Pioneer Woman Mac Salad: The Ultimate Potluck & BBQ Side Dish

Macaroni salad is a quintessential side dish for summer gatherings, potlucks, and barbecues. Everyone needs that one perfect recipe they can rely on, and this Pioneer Woman Mac Salad recipe just might be it. It’s a creamy, flavorful, and crowd-pleasing dish that will disappear quickly at any event.

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Why This Pioneer Woman Macaroni Salad Recipe is a Must-Try

As temperatures rise and summer approaches, thoughts turn to outdoor cooking and delicious side dishes. This recipe, inspired by Ree Drummond, the Pioneer Woman herself, is a standout. It’s not just good; it’s potentially the “best macaroni salad ever,” as Ree suggests, and it certainly lives up to the hype.

This recipe was initially tested during the winter months, in anticipation of summer grilling season. It proved to be the perfect accompaniment to hearty dishes like Crockpot Country Style Ribs, and it’s versatile enough to pair with practically any main course you can imagine for your summer cookouts.

Think of classic summer foods: burgers fresh off the grill, juicy tomatoes, perfectly grilled steaks, crisp cucumbers, and flavorful chicken kabobs. What’s missing? A refreshing, creamy side dish, and this macaroni salad fits the bill perfectly. Pair it with a cold beer, and you have the ideal summer meal.

This Pioneer Woman creation ranks among the best celebrity macaroni salad recipes, standing alongside even Ina Garten’s Mac and Cheese with Tomatoes in terms of flavor and popularity. It’s a recipe that’s worth adding to your culinary repertoire.

Ree Drummond’s Macaroni Salad Philosophy: A Recipe to Take Seriously

Ree Drummond, the Pioneer Woman, doesn’t take macaroni salad lightly. Her passionate quote on the subject reveals just how seriously she considers this dish:

“I love, love, love, adore, and love macaroni salad. I’m also picky, picky, picky, particular, and picky about macaroni salad. No joke. Macaroni salad is a religion to me.”

This dedication to macaroni salad perfection should be all the inspiration you need to try this recipe. If the Pioneer Woman considers macaroni salad a “religion,” you know this recipe must be something special.

The true test of any recipe, especially a side dish like macaroni salad, is how it performs at potlucks and backyard BBQs. This recipe has been taken to neighborhood gatherings and received rave reviews. In fact, it was so popular that doubling the recipe would have been a good idea!

The requests for the recipe were numerous, a sure sign of a winning dish. This macaroni salad strikes the perfect balance of flavors and textures, using just the right ingredients in just the right proportions. It’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

Another huge advantage of this Pioneer Woman Macaroni Salad is its practicality. It’s an ideal make-ahead dish for potlucks because it travels well and can be prepared in advance. Having a reliable, make-ahead macaroni salad recipe is invaluable for any summer event.

Key Ingredients That Make This Macaroni Salad Stand Out

This recipe isn’t just about throwing ingredients together; it’s about carefully selected components that contribute to the overall exceptional flavor. Here are some noteworthy ingredients:

Elbow Macaroni: For a classic macaroni salad, elbow macaroni is essential. American Beauty brand is recommended for its consistent quality and use of American-grown wheat. Supporting American farmers is an added bonus.
Roasted Red Bell Peppers: While roasting your own peppers is an option, using jarred roasted red peppers offers convenience without sacrificing flavor. For an even richer taste, consider getting roasted red peppers from the olive bar at your grocery store. They tend to be packed with more flavor.
Sweet Spicy Pickles: Pickles are a crucial element in macaroni salad, adding a tangy and sweet crunch. For this recipe, quality sweet and spicy pickles are key. Famous Dave’s spicy pickles are a readily available and delicious choice. Alternatively, you can make your own spicy pickles from store-bought dill pickles for a homemade touch with intense flavor.
Sliced Black Olives: Canned pre-sliced black olives simplify the preparation process and add a salty, briny element to the salad.
Red Wine Vinegar: This is a distinctive ingredient that sets this macaroni salad apart. Red wine vinegar, made from red wine, has a fruity undertone that adds a vibrant and robust flavor profile, making it a superior choice over standard white vinegar in this recipe.
Sweet Onion: Sweet onions, like Vidalia onions, are milder than white or red onions, making them perfect for salads where a raw onion flavor needs to be present but not overpowering. Green onions can also be used as a substitute.
Mayonnaise: The base of any creamy macaroni salad. Using high-quality mayonnaise brands like Best Foods, Hellman’s, or Dukes ensures a consistent and delicious creamy texture.
Milk or Half and Half: To achieve the ultimate creamy texture, half and half is recommended over milk. The added richness contributes to a truly decadent macaroni salad.
Sugar: Sugar is not just for sweetness; it’s essential for balancing the tangy red wine vinegar and other savory flavors in the salad. Don’t omit it!

