Simple Vegan Macaroni Salad (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Jenna Urben · This post may contain affiliate links

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This quick and easy vegan macaroni salad recipe comes together with fresh colorful veggies and a creamy egg free mayonnaise base.

Simple Vegan Macaroni Salad (1)

It's been ages since I enjoyed macaroni salad! I missed the summer time staple dish so much, I made it myself using classic vegetables and vegan mayo.

Since I've made this egg free and dairy free side dish, I haven't been able to stop snacking on it!

If you have an upcoming bbq, picnic, or potluck coming up, you have to give this quick and easy macaroni salad a try. It's perfect for any summer celebration!

Simple Vegan Macaroni Salad (2)

How to Make Egg Free Macaroni Salad

My macaroni salad recipe is packed full of crunchy veggies and really comes together with the veganized macaroni salad dressing!

It takes just 15 minutes to come together and is the ultimate crowd pleasing appetizer.

Here's what you'll need:

  • Macaroni pasta
  • Red bell pepper
  • Red onion
  • Celery
  • Carrots
  • Peas

Simple chop or dice vegetables then set aside to cook pasta and prepare dressing.

Homemade Vegan Mayonnaise Macaroni Salad Dressing

You can definitely use store bought vegan mayo without egg, or you can make your own vegan mayonnaise at home! Here's how:

  • ¼cupaquafaba
  • 1tablespoonagave nectaror other sweetener of choice
  • 2teaspoonsapple cider vinegar
  • ½teaspoonsalt
  • ¼teaspoonmustard
  • 1cupcanola oilor other neutral oil

Add aquafaba, agave, apple cider vinegar, salt, and dijon mustard to a tall glass. Using an immersion blender, blend on high. While blending, slowly pour oil in, moving the immersion blender up and down to help mixture become thick and creamy. Continue pouring in remaining oil and blending until vegan mayo forms! This generally takes about 1-2 minutes.

If you're wanting to pick up eggless mayo at the store, I recommend veganaise!

Easy Macaroni Salad Dressing Recipe

Alright, now that you've got your base, simple whisk these ingredients together for the best creamiest pasta salad dressing!

  • 1 cup vegan mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons pickle juice
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Chopped parsley, if desired
Simple Vegan Macaroni Salad (3)

Vegan Macaroni Salad FAQ

Do I have to use macaroni noodles?

This iconic summer side dish has its name for a reason... But no, you don't have to use macaroni noodles. Macaroni elbow pasta shape makes the dressing easy to coat the pasta but you can opt for ditalini or penne instead.

Can I prep macaroni salad ahead of time?

Of course! Macaroni salad is actually tastier served cold or room temp, in my opinion. Simply meal prep and place in the fridge covered until you're ready to serve.

Is this macaroni salad gluten free?

This recipe can easily be made gluten free by using GF friendly pasta!

How do I keep macaroni from absorbing mayonnaise?

If you have extra time, chill your pasta before folding in the mayo. That will help slow the absorption of mayonnaise.

Can I half the recipe?

You can easily half or double this recipe!

More Macaroni Salad Tips

  • Don’t overcook the noodles
  • Rinse the al dente pasta with cold water to stop them from cooking
  • Make this macaroni salad your own by adding your favorite veggies
  • Chop the veggies small to ensure each bite is packed with bursting flavors

Want more allergy friendly recipes? Check these out next:

  • Easy Veggie Pasta Salad
  • Simple Bruschetta
  • Vegan Greek Pasta Salad
  • Shish*to Peppers
  • Non Dairy 5 Layer Dip
  • Spicy Roasted Jalapeno Hummus

I hope you enjoy this easy vegan macaroni pasta salad as much as we do! It's quick, kid friendly, and the ultimate party snack. If you give it a try, please share a photo with me over onInstagram.

Simple Vegan Macaroni Salad (4)

Simple Vegan Macaroni Salad

Author: Jenna Urben

This quick and easy vegan macaroni salad recipe comes together with fresh colorful veggies and a creamy egg free mayonnaise base.

4.75 from 4 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Course Appetizer, Main Course, Side Dish

Servings 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces pasta
  • 1 red bell pepper diced
  • ¼ red onion diced
  • 2 celery ribs diced
  • 1 large carrot diced
  • 1 cup peas

Egg Free Macaroni Salad Dressing

Instructions

  • Cook pasta al dente according to package directions. Once cooked, drain and rinse with cool water.

  • In a small mixing bowl, whisk dressing ingredients together.

  • Toss cooked pasta, vegetables, and dressing together in a large mixing bowl.

  • Place covered in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Once chilled, serve and enjoy!

  • Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 313kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 5gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.1gSodium: 247mgPotassium: 185mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 2114IUVitamin C: 27mgCalcium: 17mgIron: 1mg

Did you make this recipe?Please leave a star rating or review in the form below, then snap a picture and tag me @theurbenlife on Instagram!

Simple Vegan Macaroni Salad (5)

More Dairy Free Side Dishes

  • Vegan Zucchini Scarpaccia
  • Vegan Broccoli Rice Casserole
  • Smoked Green Beans
  • Smoked Baked Beans

About Jenna Urben

Jenna Urben is the recipe developer, content creator, and storyteller behind The Urben Life. She has over 10 years experience adapting family favorite meals to fit allergy-friendly diets. Join Jenna as she shares delicious dairy-free recipes that are easy to follow with plenty of tips and alternatives.

Reader Interactions

Comments

    4.75 from 4 votes

    Leave a Reply

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  1. Elizabeth Belden Handler

    Simple Vegan Macaroni Salad (10)
    No! Don’t rinse in cold water! Add the seasonings to the hot pasta so it becomes infused with flavor, then add the vegetables when it’s cooled.

