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    Home » Recipes » Salads

    Quick and Easy Warm Pasta Salad Recipe

    Published: Aug 29, 2023 by LaKita · This post may contain affiliate links · 20 Comments

    Jump to Recipe
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    This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission. Please read my disclosure policy.

    This Warm Pasta Salad is a savory, quick, and delicious side dish. It's packed with vegetables and easy to make using a few simple ingredients. Make a bowl to share with the family today.

    If you are craving more delicious salads, be sure to try making a loaded Pear Walnut Blue Cheese Salad or a hearty Greek Chicken Salad. For more pasta salad recipes, try making a Lemon Pasta Salad or a Ranch BLT Pasta Salad. 

    overhead view of pasta salad in white bowl beside a fork on marble surface

    This is a delicious and super simple side dish to make that is perfect for those times when you need something in a flash.

    The recipe can be made in a matter of minutes from start to finish. The only part that requires real work is chopping up the vegetables and cooking the elbow macaroni. However, even with that minimal amount of required work for this recipe, it's worth it because the end result is a filling and tasty macaroni salad that is loaded with fresh vegetables and flavor. 

    The vegetables included in this macaroni salad provide a nice crunch in combination with the tender cooked elbow macaroni pasta. The vegetables are freshly chopped carrots, celery, and onion.

    The homemade dressing for the salad is made with a blend of sweet pickle relish and tangy creamy mayonnaise.  Add in a little salt and ground black pepper for the perfect balance of seasoning and you are all set.

    This recipe is basically a boil, chop, stir, and serve. Try it!

    WHY IS IT CALLED WARM MACARONI SALAD?

    This recipe is called warm macaroni salad because it is served immediately after the pasta salad has been made. The macaroni pasta will still be slightly warm from boiling in the water when the rest of the ingredients are added together to combine. If you prefer to have cold macaroni salad, simply allow the salad to chill in the refrigerator prior to serving. 

    IS IT SAFE TO HAVE WARM MAYONNAISE IN THIS SIDE DISH?

    The mayonnaise in this recipe will actually cool the cooked elbow pasta a bit and help to bind together the rest of the ingredients. This dish will not be hot, but it will be slightly warm.

    The warmth of the cooked pasta will not heat up the mayonnaise to an unsafe temperature. Be sure to store any leftovers of this side dish in an airtight container in the refrigerator and do not reheat to serve. Serve any leftovers cold. 

    WHAT INGREDIENTS ARE NEEDED TO MAKE THIS MACARONI SALAD RECIPE?

    ingredients needed to make pasta salad in separate bowls
    1. Elbow Macaroni Pasta - For this easy pasta salad recipe, I chose to use elbow macaroni, but feel free to use any short pasta that you prefer. Fusilli, penne pasta, bowtie pasta, and cavatappi will all work. Gluten-free and protein pasta may also be used just be sure to cook according to the package directions. 
    2. Carrot - Half a cup of shredded raw carrot is added to the salad to add a bit of sweetness and crunch to the salad. Use a box grater to shred the fresh carrot into smaller pieces.
    3. Onion - May use yellow, white, or red onion. Any that you prefer will work for this recipe. Thinly slice the onion and then chop it into small pieces. It could also be grated using a box grater. 
    4. Celery - A single stalk of celery will be chopped and added to the pasta salad. This adds a nice balance and texture to the salad. 
    5. Pickle Relish - Try using salad cubes or sweet pickle relish to combine with the pasta salad dressing for a combination of sweet and tangy. 
    6. Mayonnaise - Needed to create the mayo-based dressing to tie all of the ingredients together into a creamy mixture. Use any mayo that you prefer. 
    7. Salt - Helps to bring out the flavors of the other ingredients in the salad and prevents the hot pasta salad from tasting flat. 
    8. Ground Black Pepper - Add additional spice to the salad and brings the flavors together in a nice balance.

    See the recipe card below for exact ingredient quantities and instructions.

    HOW TO MAKE THE BEST MACARONI SALAD:

    Begin this recipe by chopping/grating up the fresh onion, carrot, and celery into small pieces. Cook the elbow macaroni in a large saucepan according to the package instructions and drain off all the water once finished. Transfer the cooked pasta to a separate large bowl. 

