Name: Pressure Cooker Best Macaroni Salad Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 2 min
Total time: 17 min
Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients: 1 lb Elbow Macaroni; 4 cups Fresh Water (salted); 2 tsp Kosher Salt; 8-10 oz Cheddar or Swiss Cheese (cubed); 6 oz Black Olives (sliced); 10 oz Sweet 'N Spicy Pickles (diced); 6 oz Carrots (shredded); 3/4 cup Mayonnaise; 1/2 cup Homemade Yogurt ((or mayonnaise to taste)); 2-3 Scallions (chopped); 1/8 cup Sweet 'N Spicy Pickles Juice; 1/4 tsp True Lemon ((or 1 TBL Red Wine Vinegar)); 1 TBL White Sugar; 1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce (optional); 1 tsp Kosher Salt (to taste); 1/4 tsp Freshly Ground Black Pepper; 8 oz Ham Steak (cubed)

This Pressure Cooker Best Macaroni Salad Recipe is perfect for picnics. It’s flavorful, easy to make and ready for the fridge in under 15 minutes!

Pressure Cooker Best Macaroni Salad

Pressure Cooker Best Macaroni Salad Recipe

The Summer is here and everyone is always scrambling to find a really good Macaroni Salad recipe that they can bring to picnic.

This Pressure Cooker Best Macaroni Salad Recipe fits the bill.

It’s quick because it cooks in the Pressure Cooker and is best when made the day before your event.

It’ the Best, because it is filled with yummy ingredients and CHEESE!!!

Cast of Ingredients for Pressure Cooker Best Macaroni Salad Recipe

I like a creamy Macaroni Salad, but not bogged down with mayonnaise.

I like the Macaroni Salad best, with just Mayonnaise.

However, because I know so many people love my Instant Pot Homemade Yogurt Recipe, I have incorporated Homemade Greek Yogurt into the Dressing, as an option.

It adds a nice amount of zing and freshness.

Pressure Cook the Macaroni

If you can get De Cecco Elbow Macaroni, I suggest using it, as in this case, brand does made a difference.

The cook time in my recipe is for the De Cecco brand, so if you use a different brand, remember to check the package directions and cook your Macaroni, according to the formula in the recipe below.

Salt the water well, as it’s the only change to nicely season the Macaroni.

Pressure Cooker Hard Boiled Egg Loaf

Some people like Hard Boiled Eggs in their Macaroni Salad.

If you like Eggs in your Macaroni Salad, use a Tall Trivet and see my Pressure Cooker Egg Salad recipe, for details about prepping the Loaf Pan.

My Pressure Cooker Summer Picnic Potato Salad is another great side dish for picnics and parties.

Use a Food Processor to Grate Carrots

Shredded Carrots are sold in packages at the grocery store.

If you have a Food Processor with a Shredder Attachment, you can easily make your own Shredded Carrots.

It’s so much cheaper too.

Three to Five Carrots.

Zip Zip, Done!

Use as much or as little carrots as you like.

The Shredded Carrots will soften overnight in the Dressing.

You could even chop up your Sweet N Spicy Pickles in the Food Processor.

Perfectly Shredded Carrots!

If you can’t find Sweet N Spicy Pickles, use either Gerkins or Bread and Butter Pickles.

They are both sweet Pickles.

Use a sprinkle of Garlic Powder and a little extra True Lemon or Red Wine Vinegar if you use Sweet Pickles instead of the Sweet N Spicy Pickles.

I used my Mini Food Processor to chop up the Sweet N Spicy Pickles.

I should have just used my large Food Processor and dirtied both of them unnecessarily.

Mix Together Sauce Ingredients

In a Medium Mixing Bowl, mix together the Sauce ingredients.

I don’t use eggs!

The Scallions and Shredded Carrots will soften as they marinate in the Sauce.

Run the Macaroni Under the Water

Add some cool water to the Pressure Cooker cooking pot.

Pour the Macaroni into a Strainer Basket and drain out the water, to stop the cooking process.

Shake the basket, to make sure all water has been drained.

Combine Macaroni and Sauce

Dump the Macaroni into a Large Mixing Bowl.

Pour in the Sauce ingredients and mix together.

Taste and adjust the seasonings.

Add more Salt and Pepper if needed.

Let the warm Macaroni absorb the flavors in the refrigerator for a couple of hours before adding the Cheese and Olives.

Mix in the Cheese and Olives

Before serving, add in the Cheddar Cheese and the Black Olives.

Swiss Cheese is good in this Macaroni Salad too! It’s my preference.

So, is Colby Jack!

If you like Ham, grab a Ham Steak and Cube it.

Squeeze out the Water from the Ham Steak Cubes.

Many people love Ham in their Macaroni Salad.

I prefer it without.

Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Best Macaroni Salad Recipe

This Pressure Cooker Best Macaroni Salad Recipe is a great side dish to my Pressure Cooker Carolina BBQ Spare Ribs. Don’t forget the Pressure Cooker Summer Picnic Potato Salad.

Macaroni Salad goes great with Air Fryer Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwiches and my Air Fryer Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken Wings!

Do you like that big Glass Bowl I used to serve this Salad? It’s a Bormioli Rocco Viva Salad Bowl and it’s a bargain.

Kitchen Equipment and Essentials

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Here is the handy printable recipe: