This cheddar macaroni salad recipe combines tender elbow macaroni, cheddar cheese, celery, and red onion in a creamy dressing made with mayonnaise, sour cream, and Dijon mustard. It’s an easy make-ahead side dish that’s perfect for cookouts, potlucks, picnics, and summer dinners.
Jump to:
- Why You’ll Love This Cheddar Macaroni Salad
- Ingredients
- Ingredient Notes
- How to Make Cheddar Macaroni Salad
- Should You Rinse Macaroni When Making Macaroni Salad?
- Why Isn’t My Macaroni Salad Creamy?
- How Long Does Macaroni Salad Last in the Fridge?
- Can You Freeze Macaroni Salad?
- What to Serve with Macaroni Salad
- Cheddar Macaroni Salad
Why You’ll Love This Cheddar Macaroni Salad
- Ready in about 30 minutes plus chilling time.
- Creamy homemade dressing with cheddar cheese in every bite.
- Easy to make ahead for cookouts and potlucks.
- Makes a big batch for parties, potlucks, and family gatherings.
- Simple ingredients.
Ingredients
See recipe card for exact amounts.
Ingredient Notes
- Pasta: Elbow macaroni is traditional, but small shells or ditalini also work well.
- Cheese: Sharp cheddar adds the most flavor, but mild cheddar also works well.
- Vegetables: Celery and red onion add crunch and flavor. Chopped bell pepper or pickles are optional additions.
- Dressing: Mayonnaise, sour cream, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper make a creamy, tangy dressing.
How to Make Cheddar Macaroni Salad
- Cook pasta according to the package directions, rinse with cool water to stop the cooking process.
- While the pasta cooks, chop the onion and celery. Measure the dressing ingredients and whisk them together in a small bowl.
- In a large mixing bowl combine the drained pasta, celery, onion and cheese chunks, toss to combine.
- Add the dressing to the pasta and gently stir until it is mixed.
Should You Rinse Macaroni When Making Macaroni Salad?
Yes. Rinsing cooked macaroni with cold water stops the cooking process, cools the pasta quickly, and removes excess starch so it doesn’t become sticky. It also helps the dressing coat the pasta more evenly.
Why Isn’t My Macaroni Salad Creamy?
Macaroni salad usually becomes dry if the pasta is overcooked, absorbs too much dressing while chilling, or doesn’t have enough dressing to begin with. If needed, stir in a little milk or an extra spoonful of dressing before serving.
How Long Does Macaroni Salad Last in the Fridge?
Macaroni salad will keep for 3 to 5 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Even when stored properly, it can start to dry out after a day or two. To make leftover macaroni salad creamier, stir in a couple of tablespoons of milk or reserve a little extra dressing to mix in before serving.
Can You Freeze Macaroni Salad?
While macaroni salad can technically be frozen, it’s not recommended. The texture and consistency won’t be the same after freezing and thawing. Macaroni salad is best enjoyed fresh within a few days of making it.
What to Serve with Macaroni Salad
Macaroni salad is a classic side dish for cookouts, picnics, and potlucks. It also pairs well with these main dishes:
- hamburgers
- hot dogs
- barbecue chicken
- pulled pork
- fried chicken
- sloppy joes
- brats
- pigs in a blanket
Macaroni salad is a classic side dish for sloppy joes. For more side dish, vegetable, and dessert ideas, see my What to Serve with Sloppy Joes guide.
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Cheddar Macaroni Salad
Ingredients
- 1 pound elbow macaroni
- 1 cup celery chopped
- ½ cup cheese chunks
- ¼ cup red onion finely chopped
- 1 ¼ cups mayonnaise
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 ½ tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 ½ teaspoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Cook macaroni for the minimum amount of time specified on the package. Drain and rinse with cold water.1 pound elbow macaroni
- In a small bowl mix the mayonnaise, sour cream, Dijon mustard, vinegar, sugar, pepper, and salt until combined. Set aside.1 ¼ cups mayonnaise, ½ cup sour cream, 1 ½ tablespoons Dijon mustard, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 1 ½ teaspoon sugar, ½ teaspoon black pepper, ¼ teaspoon salt
- In a large bowl combine the macaroni, cheese chunks, celery, and onion. Add the sauce and stir to combine.1 pound elbow macaroni, 1 cup celery, ½ cup cheese chunks, ¼ cup red onion
The dressing on the salad is amazing. I didn’t have Dijon, but I used a seeded mustard and it turned out. Great thanks for sharing.
I’m glad you like it, I’ve only used smooth Dijon but will be trying it with the grainy mustard next time . Thank you for commenting and reviewing!
Looks pretty close to Granny’s but I like to add bacon or pre diced ham chopped up in mine because of meals not a meal without meat for me LOL
We usually eat this as a side dish to grilled meats, that way all we have to do is grill the meat, which takes like 10 minutes. But, bacon or ham would be a great addition. Thanks
This would make a comfort meal to me.. Love those bowl used for platting..
Thank you so much!
I love all sorts of salads…this looks so comforting and homey, Mindy.
Thank you!