Trader Joe’s Macaroni Salad
Our delicious Trader Joe’s Macaroni Salad recipe is an anytime salad! It’s great for holidays, potlucks, and picnics, and we love it with burgers, hot dogs, or chicken dinners! Made with bread and butter pickles and hard-boiled eggs, you’re going to love this easy macaroni salad and the fabulous dressing.
I love a good summer or Game Day salad. This macaroni salad is inspired by Trader Joe’s ingredients and served on an epic sandwich board. Get your guests to bring the best side dishes to the party, along with dips, and desserts.
Why is this called Trader Joe’s macaroni salad?
This macaroni salad gets its name because all the ingredients can be found at Trader Joe’s! From the pasta to the pickles to the Dijon mustard, everything you need is available at your local Trader Joe’s store. It’s a crowd-pleasing recipe that comes together quickly with easy-to-find ingredients.
Why you’ll love this macaroni salad
- Buy all the ingredients at Trader Joe’s! No specialty stores required.
- You can make this salad ahead of time. It’s even better the next day as the flavors meld together!
- Perfect for any occasion – holidays, potlucks, barbecues, and game day gatherings.
- Packed with texture and flavor thanks to the creamy dressing, crunchy vegetables, tangy pickles, and hearty eggs.
Ingredients needed
For the Salad
- Macaroni pasta: The base of this salad. Cook according to package directions.
- Hard cooked eggs: Keep 1 egg for garnish. They add richness and protein.
- Celery ribs: Adds that classic crunch and fresh flavor.
- Carrots: For a pop of color and subtle sweetness.
- Mini bell peppers: Deliciously sweet!
- Red onion: Gives a nice bite and color to the salad.
- Bread and butter pickles: The star ingredient that makes this salad special! The juice is also used which offers sweetness without overdoing it.
For the Dressing
- Mayonnaise: The creamy base of the dressing.
- Pickle juice: Don’t throw away that pickle juice; it adds a tangy flavor!
- Granulated sugar: Balances the tanginess of the pickles and mustard.
- Dijon mustard: Adds depth and a slight kick. Yellow mustard can be used instead.
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper: To taste.
- Parsley: Mix in with the salad or add on top.
How do you make this easy macaroni salad recipe?
Cook the pasta:
- Cook the pasta in salted water according to the package directions.
- Drain and rinse under cold water until cooled. Make sure all the water is drained, before proceeding with the recipe.
PRO TIP: Make sure all the water is drained from the pasta before proceeding with the recipe. Excess water will make your dressing watery!
Assemble the salad:
- Transfer the pasta to a large bowl and add the chopped ingredients: 4 eggs, celery, carrots, mini bell peppers, red onion, pickles, and chopped parsley.
Make the dressing:
- Mix the mayonnaise, pickle juice, sugar, and Dijon mustard in a small bowl and season with salt and pepper.
Combine, chill, and serve:
- Add the dressing to the macaroni mixture and toss.
- Season with more salt and pepper to taste and refrigerate for one hour before serving.
- Sprinkle with chopped parsley. Cut the last boiled egg in half or slices and serve!
PRO TIP: Use a rubber spatula to fold the dressing into the pasta for even coverage without breaking the pasta.
Serving
Serve this scrumptious Trader Joe’s macaroni salad alongside your favorite grilled meats. It’s perfect with burgers, hot dogs, grilled chicken, or steak. It’s also a fantastic addition to any potluck spread, picnic basket, or holiday table.
Sandy’s tips and substitutions:
- Storage: Store leftover macaroni salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. The flavors deepen over time!
- Make ahead: This salad is perfect for making 1-2 days in advance. The flavors meld together beautifully, making it even more delicious.
- Don’t overcook the pasta: Cook your pasta al dente so it holds up well when mixed with the dressing. Overcooked pasta can become mushy.
- Rinse thoroughly: Rinse the pasta with cold water until completely cooled to stop the cooking process and prevent the salad from becoming gummy.
Variations:
- Mayonnaise substitute: For a lighter version, one of my readers suggested using half mayonnaise and half plain Greek yogurt. Give it a try and let me know how you find it!
