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Home » Recipes » Hawaiian Macaroni Salad Recipe

Hawaiian Macaroni Salad Recipe

by Mike Hultquist · Sep 2, 2024 · 17 Comments

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Hawaiian Macaroni Salad Recipe

Hawaiian macaroni salad is so creamy and flavorful, with soft fat noodles that soak up the mayo-rich dressing, easy to make and so very craveable. Serve it with huli huli chicken or pineapple fried rice!

Creamy Hawaiian Macaroni Salad in a bowl

Hawaiian Macaroni Salad Recipe

Hawaiian Macaroni Salad is the perfect side dish you need to bring to your next party or gathering.

We saw this dish everywhere in Hawaii, served from food trucks, with plate lunches, restaurants. It's a cornerstone of Hawaiian cuisine, easily one of their most popular dishes.

Hawaiian macaroni salad - called Hawaiian mac salad or simply "mac salad" on the islands - is perfect for BBQs, pot lucks, picnics, pretty much any party situation, and you can make the salad ahead of time, which actually makes the dish that much better.

There are many variations, but this is a quintessential version of the recipe that you can use a base to customize as you wish. Just be careful, it's super addictive. Just wait, you'll see. We couldn't stop eating it.

Let's talk about how to make Hawaiian macaroni salad, shall we?

Hawaiian Macaroni Salad Ingredients

The full ingredients list with measurements is listed in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

  • Dry Elbow Macaroni Noodles.
  • Onion. Use yellow onion, sweet onion, Vidalia, or white onion.
  • Carrot.
  • Mayonnaise. Use your favorites, but Hawaiians use Best Foods or Hellman's mayonnaise for authentic Hawaiian mac salad.
  • Milk.
  • Apple Cider Vinegar. Or use sweet pickle juice!
  • Sugar. Optional.
  • Salt and Pepper. To taste.

How to Make Hawaiian Macaroni Salad - the Recipe Method

Boil the macaroni noodles until very soft, then drain and set the cooked pasta into a bowl.

Stir in the remaining ingredients - grated onion, grated carrot, half of the mayonnaise, milk, apple cider vinegar, optional sugar, and salt and pepper to taste - then mix it all up.

Mixing Creamy Hawaiian Macaroni Salad ingredients in a large bowl

Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours, but overnight is best for more developed flavor.

When you’re ready to serve, stir in the remaining mayonnaise and serve chilled.

Boom! Done! Your Hawaiian mac salad is ready to serve. Look at how incredibly creamy this dish is. I'm ready to dig into this! Watch out, it is seriously addictive.

Creamy Hawaiian Macaroni Salad served chilled with chopped green onion for garnish

Recipe Tips & Notes

  • You will get the best results when you overcook the macaroni noodles until they are very fat and soft. This helps them absorb the delicious mayo for fuller flavor.
  • Grated onion is a key ingredient in developing that addictive flavor, so do not skip it.
  • It is very important to refrigerate the macaroni salad overnight in the refrigerator to allow the macaroni to absorb the mayonnaise dressing. It is so much better the next day.

Hawaiian Macaroni Salad Variations

There are many popular ways to vary up this recipe. Popular additions include cooked potato, chopped hard boiled eggs, peas, celery, green onions, tuna, imitation crab meat, chopped ham.

This is a recipe you can really customize and make your own.

Storage & Leftovers

Hawaiian macaroni salad will last up to 3 days in the refrigerator in a sealed container. If it starts to dry out, stir in a bit more mayo or milk to loosen it back up.

That's it, my friends. I hope you enjoy this Hawaiian mac salad recipe. Let me know if you make it. I'd love to hear how it turned out for you, and if you decided to spice it up!

Cookbook Recommendation

If you enjoy Hawaiian cuisine, check out these cookbooks, which helped me adapt this recipe. Great recipes!

  • Cook Real Hawai'i: A Cookbook, by by Sheldon Simeon (affiliate link, my friends!)
  • Aloha Kitchen: Recipes from Hawai'i, by Alana Kysar (affiliate link, my friends!)
  • Also, check out MY cookbook! The Spicy Food Lovers' Cookbook, by Mike Hultquist (affiliate link, my friends!)
The Spicy Food Lovers' Cookbook - Fiery, No-Fuss Meals, by Michael Hultquist

Amazon Affiliate links, my friends! As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Recommended Ingredients

  • Best Foods Mayonnaise - Recommended by traditional Hawaiian chefs! (affiliate link, my friends!)

Try Some of My Other Popular Side Dish Recipes

  • Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese
  • Jalapeno Popper Mac and Cheese
  • Potato Salad
  • Scalloped Potatoes
  • Esquites Recipe (Mexican Street Corn Salad)
  • Elote Recipe (Mexican Street Corn)
  • Get more Salad Recipes here.

Also try my Hawaiian Chili Pepper Water recipe.

Serving creamy Hawaiian Macaroni Salad in a bowl

Got any questions? Ask away! I’m happy to help. If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you’ll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don’t forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I’ll be sure to share! Thanks! — Mike H.

