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This Hawaiian Macaroni Salad is truly island-style, from how it’s made to the ingredients used. This recipe uses pantry ingredients to create a creamy, no-frills macaroni salad that is the perfect side dish for any Barbecue or Luau.
Authentic Hawaiian Mac Salad
Hawaiian Macaroni Salad is one of my biggest guilty pleasures because it reminds me of my time on the North Shore of Oahu. When I lived there, I often frequented a restaurant called L&L Hawaiian Barbecue where I always ordered the same thing: a plate lunch with macaroni salad and rice on the side.
And If you follow a vegan or healthy diet, we’ve added alternate ingredients that will allow you to enjoy this macaroni salad recipe.
For the complete Hawaiian experience, be sure to try our other recipes, such as Malasadas (Hawaii’s version of donuts), Haupia (Hawaiian coconut pudding), and Huli-Huli Chicken (Hawaiian grilled chicken).
Mac salad when you can’t be in Hawaii
This past weekend, I had a flashback to my Hawaii days when we ordered food from Honolulu Grill in St. George, UT. Everything we had there was delicious and seriously the most authentic Hawaiian food I have had since leaving Hawaii.
The macaroni salad, especially, hit home and suddenly made me wonder why we haven’t gotten a good Hawaiian mac salad recipe here on Favorite Family Recipes yet!
Keep it Simple
Authentic Hawaiian Mac Salad is ridiculously simple. It is a no-frills mac salad yet, it is so creamy and flavorful. I had a friend in Hawaii who was also a caterer there. He explained to me long ago that true Hawaiian macaroni salad is pretty much just macaroni, carrot, mayonnaise, and salt and pepper. This is the way the locals make it.
There are a few other ingredients you can add like celery, extra onion, potatoes, fresh crab, or relish, but the basic recipe is my favorite. Once you start getting into adding ham or pineapple, you are getting way off course.
Adding ham or pineapple to something does not make it “Hawaiian Food”. Pineapple and ham have no business being in a Hawaiian mac salad. EVER.
What is the Best Mayonnaise?
The kind of mayonnaise you use in your Hawaiian Macaroni Salad matters a lot! Trust me, it just won’t taste right otherwise. As far as the BRAND of mayo, it has got to be Best Foods. Period. It’s the best mayonnaise! If you can’t get your hands on Best Foods, I also recommend using Helman’s, which is essentially the same brand, if you live on the East Coast.
To Rinse or Not to Rinse
This is the great debate. I used to always just let the noodles cool naturally but now I have no problem giving the macaroni a cool rinse and letting it drain before adding the other ingredients. It’s the ONLY time I will ever rinse noodles. I have found that when I rinse the noodles and stop the cooking process quickly, the dressing doesn’t get absorbed by the noodles near as much and I end up with a creamer mac salad. I have experimented both ways and haven’t noticed any difference in flavor.
Healthy Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
This recipe may seem a little mayo-heavy, it’s true. That is what makes it so stinking good. If you are really concerned about the mayo-ness of it, you can substitute Greek yogurt in whatever amounts you would like (i.e. half mayo, half Greek yogurt).
You will get a likeness of mac salad but I am telling you, it won’t be quite the same. In Hawaii, it’s all about the mayo. As far as the BRAND of mayo, it has got to be Best Foods. Period. No other mayo will taste right.
Substitutions for a Vegan Hawaiian Mac Salad
We are so grateful for comments we get from our readers, especially when adapting recipes for special diets. We received a comment from Mimi that I thought would be helpful for anyone wanting to make this a vegan recipe. She substituted Hellman’s Vegan Mayonnaise for the regular mayo in the recipe, and Silk Unsweetened Cashew Milk for the regular milk. She said it turned out great. Thank you, Mimi!
How to make Hawaiian Mac Salad ahead of time
If you make this ahead of time and it seems a little dried out, add some mayo mixed with a little milk until you get the right consistency back. Fold it in with a large rubber spatula so you don’t tear the macaroni noodles.
More Delicious Hawaiian Food
If you love this Hawaiian Macaroni Salad, try more of our other authentic Hawaiian recipes:
Loco Moco
Chicken Long Rice
Hawaiian Teriyaki Chicken
Hawaiian Beef Teriyaki
Spam Musubi
Haupia
Malasadas
Chocolate Haupia Pie
Authentic Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
Video
Ingredients
- 1 pound macaroni
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 carrots, shredded
- ¼ cup shredded onion (optional)
- 2 ½ cups Mayonnaise Best Foods or Hellman's mayonnaise (no substitutes!)
- ¼ cup milk
- 2 teaspoon sugar
- kosher salt, to taste
- ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook macaroni according to package directions. Rinse under cold water until completely cool. Drain well and place in a large bowl.
- Sprinkle on vinegar. Add carrot and onion. Toss together until well combined. Refrigerate for 15 minutes, or until cooled.