    Reply

    • Jenna Urben

      You can do it either way 🙂 I prefer rinsing my pasta for pasta salad as it stops the cooking process and I find the pasta doesn't get gummy and clump together from the starchy coating.

      Reply

  2. Lindsey Harrison

    What a great recipe, perfect for summer BBQ's. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

    • Jenna | The Urben Life

      Yes!!! Thanks so much, Lindsey

      Reply

  3. Nadalie Bardo

    Simple Vegan Macaroni Salad (11)
    This macaroni salad is basically my childhood! Had it so often as a kid, so great you can make it vegan too.

    Reply

    • Jenna | The Urben Life

      Heck yes 🙂 Thanks for the comment!

      Reply

  4. Jen

    Simple Vegan Macaroni Salad (12)
    I am always looking for great side salad recipes and I look forward to trying this one.

    Reply

    • Jenna | The Urben Life

      Yay 🙂 Let me know what you think!

      Reply

  5. joy abou zeid

    This is such a lovely recipe and easy to make!! I am going camping in a couple of days, I am definitely going to make one!

    Reply

    • Jenna | The Urben Life

      I'm thrilled to hear that! Enjoy, Joy 🙂

      Reply

Simple Vegan Macaroni Salad (2024)

FAQs

Should you rinse macaroni when making macaroni salad? ›

Rinsing your pasta also stops the cooking process, which will ensure that your pasta isn't overcooked and mushy. By washing away the starchy film on the pasta, you're guaranteeing that when you toss the pasta with your other salad components and dressing, the pasta won't stick together or clump.

Why isn t my macaroni salad creamy? ›

The key to the best creamy pasta salad is to rinse the cooked pasta under cold water before tossing it with the dressing. Skipping this step means the dressing will be sticky. We also “de-flame” the onion, which tames the raw onion flavor so that it does not take over the salad.

What pasta is not recommended for pasta salads? ›

Above all: Do not, we repeat do not, make a pasta salad with farfalle. The floppy edges of the bow tie pasta will be overcooked by the time the knot in the middle is al dente, and besides: the slippery texture doesn't do much in the way of trapping sauce. Another shape to avoid? Tortellini.

Why does my pasta salad have no flavor? ›

Season the Pasta Well

Unlike warm meals, the flavors in cold dishes can be more muted and require a little more seasoning. The last thing you want is a bland pasta salad. To make sure your pasta salad is well-seasoned and flavorful, it's best to start seasoning early.

Should I let pasta cool before adding mayo? ›

Depends on what kind of pasta salad you are making. I dress WARM/Hot pasta with vinaigrette type dressings right away-absorb great !. Cooled/ room temp pasta w/ mayo type dressing.

What's the difference between pasta salad and macaroni salad? ›

The main difference between the two is in the way they are dressed. Macaroni salad is usually dressed with mayonnaise, while pasta salad is usually dressed with vinaigrette. Macaroni salad is considered a type of pasta salad. In the U.S., Macaroni salad is traditionally made using elbow macaroni.

Why is my macaroni salad bland? ›

𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴: A bland macaroni salad can be disappointing. To prevent this, season the pasta cooking water AGGRESSIVELY. The salt in the cooking water is a recipe ingredient.

Why do Hawaiians eat so much macaroni salad? ›

It's said that Hawaiian macaroni salad made its way onto the plate lunch once Europeans introduced dry elbow macaroni and mayonnaise to the islands. Locals quickly adopted these ingredients because mac salad was affordable, not perishable (unlike a potato salad), and easy to make at home.

Why is it called Russian salad? ›

Russian salad was originally called Oliver salad based on the Moscow-based Belgian chef who invented it. During the 20th century, the dish spread throughout Europe and adopted the name Russian salad.

What is in Walmart deli macaroni salad? ›

INGREDIENTS: Cooked Enriched Macaroni (Semolina Egg Whites, Niacin, Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Mayonnaise (Soybean Oil Water, Egg Yolks, Vinegar, Salt), Water, Sugar Sour Cream (Milk, Cream, Whey, Modified Cornstarch, Guar Gum, Sodium Phosphate, Locust Bean Gum, Sodium Citrate, Carrageenan, ...

What are the ingredients in Sally Sherman macaroni salad? ›

Macaroni (Durum Semolina, Niacin, Ferrous Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin), Hellmann's Mayonnaise (Soybean Oil, Whole Eggs, Vinegar, Water, Egg Yolks, Salt, Sugar, Dextrose, Lemon Juice, Natural Flavors, Calcium Disodium EDTA [Used To Protect Quality]), Sugar, Water, Vinegar, Bell Peppers, Carrots, Onions, ...

What gives macaroni salad an aftertaste? ›

Vinegar and other acidic ingredients do strange things to the flavor of pasta when used in salad-level amounts. Ever notice an irritating acerbic aftertaste just about every time you've eaten pasta salad? That's the vinegar announcing itself, and it's not pleasant.

How do you make cheap macaroni taste better? ›

To improve the tang and overall cheesiness of your boxed mac, add 2 to 3 tablespoons of plain Greek yogurt to the cooked and drained pasta while it's still warm. Toss to combine, then stir in the cheese powder until it's uniformly blended.

How to keep pasta salad from absorbing dressing? ›

Use a dressing with acid: A dressing with acid, such as lemon juice or vinegar, can help to prevent the pasta from becoming soggy by balancing out the starch in the pasta and creating a more stable texture. Add ingredients that help to absorb excess m.

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