Macaroni Coleslaw Salad

Coleslaw and macaroni salad collide in this easy and simple macaroni coleslaw salad. The cold salad recipe great for a weeknight plate, or take to your next potluck or cookout. Zesty and tangy coleslaw dressing, crisp cabbage, and macaroni in each bite. Try this pasta salad with coleslaw!

This coleslaw pasta salad is one that layers two popular summer side dishes into one. A creamy salad great recipe for a family gathering. We whip up this coleslaw macaroni salad and pair it with an easy weeknight meal. It creates a tasty side, with minimal effort. Try our b roccoli salad for another side dish.

We do take a quick prep hack and buy a package coleslaw mix, instead of chopping up cabbage and carrots separately. This cabbage salad is versatile in ingredients you can use.

If you want a classic coleslaw we have that as well. Or give our Mexican coleslaw recipe a try as well. Both are an easy recipe and great for summer barbecues. Or try out our three bean salads recipe.

This Salad Recipe Is…

• Cold summer salad recipe
• Great for a weeknight side
• Coleslaw and Macaroni Salad in one
• Easy To Make
• Potluck Friendly
• Make Ahead Side Dish

Head to the grocery store and snag all the ingredients for this recipe. A great cold side dish you can make a day in advance.

• Bag of Coleslaw Mix – So you can cut up your own cabbage and carrots, but it is just as easy to buy bagged cabbage. This has red cabbage and green cabbage mixed in it.
• Macaroni noodles – we used macaroni noodles but any small shells work. Just cook your pasta as directed on the box. Elbow pasta, shells, ditalini pasta, are all great choices.
• Mayonnaise – You are more than welcome to use miracle whip if you prefer. We are a mayo family personally.
• Pepper – You can use a red, yellow, orange or green pepper. Any bell pepper works, we did an orange one for added color.
• Vinegar – we used white distilled vinegar but you are more than welcome to swap in apple cider vinegar if you would prefer.
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• Granulated Sugar
• Celery Seeds – If you don’t want celery seeds you can dice up celery ribs and toss in the salad.

How to Make

Full steps on how to make this macaroni coleslaw are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post. This is a visual walk through for this recipe slaw.

Step One: Cook macaroni pasta as directed on the box. We cooked ours to al dente. Once done drain, and run pasta under cold water to cool it down and stop the cooking process. In a medium size bowl add your mayonnaise, vinegar, celery seed, sugar, salt, pepper, and lemon juice.

Step Two: Whisk well to combine the coleslaw dressing. Then you will add in your bagged coleslaw, cooked pasta, and bell pepper.

Step Three: Toss to coat all the ingredients, and then cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour. If you find the mixture is too thick, then add a tablespoon of milk to thin it up.

Variations To Recipe

Here are some changes you can make for this side dish.

• Toss in whole water chestnuts if you would like.
• Finely chopped red onion works great.
• Take a medium cucumber and peel and finely chop it up.
• If you don’t want a homemade coleslaw dressing you can buy a creamy dressing for coleslaw. Find it in the produce section.
• For a crunch of sweet, add in some diced apple. A green apple would add a nice tart component.

Storing

You can store your pasta coleslaw in the fridge in an airtight container. This cold summer side dish is great for a potluck salad recipe you can make the night before. Or serve it up for dinner next to steaks or even grilled brats.

Practical notes

Here are some common questions for this macaroni slaw recipe. These are questions that could help you making this side dish recipe.

Can we use a different type of vinegar?

We used a white wine vinegar but you are welcome to swap with apple cider vinegar or white distilled vinegar. Use the same amount, two tablespoons.

How do you make coleslaw not soggy?

Coleslaw as it sits can become soggy. We always recommend serving coleslaw within the first two days of being made. The salt, vinegar, and other ingredients will break down the cabbage as it sits.

What makes coleslaw watery?

As the cabbage breaks down it will release more water that is being stored in the cabbage. This can water down the coleslaw salad.

Why do you add salt to pasta water?

Salting pasta water is going to help flavor the pasta. Get your water to come to a boil, pour in the pasta, and then add in salt. This will help to flavor the pasta a bit, to help richen the flavor.

Here are other pasta salad recipes to try out, along with easy side dishes to serve up.

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Ingredients

Makes 8 people

• 3/4 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
• 1 small bell pepper, diced
• 1 bag colesalw mix, 8 ounce bag
• 1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon celery seed
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice, fresh squeezed
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon milk, optional
• 2 cups elbow macaroni, dry

Method

1. Start by cooking your 2 cups of dry pasta as directed on the package. Make sure to salt the water once you add in the pasta. Once the pasta is done, drain, and then run pasta under cold water to cool down the pasta.
2. In a large bowl add your mayonnaise, salt, pepper, celery seed, lemon juice, and granulated sugar. Whisk well to combine. If you want to add in milk to make creamier add it in now.
3. Pour in the coleslaw mix of the cabbage and carrots, followed by the cooked and cooled pasta, and diced bell pepper.
4. Stir up the cold macaroni coleslaw salad and then cover and place in the fridge for 30 minutes to 1 hour before serving.

Kitchen notes

Storing –

This coleslaw macaroni salad will store for 3-4 days in the fridge. You will find that the cabbage breaks down as it sits becoming softer. Mix in Ingredients – Cherry tomatoes, diced cucumbers, and other ingredients can be added to elevate the flavor. Coleslaw Dressing – we made a simple coleslaw dressing. If you want you can buy and use a store bought coleslaw dressing to speed up the prep work.