Instant Pot Macaroni Salad is a Southern style creamy pasta salad cheese, sweet pickles carrots, ham, peas in a creamy and tangy dressing!
Instant Pot Macaroni Salad
BEST Instant Pot Macaroni Salad with Al dente macaroni, cheese, carrots, olives, sweet pickles mixed with a tangy, creamy dressing will impress your guests. Perfect for picnics, pot lucks, barbecues, and gatherings. This Instant Pot Best Macaroni Salad recipe will become your go to macaroni salad.
Cast of Ingredients for Instant Pot Macaroni Salad
Elbow macaroni quickly cooks in the Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi or Pressure Cooker. It is best when made the day before your event, which gives you time to enjoy your time with friends and family.
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Ingredients for Instant Pot Macaroni Salad
- Elbow Macaroni
- Mayonnaise and Yogurt – use your own homemade yogurt, or use yogurt from the store.
- Chives
- Black Olives
- Cheese
- Carrots
- Pickles
- Worcestershire Sauce – kicks up the flavor a notch.
Ingredients like cheese, pickles and olives make this a flavorful pasta salad. The blend of mayonnaise and yogurt give Instant Pot Macaroni Salad the perfect amount of creaminess without being heavy. Easy and versatile dish which transport nicely to any gathering.
Some people like hard boiled eggs in their macaroni salad. Check out my Instant Pot Egg Loaf recipe for the easiest way to prepare eggs at the same time you prepare the macaroni.
Pressure Cook the Macaroni
Salt the water well, as it’s the only chance to nicely season the macaroni. Brand of pasta does make a difference.
Best Pasta for Instant Pot Macaroni Salad
- De Cecco Elbow Macaroni is always my pick. It can be pricey at the grocery store but I buy in bulk here and it is a great price.
Any type of pasta or semolina noodle is fine to use in this recipe. If using a different shape of pasta or noodle, your cook time may be different.
This Old Gal’s Pasta Rule of Thumb
- Look at package of pasta and find the variable cook time. Choose the lesser time given and then subtract 2 minutes. For example, if your package of pasta says “cook for 8 – 11 minutes,” take that 8 minute number and cut it in half, which is 4. Then subtract 2 minutes from the 4 minutes and you will end up with the proper cook time. In this example the cook time will be 2 minutes.
- After the 2 minute pressure cook time is up, wait 5 minutes and then release the rest of the pressure.
- If the variable cook time on your package of pasta is 11 – 16 minutes, err on the lesser side. In this instance, the cook time would be 3 minutes. It is better to end up with overly firm pasta rather than mushy because you can continue to cook the pasta, but if it is mushy, there is nothing you can do to correct.
- If the pasta is too firm or al dente for your taste, simply put the lid back on the pot and let the pasta sit in the hot pot. The residual heat will continue to cook the pasta. Check after a few minutes to see if the pasta has reached the perfect firmness for your liking. If not give it a stir and let sit some more.
Pro Tip: This recipe uses a bit of a natural release and the total time is figured into that, so only the cook time needs to be adjusted. The natural release time allows for a little pressure to release, so that the starchy water can settle and not spit out through the pressure valve when the pressure is released
Use a Food Processor to Grate Carrots
Shredded carrots are sold in packages at the grocery store. However, if you have a large food processor with a shredder attachment, you can easily make your own shredded carrots. It’s so much cheaper too. Zip zip, Done! Use as much or as little carrots as you like.
The Shredded Carrots will soften overnight in the dressing.
Pro Tip: If you can’t find sweet n’ spicy pickles, use either gherkins or bread and butter Pickles.
As they are both sweet pickles, add a sprinkling of garlic powder, a pinch extra of True Lemon or a teaspoon of red wine vinegar if you use sweet gherkin pickles instead of the sweet n’ spicy pickles.
Pro Tip: Chop up the Sweet N Spicy Pickles in the food processor too.
Mix Together Sauce Ingredients
Pairing Macaroni Salad
- Always an important question when planning a menu.
- Instant Pot Macaroni Salad is a great side dish to my Pressure Cooker Carolina BBQ Spare Ribs. Don’t forget the Pressure Cooker Summer Picnic Potato Salad.
- Instant Pot Best Macaroni Salad goes great with Air Fryer Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwiches and my Air Fryer Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken Wings too!
Run the Macaroni Under the Water
Should Macaroni Be Rinsed?
- Yes, definitely. Pasta used in a cold pasta salad should be rinsed with cool water. The water will cool off the pasta to stop it from cooking, as well as remove the excess starch.
Macaroni Salad with Yogurt
- Macaroni salad should be nice and creamy and also light and refreshing.
- Therefore, to keep it light and refreshing, I love to use a combination of mayonnaise and fresh Homemade Yogurt. As my Instant Pot Greek Yogurt recipe is a fan favorite, it was easy to incorporate into the dressing.
Pro Tip: Yogurt adds just the right amount of zing and freshness. Hence the name Instant Pot BEST Macaroni Salad.
Combine Macaroni and Sauce
Another delicious summer and picnic salad is my Instant Pot Potato Salad and my Pressure Cooker Pasta Cheese and Peas Salad. They are always so popular at summer gatherings.