Flavor Profile: Why This Macaroni Salad is Simply the Best

This Pioneer Woman Macaroni Salad isn’t just good; it’s expertly balanced in flavor. Here’s why it’s so irresistible:

Perfectly Creamy, Not Heavy: The ratio of mayonnaise to other ingredients is carefully considered, resulting in a creamy salad that isn’t overwhelmingly heavy or greasy.
Just the Right Tang: The red wine vinegar provides a delightful tanginess that cuts through the richness of the mayonnaise and adds complexity to the flavor profile.
Sweet and Spicy Harmony: The combination of sweet pickles, sugar, and spicy pickles creates a harmonious blend of sweet, tangy, and spicy notes that dance on your palate.
Olive and Pickle Power: The inclusion of black olives and pickles adds layers of flavor and texture, contributing to the overall deliciousness.
Classic Elbow Macaroni: Elbow macaroni is the quintessential pasta for summer macaroni salad, providing the perfect texture and shape to hold the creamy dressing and flavorful ingredients.

Slight adjustments have been made to the original recipe, such as using Vidalia onions instead of green onions, slightly reducing the vinegar and then adding it back to taste. These tweaks enhance the flavor and ensure it’s perfectly balanced.

Recipe: Pioneer Woman’s Best Macaroni Salad

This recipe is straightforward, delivering a creamy, flavorful, and utterly divine macaroni salad. The use of red wine vinegar is a game-changer, adding a unique robust flavor that you won’t find in typical macaroni salads.

You and your guests will love every bite of this Pioneer Woman’s Macaroni Salad. It’s destined to become a staple at all your summer gatherings.

Yields: 10 servings
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Total time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

4 cups elbow macaroni
3 whole roasted red peppers, chopped
½ cup sweet and spicy pickles, diced
½ cup black olives, sliced
½ cup sweet onion, diced
½ cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar (add more to taste, up to 3 tablespoons)
3 teaspoons sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
¼ cup half and half or milk
2 teaspoons pickle juice

Instructions:

Cook the macaroni: Cook macaroni in lightly salted water until al dente. Drain in a colander and set aside to cool.
Prepare the dressing: In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, sugar, salt, pepper, milk or half and half, and pickle juice until smooth.
Combine macaroni and dressing: In a large bowl, place the cooked and cooled macaroni. Add about ¾ of the mayonnaise mixture to the macaroni and stir to combine.
Add vegetables and pickles: Add the chopped roasted red peppers, diced sweet and spicy pickles, sliced black olives, and diced sweet onion to the macaroni mixture. If needed, add the remaining dressing to reach desired creaminess.
Adjust seasoning: Add a splash more pickle juice to the salad for extra tang, if desired. Remember that the salad dressing will thicken as it chills in the refrigerator.
Refrigerate: Refrigerate for at least two hours before serving to allow the flavors to meld and the salad to chill thoroughly.

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More Summer Salad Inspiration

Looking for more delicious summer salad recipes? Explore these related options for your next potluck or BBQ:

Related Recipes: Summer Potluck Potato Salad Recipes are Always a Hit

And for a wider selection of picnic-perfect side dishes, check out this lineup of Summer cook-out sides. You’re sure to find plenty of inspiration for your summer menus.

If you try this Pioneer Woman Macaroni Salad recipe, please leave a star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the recipe card below and share your comments. Your feedback is always appreciated!

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Pioneer Woman’s Best Macaroni Salad Ever

Pioneer Woman’s Best Macaroni Salad. Because we all need a perfect macaroni salad recipe! This one will get you through every Summer pot luck and BBQ thrown your way.

4.95 from 17 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 10
Calories: 318kcal
Author: Lea Ann Brown

Ingredients

4 cups elbow macaroni
3 whole roasted red peppers chopped
½ cup sweet and spicy pickle diced
½ cup black olives sliced
½ cup sweet onion diced
½ cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar adding more to taste, up to 3 tablespoons
3 teaspoons sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
plenty fresh ground black pepper
¼ cup half and half or milk
2 teaspoons pickle juice

Instructions

Cook macaroni in lightly salted water till done. Drain in a colander. Set aside.
Mix mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, salt, pepper, milk and pickle juice in medium sized bowl.
In large bowl place cooked macaroni. Add about ¾’s of the mayonnaise mixture to the macaroni.
Next add the peppers, pickles, olives and onions. If needed, add the remaining dressing.
Add a splash of pickle juice to the salad. The salad dressing will thicken up after refrigeration.
Refrigerate for at least two hours before serving.

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Pioneer Woman’s Best Macaroni Salad Ever …It’s what’s for a Perfect Summer Side.

Lea Ann Brown

Why Trust My Recipes? I am a Culinary School Graduate and believe that everyone should try to cook as often as they can. I’ve been cooking for 50 years, and my recipes are tried and true tested and tested and then tested again before published. To read more take a look at my About Page.