Hawaiian Macaroni Salad Recipe
Print

Hawaiian Macaroni Salad Recipe

Hawaiian macaroni salad is so creamy and flavorful, with soft fat noodles that soak up the mayo-rich dressing, easy to make and so very craveable.
Save Recipe Saved!
Course: Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: Hawaiian
Keyword: mayonnaise, noodles
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
Refrigerating: 2 hours hours
Calories: 389kcal
Author: Mike Hultquist
Servings: 16
Tap or hover to scale
5 from 4 votes
Leave a Review

Ingredients

  • 1 pound dry elbow macaroni noodles
  • 1/4 cup grated onion with juices (Use yellow onion, sweet onion, Vidalia, or white onion)
  • 1/4 cup grated or shredded carrot
  • 3 cups mayonnaise divided (Use your favorites, but Hawaiians use Best Foods or Hellman's mayonnaise)
  • ¼ cup milk
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar or use sweet pickle juice!
  • 1 teaspoon sugar optional
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Cook the macaroni noodles in lightly salted boiling water until very tender, about 10 minutes. Check the packaging for proper times - you'll get best results from very tender noodles. Drain and set into a large bowl.
  • Stir in the grated onion, carrot, half of the mayonnaise, milk, apple cider vinegar, optional sugar, and salt and pepper to taste. Mix well to combine.
  • Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours, over overnight for more developed flavor.
  • When you’re ready to serve, stir in remaining mayonnaise. Taste and adjust for seasonings. Serve chilled.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 389kcal   Carbohydrates: 22g   Protein: 3g   Fat: 32g   Saturated Fat: 5g   Polyunsaturated Fat: 19g   Monounsaturated Fat: 7g   Trans Fat: 0.1g   Cholesterol: 18mg   Sodium: 285mg   Potassium: 26mg   Fiber: 1g   Sugar: 1g   Vitamin A: 368IU   Vitamin C: 0.3mg   Calcium: 9mg   Iron: 0.5mg
Hawaiian Macaroni Salad Recipe
Did You Enjoy This Recipe?I love hearing how you like it and how you made it your own. Leave a comment below and tag @ChiliPepperMadness on social media.

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Kathi says

    September 24, 2024 at 9:23 pm

    This looks amazing, I’m gluten and dairy free, I assume I can use gluten free noodles but what are your thoughts about what milk substitute to use? I was thinking of using coconut milk?

    Reply
    • Mike H. says

      September 25, 2024 at 3:42 am

      Hi Kathi. Thanks. Unsweetened coconut milk should work. Also, unsweetened almond milk and soy milk could be good alternatives.

      Reply
  2. Karen says

    September 09, 2024 at 8:53 pm

    5 stars
    Absolutely amazing! Will definitely be making this again.

    Reply
    • Mike H. says

      September 10, 2024 at 4:17 am

      Fantastic - thank you, Karen!

      Reply
  3. Bill says

    September 08, 2024 at 5:35 pm

    In the dim dark recesses of what passes for for my mind I am stuck on including diced Spam. Your thoughts?

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      September 08, 2024 at 8:28 pm

      I would give it a go, Bill! Let me know how you enjoy it if you try it!

      Reply
      • Bill says

        September 27, 2024 at 12:10 pm

        The small diced Spam worked well. Nice salty touch.

        Reply
  4. Margarita says

    September 07, 2024 at 10:15 am

    5 stars
    This recipe brings back many wonderful memories. I was looking for something special to go with pulled bbq chicken sandwiches, this will be perfect!! As always, your recipes inspire and are spot on. Thank you and please keep sharing.

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      September 07, 2024 at 10:44 am

      Awesome! Thanks, Margarita! I love it!

      Reply
  5. Darrell says

    September 02, 2024 at 10:39 am

    5 stars
    What kind of onion do you recommended? My gut tells me a sweet yellow onion, but I don't want to just assume.

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      September 02, 2024 at 11:06 am

      Darrell, use a sweet onion, Vidalia, white, or yellow onion for this. Enjoy!!

      Reply
  6. Kathleen says

    September 02, 2024 at 9:24 am

    5 stars
    My recipe is from Zippys Drive In. Very similar. Better than regular sloppy mayo version most people know. Had it with plate lunch on Oahu and still crave it all these years later. Must follow the instructions to get legit Hawaiian plate lunch Mac salad! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • Mike H. says

      September 02, 2024 at 10:43 am

      You are very welcome, Kathleen!

      Reply
  7. Confused says

    September 02, 2024 at 8:25 am

    I don't understand why it's called "Hawaiian", I was expecting to find some pineapple in there somewhere.

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      September 02, 2024 at 8:31 am

      This is what you get when you visit Hawaii. It's a traditional recipe there. This is all mentioned in the post.

      Reply
  8. Ramya says

    September 02, 2024 at 7:07 am

    Cant wait to make this soon for me i love pasta sooooooooo much i never had hawaiian macaroni salad before perfect for my after office meals love your recipes as always brightens up my day everyday after work

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      September 02, 2024 at 7:16 am

      I hope you love this one, Ramya. Enjoy.

      Reply

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