- Pickle swap: If you don’t have bread and butter pickles, you can use dill pickles for a tangier flavor. You can also use sweet relish in a pinch.
- Add-ins: Feel free to add cooked bacon bits, shredded cheddar cheese, or fresh dill for extra flavor.
- Pasta alternatives: While macaroni is traditional, this recipe works great with shell pasta, rotini, or cavatappi.
- Spicy kick: Add a teaspoon of hot sauce or a pinch of cayenne pepper to the dressing for those that love a little heat.
Can’t get enough macaroni? Me neither! Dig into my Taco Macaroni and Cheese or Smoker Macaroni and Cheese for two more irresistible twists.
More pasta salads you may want to try:
Get the Recipe:
Trader Joe’s Macaroni Salad
Ingredients
- 1 lb. macaroni pasta
- 5 hard cooked eggs, diced (keep 1 egg for garnish)
- 3 celery ribs, finely chopped
- ¼ cup shredded carrots, finely chopped
- 5 mini bell peppers, finely chopped
- ¼ red onion, finely chopped
- ½ cup bread & butter pickles, chopped
Make the yummy dressing:
- 1 ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ⅓ cup pickle juice
- 2 tsp granulated sugar
- 1 ½ TBSP Dijon mustard
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Parsley, finely chopped for garnish (mix in with the salad, or add on top)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta in salted water according to the package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water until cooled. Make sure all the water is drained, before proceeding with the recipe.
- Transfer the pasta to a large bowl and add the chopped ingredients (4 eggs, celery, carrots, mini bell peppers, red onion, pickles, and chopped parsley).
Make the dressing:
- Mix the mayonnaise, pickle juice, sugar, and Dijon mustard in a small bowl and season with salt and pepper. Add the dressing to the macaroni mixture and toss.
- Season with more salt and pepper to taste and refrigerate for one hour before serving. Sprinkle with chopped parsley. Cut last boiled egg in half or slices and serve!
Notes
Sandy’s tips:
- Storage: Store leftover macaroni salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. The flavors deepen over time!
- Make ahead: This salad is perfect for making 1-2 days in advance. The flavors meld together beautifully, making it even more delicious.
- Don’t overcook the pasta: Cook your pasta al dente so it holds up well when mixed with the dressing. Overcooked pasta can become mushy.
- Rinse thoroughly: Rinse the pasta with cold water until completely cooled to stop the cooking process and prevent the salad from becoming gummy.
Hello and welcome to my home and table!
I’m Sandy—lover of food, family, cooking, THE BIG BOARD, travel, and bringing people together. Through great recipes and connection around the table, we become better, stronger, and more courageous people. Feasting on Life is real, and every time we do it, we grow a little more. Read more...
sweet pickles, I used bread and butter pickles!<<<<
Thought sweet and Bread and butter were the same ?
Both loaded with sugar
They are different. My mom canned bread and butter pickles (they are sliced), but you can buy sweet pickles (we buy the small whole ones) in the store. You can buy both in the store!
Oh my I just made your Trader Joe’s salad and it’s fantastic.
Thank you for sharing a really good salad known as Trader Joe’s Macaroni salad. Made it to the tee!! It’s my now Mac salad . Going to share it with my family cooks. It’s for our Super Bowl company Sunday.
Thank you Sandy
How many servings is this
Depending on serving size, about 8-12!
I don’t have Dijon mustard can I sub brown? Or yellow?
Yes, you can!
Can you lighten it up with greek yogurt and mayo mixed?
Yes you can! I’ve never tried it for this, but will work! Will taste a little different though.
I do not like sweet pickles. Can I use dill pickles?
Yes!
What kind of pickle juice? Juice from the bread and butter used in recipe? Dill?
Use the pickle juice from the pickles you are using! :)
We absolutely loved this salad without making any modifications! I am not a huge mayo eater so I loved that this was not drowning in mayo. Even better days later.
I truly stay away from making mac salad, it just never turns out the way I like it. But this recipe looks easy enough and great ingredients. Thanks