Tips and Tricks for Macaroni Salad
- This salad is best when made the day before to let the flavors develop. Store it in the fridge in an air tight container.
- If using gherkins/sweet pickles, add a tiny pinch of garlic powder.
- If using all mayonnaise, add a drop more True Lemon or red wine vinegar to taste.
- 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.
Mix in the Cheese and Olives
Pro Tip: Swiss cheese and Colby Jack cheese are both wonderful in Instant Pot Macaroni Salad!
Can Ham Be Added?
Many people love ham in their macaroni salad.
- If you like ham, grab a ham steak and cube it into on-half inch chunks.
- Squeeze out the excess water from the ham steak cubes.
Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Best Macaroni Salad Recipe
One bite of Instant Pot Best Macaroni Salad will have all your friends asking for the recipe! Add a pop of color by sprinkling on some parsley, cilantro or dill.
Macaroni salad is so good, you might want to make a double batch! Enjoy.
More Instant Pot Picnic Recipes to make!
- Red White Blue Fresh Berry Cheesecake Salad
- Creamy Grapes Salad
- Low Carb Avocado Chicken Salad [Instant Pot]
- Asian Crunchy Noodle Salad with Peanut Butter Dressing
What’s your next picnic?
Kitchen Equipment and Essentials
- Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi or Pressure Cooker
- J.A. Henckels Classic 8 inch Chef’s Knife
- di Oro Living Silicone Spatulas Set
- Porcelain & Bamboo Salt Box with Spoon
- Gravity Electric Salt and Pepper Grinder
- My FANTASTIC Teak Cutting & Charcuterie Board & Compartments
- Salbree 3 quart, 6 quart or 8 quart Steamer/Strainer Basket
- 3.5 Quart Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl
- Small 1.5 Quart “Pot in Pot” Mixing Bowl
- Cuisinart Large Food Processor
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Here is the handy printable recipe:
Ingredients
- 1 lb Elbow Macaroni
- 4 cups Fresh Water salted
- 2 tsp Kosher Salt
- 4 oz Cheddar or Swiss Cheese cubed
- 2 stalks Celery diced
Sauce Ingredients
- 1/4 cup Mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup Homemade Yogurt
- 4 ounces Carrots diced or shredded
- 2 ounces Sweet 'N Spicy Pickles diced
- 2 Scallions chopped (or red onions)
- 1/8 cup Apple Cider Vinegar (or 1/4 tsp True Lemon)
- 1 Tablespoon White Sugar
- 2 teaspoons Dijon Mustard
- 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon Freshly Ground Black Pepper
Optional Add Ins
- 1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce for a little tang
- 3 oz Black Olives sliced
- 2 ounces Red Bell Peppers minced
- 1/2 cup Frozen Peas thawed and drained of any water
Recommended Products
Instructions
- Add Elbow Macaroni, Kosher Salt and Fresh Water to Pressure Cooker cooking pot.
- Lock on lid and close pressure value. Cook at high pressure (most machines default to high pressure) for 2 minutes.
- When Beep is heard, wait 5 minutes, then release all pressure.
- Add cool water to Instant Pot and pour macaroni through the strainer basket to drain.
- Place macaroni into large mixing bowl, along with the cheese, carrots, celery, peas (if using) and scallions.
- While macaroni is cooking, make the sauce.
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, yogurt, minced pickles, apple cider vinegar, sugar, Dijon mustard, salt and pepper.
- Pour dressing over macaroni and toss until well coated.
- Cover bowl with plastic wrap or a lid and let chill in the refrigerator for at least one hour.
Notes
This Old Gal's Pasta Rule of Thumb
- Look at package of pasta and find the variable cook time. Choose the lesser time given and then subtract 2 minutes. For example, if your package of pasta says "cook for 8 - 11 minutes," take that 8 minute number and cut it in half, which is 4. Then subtract 2 minutes from the 4 minutes and you will end up with the proper cook time. In this example the cook time will be 2 minutes.
- After the 2 minute pressure cook time is up, wait 5 minutes and then release the rest of the pressure.
- If the variable cook time on your package of pasta is 11 - 16 minutes, err on the lesser side. In this instance, the cook time would be 3 minutes. It is better to end up with overly firm pasta rather than mushy because you can continue to cook the pasta, but if it is mushy, there is nothing you can do to correct.
- If the pasta is too firm or al dente for your taste, simply put the lid back on the pot and let the pasta sit in the hot pot. The residual heat will continue to cook the pasta. Check after a few minutes to see if the pasta has reached the perfect firmness for your liking. If not give it a stir and let sit some more.
Tips
- This salad is best when made the day before to let the flavors develop. Store it in the fridge in an air tight container.
- Salt the water well - it's your only chance to season the macaroni.
Extras
- I highly recommend mixing in the peas. I know some people do not like peas and why I left it out of the photos.
- If you like ham in your macaroni salad, cube up 8 ounces of ham steak. Make sure to squeeze all the excess water out really well before adding to the salad.
- Kids love sliced hot dogs in their macaroni salad. Really, they do.
- Eggs - check out my Instant Pot Egg Loaf Recipe if you want to add eggs. You can cook them right with the macaroni!
Nutrition
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Pressure Cooker Best Macaroni Salad Recipe
