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    Posted In: Salads, Sides
    June 19, 2022 — by Julie — Leave a Comment

    Home » Sides » Deli Style Macaroni Salad

    Deli Style Macaroni Salad

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    This deli-style macaroni salad is creamy, crunchy, tangy, and sweet. It’s pasta, celery, peppers, carrots, and scallions, tossed in a homemade creamy dressing. A fail-proof recipe that everyone will enjoy!

    Enjoy this delicious macaroni salad with oven-baked bbq chicken and chipotle baked beans for a perfect summer meal.

    Deli-style macaroni salad in a white bowl with carrots and celery in the background.

    There are many variations to macaroni salad but this is hands down my new favorite recipe! I wanted this to taste exactly like the macaroni salad you get at the deli market and I actually think it’s better. More delicious, budget-friendly potluck recipes are this Hawaiian macaroni salad and macaroni chicken salad.

    Ingredient Notes

    • Macaroni Pasta – Although it is called macaroni salad, any type of short-shaped pasta will work.
    • Celery – Adds crunch but if you’re not a fan you can omit it.
    • Carrots – You can use shredded or finely cubed carrots.
    • Scallions – Not a fan of scallions? Use yellow or red onions instead. Shallots are great too.
    • Red Bell Pepper – Green or yellow peppers work too, if you want some heat, throw in a jalapeno pepper.
    • Mayo – I highly recommend using Hellman’s mayo for this recipe.
    • Sugar – A must! It adds sweetness and balances the acidity of the vinegar.
    • Vinegar – Adds flavor.
    • Mustard – I used dijon mustard but feel free to use any type of mustard. If you want some heat, add horseradish.
    • Celery Salt – Adds flavor but is completely optional.
    Labeled ingredients for deli style macaroni salad.

    Step-By-Step Instructions

    1. Cook the macaroni pasta in boiling salted water according to package instructions.
    2. While the pasta cooks, prepare the dressing. In a large bowl, combine the mayo, vinegar, mustard, sugar, celery salt, garlic powder, and onion powder. Mix until well combined.
    3. Add the carrots, peppers, scallions, and celery to the bowl and mix until well combined.
    4. Stir in the cooked pasta and season generously with salt and pepper. Add more mayo if needed and enjoy!
    carrots, celery, red peppers, scallions, and dressing in a bowl.

    Top Tips For The Perfect Deli-Style Macaroni Salad

    • If making this ahead of time, stir in some extra mayo and a splash of water right before serving. Also, make sure to check for seasoning.
    • Classic deli macaroni salad doesn’t include eggs but feel free to add hard-boiled eggs.
    • Want to make it extra flavorful? Add some extra herbs like basil, parsley, and dill. Also, green peas and shredded cheddar cheese go great in this too!
    • Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.
    • Most of the time the dressing sits at the bottom of the bowl, so make sure to mix well.
    • Garnish with fresh scallions or paprika, if desired.
    macaroni salad with scallions on top in a white bowl up close.

    Storage

    Place any leftovers in an air-tight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days. Don’t leave this salad out in the sun, it will get greasy and go bad.

    More Recipes You Might Enjoy

    • Lemon Orzo Pasta Salad
    • Greek Pasta Salad
    • Southern Potato Salad
    • Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad

    Tried this recipe? Please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. And consider following me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!

    Deli-style macaroni salad in a white bowl with carrots and celery in the background.

    Deli Style Macaroni Salad

    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Course: sides
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 7 minutes
    Total Time: 27 minutes
    Servings: 12
    Calories: 282kcal
    Author: Julie Maestre
    This deli-style macaroni salad is creamy, crunchy, tangy, and sweet. It's pasta, celery, peppers, carrots, and scallions, tossed in a homemade creamy dressing.

    Ingredients

    • 1 lb macaroni pasta
    • 1 cup mayo
    • 1/4 cup vinegar
    • 1 tbsp sugar
    • 1 tbsp dijon mustard
    • 1 tsp garlic powder
    • 1 tsp onion powder
    • 1/2 tsp celery salt
    • 2 carrots finely shredded
    • 2 celery stalks finely diced
    • 2 scallions finely sliced
    • 1 red bell pepper finely diced
    • salt and pepper to taste

    Instructions

    • Cook the macaroni pasta in boiling salted water according to package instructions. Allow the macaroni pasta to cool for at least 15 minutes.
    • While the pasta cooks, prepare the dressing. In a large bowl, combine the mayo, vinegar, mustard, sugar, celery salt, garlic powder, and onion powder. Mix until well combined. 
    • Add the carrots, peppers, scallions, and celery to the bowl and mix until well combined. 
    • Stir in the cooked pasta and season generously with salt and pepper. Add more mayo if needed and enjoy! 

    Notes

    • If making this ahead of time, stir in some extra mayo and a splash of water right before serving. Also, make sure to check for seasoning.
    • Classic deli macaroni salad doesn’t include eggs but feel free to add hard-boiled eggs.
    • Want to make it extra flavorful? Add some extra herbs like basil, parsley, and dill. Also, green peas and shredded cheddar cheese go great in this too!
    • Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.
    • Most of the time the dressing sits at the bottom of the bowl, so make sure to mix well.
    • Garnish with fresh scallions or paprika, if desired.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 282kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 240mg | Potassium: 155mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 2045IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @cookedbyjulie or tag #cookedbyjulie!

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    Filed Under: Salads, Sides

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    Hi, I'm Julie! I’m extremely fortunate to make a living doing what I truly love – creating and sharing my favorite “can’t live without” recipes with readers from all over the world.

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