You will love this simple macaroni salad recipe. Nothing screams summer more than a bowl of vibrant salad with carbs. This macaroni salad with tomatoes is delicious, refreshing, and easy to make.
Made with al dente macaroni, juicy tomatoes, crunchy vegetables, and a delicious creamy dressing, this recipe is perfect for picnics, potlucks, or as a side dish for your next barbecue party.
Why you will love this simple macaroni salad recipe
Super simple to make: This recipe takes just 20 minutes using basic ingredients. The macaroni cooks fast, and the creamy dressing is a combination of mayo, sour cream, dijon mustard, and seasonings.
Customizable: To make this salad your own, you can easily add your favorite veggies for crunch. Some great additions are bell peppers, cucumbers, shredded carrots, or even diced avocado for a creamy texture.
Perfect for your next occasion: Whether it's a casual backyard barbecue, weeknight dinner, a fancy dinner party, or a potluck with friends, this macaroni salad is always a hit. It's versatile and pairs well with any main dish.
Vibrant, refreshing, light and easily customizable: This macaroni salad is light and refreshing, thanks to the addition of juicy tomatoes and crunchy vegetables. It's the perfect side dish for hot summer days when you don't want anything heavy or greasy. You can also easily pair it with any protein of choice: tuna and chicken are my go-to.
Love pasta salads? try this creamy pasta salad, ranch chicken pasta salad or creamy shrimp salad next.
What you will need
½ lb uncooked elbow macaroni
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved: I deseeded most of the tomatoes to avoid the salad becoming too watery. You can also use any ripe tomatoes you have on hand.
1 red bell pepper, diced
¼ cup green onions, thinly sliced
1 celery stalk sliced
2 Tablespoons red onion finely chopped or as needed
¼ dried parsley, chopped (optional)
½ cup Mayonnaise: I used light mayonnaise to keep this a little healthier.
⅓ cup Sour cream
½ Tablespoon Dijon mustard: substitute with 1 Tablespoon of white or apple cider vinegar or sweet pickle juice
1 Tablespoon Sugar
Salt and pepper to taste
How to make simple macaroni salad with tomatoes
Step 1: Make the dressing: In a small mixing bowl, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, dijon mustard, sugar, dried parsley, salt and pepper to taste. Mix well until all ingredients are fully incorporated then place it in the fridge until needed.
Step 2: Cook the macaroni. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the elbow macaroni and cook for about 8-10 minutes or until al dente. Drain the pasta and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process..
Step 3: assemble the salad: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked macaroni, halved cherry tomatoes, diced red bell pepper, thinly sliced green onions, chopped celery and red onion. Pour in the dressing and mix until the macaroni is well coated.
Step 4: Refrigerate and Serve: Cover the salad with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour before serving to allow the flavors to meld together. When ready to serve, give another quick stir. Enjoy your refreshing macaroni salad with tomatoes!
Serve with baked BBQ chicken thighs or Za'atar chicken. So good!
Watch how to make it
Variations and tips
- Macaroni cooks faster, hence why I recommend cooking it until al dente. Don't worry; the pasta will still absorb the flavors in the dressing this way.
- You can substitute the mayonnaise with Greek yogurt for a healthier alternative.
- Add some protein, like grilled chicken, tuna, shrimp, or boiled eggs to make it a complete meal.
- For extra flavor, add chopped fresh herbs like basil or cilantro. Crumbled feta cheese can also add tanginess.
- Suppose you don't have cherry tomatoes on hand. In that case, you can substitute them with any other tomato variety, but make sure to deseed them beforehand to avoid the salad becoming too watery.
How to store
For best results, refrigerate this salad before serving it for at least 1 hour for the flavor to meld together. For longer storage, store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days, which makes it perfect for making ahead.
More salad recipes you will love
Macaroni Salad With Tomatoes
Ingredients
- ½ lb uncooked elbow macaroni
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved and deseeded
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- ¼ cup green onions thinly sliced
- 1 celery stalk sliced
- 1 cup cucumber diced
- 2 Tablespoons red onion finely chopped
Dressing ingredients
- ½ cup Mayonnaise
- ⅓ cup Sour cream
- ½ Tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 Tablespoon Sugar
- ¼ dried parsley chopped (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a small mixing bowl, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, dijon mustard, sugar, dried parsley, salt, and pepper to taste. Mix well until all ingredients are fully incorporated, then refrigerate until needed.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the elbow macaroni and cook for about 8-10 minutes or until al dente. Drain the pasta and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled macaroni and the diced vegetables. Pour in the dressing and mix until the macaroni is well coated.
- Cover the salad with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour before serving to allow the flavors to meld together. When ready to serve, give the salad another quick stir. Enjoy!
Notes
- Substitute Dijon mustard with 1 Tablespoon of white or apple cider vinegar or sweet pickle juice
- This recipe will serve between 4-6 people. 4 people if served as a main meal.
Nutrition
Nutritional data: Please note that the nutrition label provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. It will vary based on the specific ingredients and brands you use. Under no circumstances will thedinnerbite.com be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information.
And there you have it, a simple and delicious summer pasta salad recipe you can make at home in no time. As always, if you made this recipe, I would love to hear from you! Kindly rate the recipe 5 stars and leave me feedback in the comment section below. Tag me @thedinnerbite on Instagram and Facebook and save it to your Pinterest. Please subscribe to the blog if you haven’t for free new recipes in
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