Got any questions? Ask away! I’m happy to help. If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you’ll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don’t forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I’ll be sure to share! Thanks! — Mike H. We saw this dish everywhere in Hawaii, served from food trucks, with plate lunches, restaurants. It’s a cornerstone of Hawaiian cuisine, easily one of their most popular dishes. Hawaiian macaroni salad - called Hawaiian mac salad or simply “mac salad” on the islands - is perfect for BBQs, pot lucks, picnics, pretty much any party situation, and you can make the salad ahead of time, which actually makes the dish that much better. There are many variations, but this is a quintessential version of the recipe that you can use a base to customize as you wish. Just be careful, it’s super addictive. Just wait, you’ll see. We couldn’t stop eating it. Let’s talk about how to make Hawaiian macaroni salad, shall we?
Dry Elbow Macaroni Noodles. Onion. Use yellow onion, sweet onion, Vidalia, or white onion. Carrot. Mayonnaise. Use your favorites, but Hawaiians use Best Foods or Hellman’s mayonnaise for authentic Hawaiian mac salad. Milk. Apple Cider Vinegar. Or use sweet pickle juice! Sugar. Optional. Salt and Pepper. To taste.
Stir in the remaining ingredients - grated onion, grated carrot, half of the mayonnaise, milk, apple cider vinegar, optional sugar, and salt and pepper to taste - then mix it all up. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours, but overnight is best for more developed flavor. When you’re ready to serve, stir in the remaining mayonnaise and serve chilled. Boom! Done! Your Hawaiian mac salad is ready to serve. Look at how incredibly creamy this dish is. I’m ready to dig into this! Watch out, it is seriously addictive. This is a recipe you can really customize and make your own. That’s it, my friends. I hope you enjoy this Hawaiian mac salad recipe. Let me know if you make it. I’d love to hear how it turned out for you, and if you decided to spice it up!
Cook Real Hawai’i: A Cookbook, by by Sheldon Simeon (affiliate link, my friends!) Aloha Kitchen: Recipes from Hawai’i, by Alana Kysar (affiliate link, my friends!) Also, check out MY cookbook! The Spicy Food Lovers’ Cookbook, by Mike Hultquist (affiliate link, my friends!)
Recommended Ingredients
Best Foods Mayonnaise - Recommended by traditional Hawaiian chefs! (affiliate link, my friends!)
