Quick and Easy Warm Pasta Salad Recipe

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. 

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?

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.

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

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

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. 

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
• Street Corn Pasta Salad

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

📖 Recipe

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