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    Home » Recipes » Salads

    Gluten-Free Macaroni Salad

    Published: Jun 30, 2022 · Modified: Nov 23, 2022 by Kristen Wood - This post may contain affiliate links.

    Skip to Recipe Pin Recipe

    Ready in less than 30 minutes, this creamy Gluten-Free Macaroni Salad is so easy to throw together! Perfect for meal prep, the hardest part is chopping the vegetables. Make a double batch to share with friends at your next potluck!

    Macaroni Salad in a cream bowl with wooden utensils. Cream cloth and seasoning in a wooden pinch bowl above.
    Jump to:
    • ❤️ Why You'll Love This Recipe
    • 🗒️ Ingredient Notes
    • 🥣 How to make Gluten-Free Pasta Salad
    • 🍽 What does Pasta Salad go with?
    • 🥡 How to Store
    • 💭 Top Tips
    • ❓ Frequently Asked Questions
    • 🍝More Easy Gluten-Free Pasta Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments
    Macaroni Salad in a cream bowl with wooden utensils.

    ❤️ Why You'll Love This Recipe

    • The dressing has so much flavor! It's garlicky, peppery, creamy, and tangy.
    • So easy to make - boil the pasta, prepare the vegetables, whip up the salad dressing, and toss it all together.
    • You can make it ahead. This gluten-free macaroni salad lasts for up to 10 days in the fridge. TEN!!
    • This is the perfect salad for a snack, side dish, lunch, or dinner.
    • It goes with anything! Add a protein or some extra veggies on the side to make it a meal.
    • Naturally vegetarian, gluten free, dairy free, nut free, soy free, and can easily be made vegan and egg free as well.
    Macaroni Salad in a cream bowl with wooden utensils. Cream cloth and seasoning in a wooden pinch bowl above.

    🗒️ Ingredient Notes

    Pasta: I love macaroni noodles. The pasta salad dressing gets into all the nooks and crannies, and it just tastes amazing! I used gluten-free elbow noodles, however, regular macaroni noodles will work just as well if you're not on a gluten-free diet. Other pasta shapes that I enjoy in this side dish are fussili (rotini), farfalle, and spirali.

    Condiments: Mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, and Dijon mustard. You can use vegan mayonnaise or make your own classic mayo at home if you fancy a change from store-bought. For the vinegar, any vinegar will be perfect! It cuts the richness of the mayonnaise beautifully and adds a delicious tanginess to this Macaroni Pasta Salad.

    Seasoning: Celery seed, ground black pepper, and garlic powder bring all of the flavor. This is a great combination! I also added sea salt and sugar. Feel free to adjust it to your taste.

    Vegetables: I threw in some cucumbers, bell pepper, and Vidalia onion. Use any color of bell pepper you prefer, and any sweet onion like a red onion is a great choice for this recipe.

    Macaroni Salad in a cream bowl with wooden utensils. Cream cloth and seasoning in a wooden pinch bowl to the side.

    🥣 How to make Gluten-Free Pasta Salad

    Macaroni in a large pot.
    Whipping up the pasta salad dressing in a measuring jug.
    Vegetables and pasta in a large bowl.
    1. Boil the noodles in a large pot according to package directions. You can taste the pasta to make sure it is cooked to your liking. Rinse with cold water, drain in a colander, and set aside.
    2. Make the dairy-free dressing: In a small bowl, combine the mayo, vinegar, mustard, salt, sugar, celery seed, pepper, and garlic powder. Whisk until smooth.
    3. Place the noodles, cucumber, bell pepper, and onion in a large bowl. Stir together well.
    Dressing on top of vegetables and pasta in a large bowl.
    Gluten-free macaroni salad in a large bowl with a blue spoon.

    4. Pour the sauce into the mixing bowl, then toss all to coat well.
    5. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. Keep covered and stored in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. Enjoy!

    Close up of Gluten-Free Macaroni Salad in a cream bowl with wooden utensils.

    🍽 What does Pasta Salad go with?

    This Gluten-Free Macaroni Salad is great for sharing at potlucks or have it for lunch or dinner with protein or extra vegetables. Here are my favorite dishes to serve with it:

    • Air Fryer Halloumi
    • Air Fryer Potato Wedges
    • Crispy Air Fryer Tempeh
    • Pizza
    • Pesto Pizza Rolls
    • Grilled Cheese
    • The Best Veggie Burger
    • BBQ Walnut Chickpea Burgers
    Macaroni Salad in a cream bowl with wooden utensils. Cream cloth and seasoning in a wooden pinch bowl above.

