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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!
If a single batch makes 10 servings, what would you say the serving size is for this?
A serving is about 3/4 cup!
I have made this several times and love it. My husband, who is not a macaroni (pasta) salad lover, really loves this. However, I do use Dukes mayo, because that’s all I usually have on hand, and I must say, Dukes gives Hellman’s a run for it’s money!! Thanks for the recipe.
Made this last night with Huli Huli chicken. I loved it!!! Tasted just like what I’ve had before if not better because I could adjust the creaminess of the sauce as some recipes were a little dryer. I didn’t have carrots so that left me wanting to try this recipe again when I have them. Other than that, I loved it.
Aldi’s mayonnaise is just as good as Hellmans or Best Foods. You cannot tell the difference besides cost. Duke’s works too !
You are 100% correct about Aldi mayo, and Hellman’s or Best Foods has been a hill I would die on. You can buy three jars of Aldi or Lidl mayo for the cost of one Hellman’s.
People who insist on Hellman’s are just in a part of the world where Duke’s is unavailable… 😉
Perfect! Exactly what I was thinking about for Dinner tonight! Mac Salad Hawaiian style is the only way to make it!!
This was an awesome recipe!!! My hubby isn’t a big mayo fan but he said to make sure I keep this recipe so I can make it again. Super delish!
Instead of salt I use chicken Base
Made this salad for an event at a friend’s home. While she is all about the Spirit of Aloha, she is also very particular about her Mac salad. For this event, she just had to let something go and asked me to bring Mac salad (admittedly with low expectations).
Later she told me how fussy she is about Mac salad. She said that mine was delicious. This is a great recipe. Mahalo🌺
Do you use red or yellow onion?
Yellow!
I used gluten-free macaroni for a client and I used some tamari( gluten-free soy sauce ) instead of the salt and it was fantastic! She even posted about how great it was on Facebook and she has been a client of mine for 17 years!
Absolutely amazing! I might need to eat it all by myself and not share!
Buying Hawaiian-style mac salad at our local delis, just like everything else, has gotten so expensive and as delicious as they all are, you can’t help but think…”if only I had a simple recipe to make this myself”….and guess what…FOUND IT…!!! This recipe is simple enough ,first, because the required ingredients are basic items that we already have in our kitchen, then, it’s so easy to adapt it with other items we like, for me, it’s sliced black olives, that naturally blend in to make a good thing, BETTER…!!! Nothing is stopping me from making the all year round, but with Spring here ,and Summer not too far away, you can be sure we’ll be enjoying this recipe more, and more frequently.
Thank you so much for this glowing review!! So glad you loved our recipe!
Delicious 😋
Recipe for the hawaiian Mac salad is very similar to the ones that I’ve had from Ono’s, L&L etc… it was quick and easy to make.
Wonderful recipe. We always make this when I make my Hawaiian beef spare ribs and everyone loves it
I haven’t tried it yet But I’m dieing too!! I will make this recipe this weekend! Thank you for sharing this with me
Simple changes. but oh MG! Just enough changes to make you go OMG!!! Can’t wait to serve this macaroni salad this spring/summer…
I hated macaroni salad…until I found this recipe. It is soooo dang good. I seriously make it every week now because I’m craving it all the time.
One of my favorite Hawaiian dishes and this one is on point!
This recipe is authentic plate lunch style Hawaiian mac side salad. It’s perfect for those of us who moved away from the islands and are looking for the authentic taste and texture of our childhood. I have to laugh at the comments saying it’s too bland, then they make suggestions about how to make it better. The author even said that making changes would destroy the authenticity. This side salad is meant to be simple, served as a small scoop next to a scoop of white rice in a typical Hawaiian mix plate lunch. It’s not meant to be overpowering. It’s meant to compliment the primary flavors found in the fix plate meats such as grilled teriyaki chicken, teriyaki beef, chicken katsu, kalua pork, or Kali short ribs, for example. Try going to a plate lunch restaurant in Hawaii and tell them that it’s too bland. Best case, you’ll be laughed off of the island.
Instead of apple Cider vinegar I used Sake Gekkeikan. When I lived in the islands a Kupunawahine told me she used Mirian instead of the vinegar. I only had Sake on hand. Delicious!
Mike, you are so right! Your comment makes me homesick. I 🤤 just thinking about good, honest onolicious grinds! Winnahs brah!
why say 35 min total but you need to let set and cool 4 hours or overnight?
It is 35 minutes of hands-on cooking and then 4 hours just resting in the fridge.
Very delicious macaroni salad with subtle flavor and great texture with a smooth finish. Had two helpings!
Very good flavor with the hint of onion and the shredded carrot adding texture. Has an amazing smoothness and subtle flavor with the mayonnaise, salt & pepper!
Awesome authentic recipe. Easy to adjust to my liking and just really tasty. Thank you!