    To the same large mixing bowl while the pasta is still warm, gently stir in the carrot, onion, celery, pickle relish, and mayonnaise.

    pasta salad ingredients in large glass mixing bowl

    Add a large pinch of salt and some ground black pepper before stirring to thoroughly distribute.

    finished pasta salad in glass mixing bowl with wooden spoon

    Serve the macaroni salad immediately while it is still warm. Enjoy!

    small white plate with pasta salad on it by a fork

    STORAGE

    Store any leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container. When ready to serve, simply serve cold straight from the fridge. No need to reheat and the flavors marinate and once the salad has had time to chill, it tastes even better.

    Enjoy this salad for 4 to 5 days after making it. I do not recommend freezing the pasta salad, it's best to enjoy it a few days after preparing it. Try making this salad a day ahead of time and serve it cold. 

    RECIPE VARIATIONS

    Try adding in a few of your favorite ingredients to make this warm pasta salad your own. Here are a few suggestions: 

    • Before adding the cooked pasta to the salad, toss the warm macaroni in a drizzle (1 teaspoon) of olive oil to prevent sticking. 
    • Add in some chopped bell peppers, feel free to use green, yellow, orange, or red peppers. 
    • Top with some feta cheese or grated parmesan cheese before serving for some additional flavor. 

    TIPS TO MAKE THE BEST WARM MACARONI SALAD:

    • Be sure not to overcook the elbow macaroni pasta, it should be cooked to al dente. 
    • May use any mayonnaise that you prefer, including vegan mayonnaise to make this a vegan side dish. 
    • This macaroni salad can be served cold for a cold pasta salad. Simply prepare in advance and store in the refrigerator before serving. 
    • Season with salt and ground black pepper to your level of preference. Use more or less as needed. 
    close up side view of plate of pasta salad

    WANT MORE SIMPLE SALAD IDEAS? TRY THESE:

    • Lemon Pasta Salad
    • Grilled Corn Salad 
    • Pear Walnut Blue Cheese Salad
    • Ranch BLT Pasta Salad 
    • Tomato Peach Salad
    • Everyday Salad
    • overhead view of salad on white plate beside fork
      Grilled Corn Salad
    • overhead view of serving of finished pasta salad in a white bowl
      Lemon Pasta Salad
    • overhead view of egg salad in a bowl beside a spoon on marble surface
      Easy Southern Style Egg Salad Recipe
    • overhead view of greek chicken salad in white bowl beside a fork and two other bowls with the rest of the ingredients
      Greek Chicken Salad

    Have any comments, questions, or other delicious ideas for this Warm Macaroni Salad Recipe? Please share them in the comments below!

    📖 Recipe

    overhead bowl of pasta salad beside a fork on marble surface

    Warm Pasta Salad

    LaKita Anderson
    This Warm Pasta Salad is a savory, quick, and delicious side dish. It's packed with vegetables and easy to make using a few simple ingredients. Make a bowl to share with the family today.
    4.62 from 26 votes
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    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 10 minutes mins
    Course Salad
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8
    Calories 291 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 cutting board
    • 1 sharp knife
    • 1 large bowl
    • 1 wooden spoon

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 ½ cups elbow macaroni pasta
    • ½ cup grated fresh carrot
    • 3 tablespoons onion, chopped
    • 1 stalk celery, chopped
    • 3 tablespoons pickle relish
    • ⅔ cup mayonnaise
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

    Instructions
     

    • Begin this recipe by chopping/grating up the fresh onion, carrot, and celery into small pieces.
    • Cook the 1 ½ cups elbow macaroni in a large saucepan according to the package instructions and drain off all the water once finished. Transfer the cooked pasta to a separate large bowl. 
    • To the same large mixing bowl while the pasta is still warm, gently stir in the ½ cup carrot, 3 tablespoons onion, 1 stalk celery, 3 tablespoons pickle relish, and ⅔ cup mayonnaise.
    • Add ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper before stirring to thoroughly distribute.
    • Serve the macaroni salad immediately while it is still warm. Enjoy!
    • Store any leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 4 days. When ready to serve, simply serve cold straight from the fridge.