    🥡 How to Store

    Store these gluten free noodles in an airtight container for up to 10 days. Mix well before serving.

    💭 Top Tips

    Make a double batch to keep on hand for an easy side dish anytime!

    Try different pasta shapes. There are so many good ones to choose from!

    Make it vegan by using vegan mayonnaise instead of regular.

    Need this to be dairy-free? Double-check your mayonnaise doesn't have any sneaky dairy products in it.

    Sprinkle some parsley and feta or vegan feta to add another layer or two of flavor.

    ❓ Frequently Asked Questions

    Can you eat gluten-free pasta cold?

    Yes! This Gluten-Free Macaroni Pasta Salad is best served cold. I recommend refrigerating it for an hour before eating.

    How do you make mac salad moist?

    For moisture, I add a combination of mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, and dijon mustard to this pasta salad. I also make sure that the pasta is cooked properly, and is al dente, or slightly softer.

    Should you rinse gluten-free pasta after cooking?

    It's a great idea to rinse gluten-free pasta after it's finished cooking, especially for pasta salad. This cools the noodles down and stops the cooking process. It's also a good idea because some gluten-free pasta can leave a residue after cooking, so it's best to rinse that off before eating it.

    Macaroni Salad in a cream bowl with wooden utensils. Seasoning in a wooden pinch bowl above.

    🍝More Easy Gluten-Free Pasta Recipes

    Vegen Peanut Noodles

    Spicy Chimichurri Chickpea Pasta Bowl

    Creamy Tomato Basil Pasta

    Gigi Hadid Pasta

    22 Vegan Pasta Recipes

    📖 Recipe

    Gluten Free Macaroni Salad

    Ready in less than 30 minutes, this Gluten-Free Macaroni Salad is so easy to throw together. Perfect for meal prep or sharing!
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Pin Rate SaveSaved!
    Course: Salad, Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes
    Servings: 8 people
    Author: Kristen Wood

    Ingredients

    • 12 ounces gluten-free elbow noodles if not gluten-free, use conventional macaroni noodles
    • ½ cup mayonnaise or vegan mayo
    • 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar or any vinegar of choice
    • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar of choice
    • ½ teaspoon celery seed
    • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
    • 2 cucumbers diced
    • 1 bell pepper chopped
    • ½ vidalia or other sweet onion diced
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    Instructions

    • Cook noodles according to package directions. Rinse with cool water, drain and set aside.
    • In a small bowl, combine the mayo, vinegar, mustard, salt, sugar, celery seed, pepper and garlic powder. Whisk until smooth.
    • Place the noodles, cucumber, bell pepper and onion in a large mixing bowl. Mix well.
    • Pour the sauce into the mixing bowl, then toss all to coat well.
    • Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. Keep covered and stored in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. Enjoy!

    Notes

    1. Make a double batch to keep on hand for an easy side dish anytime!
    2. Try different pasta shapes. There are so many good ones to choose from!
    3. Make it vegan by using vegan mayonnaise instead of regular.
    4. Need this to be dairy-free? Double check your mayonnaise doesn't have any sneaky dairy products in it.
    5. Sprinkle some parsley and feta or vegan feta to add another layer or two of flavor.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 260kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 426mg | Potassium: 145mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 531IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 1mg

    Recommended Products

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    Have you tried this recipe?Please Rate + Comment Below!
    Mention on Instagram!@moon.and.spoon.and.yum

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jess says

      June 30, 2022 at 11:40 pm

      5 stars
      Such a great idea to bring to my next potluck!

      Reply
    2. Anjali says

      June 30, 2022 at 11:39 pm

      5 stars
      Love that this macaroni salad is gluten free!! Can't wait to make it for our 4th of July BBQ this weekend!

      Reply
    3. Chef Mireille says

      June 30, 2022 at 10:08 pm

      5 stars
      Made this for a picnic and everyone loved it! It comes together easily and makes the leftovers make for a delicious side for BBq. Thanks

      Reply
    4. Emily says

      June 30, 2022 at 9:37 pm

      5 stars
      This was so tasty and quick to put together for a picnic! Thank you for the recipe!

      Reply

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    kristen wood

    About Kristen Wood

    Hi, I'm Kristen! A mama, food writer, photographer, recipe developer, and cookbook author. I enjoy sharing both wildly creative and ridiculously practical gluten-free vegetarian recipes that are approachable for all. Welcome!

    Learn more about me →

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