- In a separate, small bowl, whisk together mayo, milk, and sugar. Fold the mayo mixture into the macaroni until all the noodles are evenly coated. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours (best if overnight).
- Gently stir before serving, add a little more milk if needed, no more than a tablespoon or two.
Notes
- I like to put my boiled macaroni and ingredients directly in a Tupperware bowl with a lid so I can easily refrigerate it.
- Make sure you use Best Foods or Hellmann’s mayonnaise-no substitutes!
I made the recipe quite often this summer. I would make it and put it in the fridge. The basic Macaroni bar. We doctor it up how we liked it. He likes it plain. I add chicken, grapes, pineapple, slivered almonds, Mandarin Oranges, dried cranberries. another way could be variety of vegetables’ Sometimes even threw on other dressings like poppyseed, or Italian. Like I said, The Macaroni Bar. May try it with the whole family next year. I also used different pasta like Mini Farfalle or Ditalini. Was a quick and easy lunch for just the two of us.
Yikes! What you made was undoubtedly delicious, but it doesn’t even come close to any Hawaiian mac salad I’ve ever had! If you made this in the islands, you’d get voted off!
The flavor is good but my goodness if you really followed the recipe you would end up with a dry embarrassingly pasta salad. It requires at least two more cups of mayo where then it needs more sugar vinegar and twice as much salt and peeper… I also added ham and two celery stalks for flavor but this really needed doctoring up. I feel bad for the new chef or house wife 🙁
Glad you found a way to make it to your liking!
you have never been to hawaii have you
Amen sista!!
Noooo! This recipe says “authentic” for a reason. What you are suggesting is mainland kine. It’s not authentic Hawaiian plate-lunch kine. This recipe is perfect, maybe a little less vinegar. But on the dryer side is the way it’s supposed to be, as a scoop side dish along a scoop of white rice. Goes great with all mix plate items like grilled teriyaki chicken, Kalua pork, teriyaki beef or chicken katsu, for example.
Made this recipe and it was delicious! I used white vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar and it was still yummy! I only had 1 cup of mayo and was nervous the recipe wouldn’t turn out well. However, I felt like it was more than enough mayo! i waited about 2 hours for the macaroni to cool–maybe that helped since the macaroni didn’t absorb as much of the mayo.
Did it love it great salad everybody wanted the recipe great work
What is the best way to incorporate potatoes and still maintain the basic flavors?
If you add potatoes, I would dice them small and then you may need to add a little extra mayo, vinegar, salt, and pepper.
Thank you! I had the same question.
Great recipie very Authentic, makes me miss Hawaii.
made this for the first time and it was a great hit, the bowl came home empty from a party, made as directed, was super good.
made this for the first time yesterday, took it to a big gathering and it was a hit, brought an empty bowl home. It is delicious, made it just like the recipe said and it turned out great.
Excellent…..went great with Huli Huli Chicken and rice….making it again this weekend….won’t change a thing !!!!
I loved this but when I lived there I added a small amt of Kikkoman soy sauce and it was amazing!
Please add a “ jump to recipe “ link at the start of your posts. I love your recipes but it would still be helpful. Thank you!
We made this salad for 4th of July. Making it again by popular demand!
The jump to recipe button is between the first image and the table of contents! Hope this helps!
Delicious salad and easy recipeI ran out of mayo so had to use 1 1/2 C Miracle whip and 1 cup Kewpie mayo. Left out the sugar since Miracle Whip is sweet and used elbows and carrots only.
Made this recipe for Hawaiian macaroni salad as a side for an impromptu bbq. Tasted great on a hot summer evening. Salad was even better the next day paired with your recipe for grilled teriyaki chicken. Many compliments; will definitely make this again!
I have to say this is the most amazing, easy to make Hawaiian Mac Salad recipe ever. I have made it about 10 times now and stay true to the recipe, it turns out amazing each time. Best Foods all the way for the mayo!
DELICIOUS! This was gobbled up at our Hawaiian BBQ. Added finely chopped celery for some extra crunch- salad was great both ways!
Love this recipe have family from Hawaii and pretty much on for recipe
I happened across this, it ‘is so on point! My favorite plate lunch: terri chicken, two scoops rice, and macaroni salad. I miss plate lunches – I live in FL now. Thank you for saying that adding ham or pineapple to something does not make it Hawaiian food.
You’re right! The simplicity of this recipe makes it so delicious. Love it! Thanks for sharing.
Macaroni needs to cook longer. In hawaii the macaroni is very soft
Good bc I accidentally overcooked mine 😂 are you supposed to rinse macaroni to stop it from cooking?
Hi,
I came across your site when I was looking for a Hawaiian Macaroni salad recipe, because I had just had some at a restaurant yesterday. Imagine my surprise when you mention Honolulu Grill in St. George, which is where I had been!
Thanks for the recipe.