Hawaiian Style Macaroni Salad Recipe

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This blog contains affiliate links, and I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

It’s already August, but there’s still time to put a good macaroni salad recipe to use. It seems like summer just got here, so we will be barbecuing for as long as the weather allows. Plus, there are no rules about what time of year you can eat a good pasta salad. 😉

Bowls of Hawaiian macaroni salad.

Delicious Hawaiian Macaroni Salad Recipe

Yields: 8 servings

Prep time: 30 minutes | Cook Time: 10 minutes

Macaroni, celery, carrots, brown sugar, and other ingredients.

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound elbow macaroni
  • ½ cup apple cider vinegar
  • 2 cups mayonnaise, divided
  • 2 cups whole milk, divided
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 ½ teaspoons salt
  • 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 bunch scallions, sliced thin (about 5-7 scallions)
  • 1 ½ cups shredded carrot
  • 1 ½ cups minced celery
Bowl of macaroni in a pot.

Directions:

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add macaroni and cook until very soft (10-12 minutes). Drain, return to cooking pot immediately and toss with apple cider vinegar. Allow macaroni to cool for 10 minutes.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together 1 cup of the mayonnaise, 1 ½ cups of the whole milk, the brown sugar, salt, and pepper.
  3. Once the macaroni has cooled for 10 minutes, toss with the mixed sauce and let cool to room temperature.
  4. Once cool, fold in the scallion, carrot, and celery. Whisk together the remaining 1 cup mayonnaise and ½ cup whole milk and pour over macaroni salad. Toss well to coat. Add additional salt and pepper to taste.
  5. Chill in the refrigerator until cold.
Chopped veggies.
Chopped carrots, onions, and celery in a bowl.

This macaroni salad recipe has a slightly tangy and sweet flavor. It’s a staple in Hawaiian-style box lunches or plate lunches. Bring it as a side dish to gatherings, or make it when you host a BBQ.

Bowl of macaroni salad.

If you are looking for more awesome BBQ side dishes, we have a few more here. Don’t forget the frozen treats to cool down guests on hot days, too!

Do you have a favorite macaroni salad recipe?

Similar Posts

14 Comments

  1. What makes this Hawaiian? Looks like a regular salad to me.

    1. The brown sugar adds some sweetness, and it’s tangy. Reminds me of a Hawaiian-like flavor.

  2. I really like the addition of the brown sugar. We tend to really like the sweet and savory combo.

  3. No, I don’t have a favorite macaroni salad recipe, but this one looks delicious, I can’t wait to give it a try. Thank you for sharing this recipe.

  4. This looks so good, and I think with the sweetness my kids would be sure to like it too!

  5. Alli @ Tornadough Alli says:

    Yum, this looks so good. I love adding sugar to my macaroni salads! I will absolutely be making this. I would love if you linked up tonight at Throw Back Thursdays!

  6. Pauline Molinari says:

    This looks absolutely delish! Thanks so much for sharing your yummy recipe on the Monday Funday Party!

  7. What a fun and yummy twist on the usual macaroni salad! Those flavors sound like an interesting combo. 🙂 I hope you can stop on by and share this or any other recipe with us on Five Friday Finds!

  8. Crystal Rogers Walker says:

    I love any type of Hawaiin food made any way I will try this great recipe I love this kind of pasta

  9. Vickie @Vickie's Kitchen and Garden says:

    Sounds delicious. Would be great for a picnic or potluck. Thanks for sharing at the #HomeMattersParty

  10. Joni Mason says:

    My favorite macaroni salad recipe is the plain one I’ve used for years. This looks dleish and I’m excited to see how the brown sugar adds to the flavor or you Hawaiian Macaroni Salad! I may have to leave the celery out though, I’m not a fan of it at all…lol

  11. lana simanovicki says:

    this looks yummy

  12. ellen beck says:

    I love macaroni saalad and I like how this is a bit different. I think this wwould be a good one to take to a potluck!

  13. Sharon DiAmore says:

    My son is half Hawaiian. I will definitely have to make this for him!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *