Hawaiian-style ultra-tender pasta texture.
• Vinegar Absorption Trick: Pour apple cider vinegar immediately after draining to help pasta soak up tangy flavor deeply into each noodle.
• Dressing Layer Strategy: Add dressing in stages, allowing pasta to rest and absorb flavors gradually for richer, more complex taste profile.
• Vegetable Crunch Balance: Dice celery and carrots uniformly to ensure consistent texture and even distribution throughout the salad.
• Chill for Perfection: Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving to let ingredients meld and develop a more robust, harmonious flavor.

Chilling and Serving Mac Salad at Its Best

• Refrigerate: Store leftover Hawaiian macaroni salad in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days in the coldest part of your refrigerator.
• Keep Fresh: Cover the salad surface with plastic wrap to prevent drying and absorbing other refrigerator odors.
• Revive Texture: Before serving cold leftovers, gently stir in a tablespoon of mayonnaise to restore creaminess and help loosen the pasta that might have absorbed dressing overnight.

Island-Inspired Dishes That Pair Well

• Pair with Grilled Proteins: Serve this creamy Hawaiian macaroni salad alongside juicy grilled chicken, tender pulled pork, or succulent barbecue ribs for a perfect summer meal.
• Tropical Beverage Match: Complement the salad's rich flavors with a refreshing pineapple mojito, cold coconut water, or a crisp Hawaiian-style light beer to enhance the tropical notes.
• Picnic-Perfect Companion: This salad shines as a side dish for outdoor gatherings, pairing wonderfully with grilled seafood, kalua pork, or as part of a classic Hawaiian plate lunch.
• Texture-Balancing Sides: Create a balanced plate by adding crunchy macadamia nuts, crisp green salad, or grilled vegetables to contrast the creamy macaroni salad's smooth texture.

Ways to Dress Up Hawaiian Mac Salad

• Protein Power Boost: Enhance the classic recipe by adding diced ham, shredded chicken, or canned tuna for a protein-packed version that transforms the salad into a complete meal.
• Spicy Island Style: Mix in diced jalapeños, sriracha sauce, or red pepper flakes to give the macaroni salad a fiery kick that brings tropical heat to your plate.
• Mediterranean Makeover: Replace traditional vegetables with diced cucumber, kalamata olives, and crumbled feta cheese to create a Greek-inspired interpretation of the classic Hawaiian side dish.
• Vegan Hawaiian Remix: Substitute mayonnaise with vegan alternatives like cashew cream or plant-based mayo, and use dairy-free half-and-half to make a completely plant-based version that maintains the creamy texture and rich flavor profile.

Classic Hawaiian Macaroni Salad Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.7 from 10 reviews

• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Hawaiian macaroni salad delivers island-style comfort with creamy, tangy goodness. Pasta tossed in a rich mayo dressing brings tropical memories straight to your plate, inviting you to savor each delightful bite.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 1 pound (454 grams) elbow macaroni
• 1 cup (240 milliliters) grated carrots
• 2 large celery ribs, chopped into ¼-inch pieces
• 5 green onions, white and green parts sliced thin

Dressing Ingredients:

• 2 cups (480 milliliters) half-and-half
• 2 cups (480 milliliters) mayonnaise (preferably Duke’s)
• ¼ cup (60 milliliters) apple cider vinegar
• 1 ½ tablespoons (22.5 milliliters) grated yellow onion
• 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) dark brown sugar

Seasoning Ingredients:

• 2 teaspoons pepper
• 1 teaspoon salt

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Craft a luscious dressing by whisking half-and-half, mayonnaise, grated onion, dark brown sugar, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl until silky smooth. Refrigerate the mixture to let flavors meld.
2. Extend the macaroni cooking time by 5 minutes to achieve a supremely tender and plump texture, ensuring maximum dressing absorption. Drain the pasta completely.
3. Return the hot macaroni to the pot and drizzle with apple cider vinegar, gently stirring to help the pasta soak up the tangy liquid. Cover and allow to rest at room temperature for 20 minutes.
4. Pour half the prepared dressing over the macaroni, stirring thoroughly to distribute evenly. Cover and let the pasta continue absorbing flavors for another 20 minutes.
5. Incorporate remaining dressing, chopped green onions, crisp celery, and sweet carrots. Mix gently to combine all ingredients. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if desired.
6. Let the salad cool completely at room temperature for approximately 30 minutes, allowing flavors to harmonize and meld together.
7. Transfer the macaroni salad to a serving bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours. This chilling time enhances the depth and richness of the dish, creating a truly authentic Hawaiian-style side.

Notes

• Overcooking pasta is key for authentic Hawaiian-style macaroni salad, ensuring it’s extra soft and plump to soak up all the creamy dressing.
• Letting the pasta rest with vinegar and dressing at room temperature helps develop deeper, richer flavors throughout the salad.
• Grated onion in the dressing adds a subtle, sharp bite that elevates the entire dish without overwhelming other ingredients.
• Patience is crucial – allow the salad to cool completely and chill for at least 2 hours to let flavors meld and intensify.
• Dark brown sugar in the dressing provides a gentle sweetness that balances the tangy vinegar and creamy mayonnaise.
• Choose fresh, crisp vegetables like green onions, celery, and carrots to add texture and a vibrant crunch to the classic salad.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Snacks
• Method: Boiling
• Cuisine: Hawaiian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 450
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 600 mg
• Fat: 30 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 25 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 40 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 7 g
• Cholesterol: 20 mg