    Notes

    • Be sure not to overcook the elbow macaroni pasta, it should be cooked to al dente. 
    • May use any mayonnaise that you prefer, including vegan mayonnaise to make this a vegan side dish. 
    • This macaroni salad can be served cold for a cold pasta salad. Simply prepare in advance and store in the refrigerator before serving. 
    • Season with salt and ground black pepper to your level of preference. Use more or less as needed. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 291kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 4gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.04gCholesterol: 8mgSodium: 359mgPotassium: 53mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 1381IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 8mgIron: 1mg

    *All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands used, measuring methods and portion sizes per household.

    Keyword warm macaroni salad
    Did You Make This Recipe?Tag @SimplyLaKita on Instagram with #SimplyLaKita

    Original post date 06/29/2020. Updated 08/29/2023.

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    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Susan

      September 04, 2023 at 7:06 pm

      5 stars
      What a perfect salad to serve with our next BBQ! I love a warm pasta salad!

      Reply
      • LaKita

        September 06, 2023 at 5:24 pm

        Thank you so much Susan! Perfect to pair with BBQ 🙂

        Reply
    2. Carrie Robinson

      September 03, 2023 at 12:13 pm

      5 stars
      Macaroni salad is one of my favorite side dishes for a BBQ or potluck, but I don't think that I have ever had it warm before! 🙂 Now I totally want to give this a try soon.

      Reply
      • LaKita

        September 06, 2023 at 5:24 pm

        Thank you Carrie, macaroni salad is great with BBQ. Hope you give it a try soon!

        Reply
    3. Valentina

      September 03, 2023 at 10:38 am

      5 stars
      This looks super delicious! I love to try out new pasta recipes and this looks like one I would be trying. Will save it for later!

      Reply
      • LaKita

        September 06, 2023 at 5:23 pm

        Thank you Valentina! Hope you get a chance to try it 🙂

        Reply
    4. Erin

      September 03, 2023 at 5:37 am

      5 stars
      I had some leftover pickle relish, and this was the perfect use for it! I brought it to a picnic and everyone loved it. Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
      • LaKita

        September 06, 2023 at 5:22 pm

        Thank you so much Erin, great way to use leftover pickle relish 🙂

        Reply
    5. Katie Crenshaw

      September 02, 2023 at 12:57 pm

      5 stars
      Brought this over as a side dish for a barbecue. It turned out great. Everyone enjoyed it.

      Reply
      • LaKita

        September 06, 2023 at 5:22 pm

        Thank you Katie, this pasta salad pairs perfectly with barbecue 🙂

        Reply
    6. Kim

      September 02, 2023 at 9:41 am

      Looks like such a delicious and simple pasta side dish! Great versatile flavors to go with so many things.

      Reply
      • LaKita

        September 06, 2023 at 5:21 pm

        Thank you so much Kim, hope you get a chance to try it soon.

        Reply
    7. Kristina

      September 01, 2023 at 8:49 pm

      5 stars
      I thought this turned out great. I love black pepper so I seasoned it with a lot of freshly ground pepper, plus used vegan mayo to make it vegan.

      Reply
      • LaKita

        September 06, 2023 at 5:21 pm

        Thank you Kristina, lots of freshly ground black pepper sounds perfect 🙂

        Reply
    8. Lori | The Kitchen Whisperer

      September 01, 2023 at 4:25 pm

      5 stars
      Such a lovely pasta salad dish! I love that it's warm as it's perfect for the end of summer/beginning of fall! That pickle relish is next level!

      Reply
      • LaKita

        September 06, 2023 at 5:20 pm

        Thank you Lori! Definitely a great end of summer option 🙂

        Reply
    9. megane

      September 01, 2023 at 9:59 am

      5 stars
      Oh, I loved this pasta salad! It was so easy but the sneaky pickle relish added so much to the dressing! Delish!

      Reply
      • LaKita

        September 06, 2023 at 5:20 pm

        Thank you Megan! The relish really does give it a little something extra!

        Reply
    10. veenaazmanov

      August 30, 2023 at 9:07 pm

      5 stars
      My family is a Pasta Lover. This side dish looks so easy and simple to make. Perfect for Dinner time.

      Reply
      • LaKita

        September 06, 2023 at 5:19 pm

        Thank you! I agree it's a great side dish recipe for dinner 🙂

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm LaKita, a food blogger living in Northwest/Panhandle Florida. I love creating and sharing recipes that are simple to make and comforting to eat. Follow me for more delicious recipes.

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