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    Home » Recipes » Side Dishes

    Creamy Vegan Mac Salad

    Published: Mar 13, 2022 by Bree - 8 Comments - This post may contain affiliate links

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    This article may contain affiliate links. please check out my policy!

    Creamy, refreshing vegan mac salad complimented by crisp, fresh bell peppers make this the perfect side to compliment any meal.

    Or if you're like me, this is the meal!

    finished macaroni salad in a bowl with wooden spoon and pasta in background.

    This macaroni salad is a hit at gatherings, parties, celebrations, get-togethers, BBQ's, holiday's, you name it. Everyone will ask you for this recipe, and your kids will absolutely love it!

    Also, this pasta salad is a fantastic way to hide veggies just in case you've got picky little ones!

    My favorite meals to serve this salad with are my super messy lentil sloppy joes or any one of these delicious vegan burgers!

    Jump to:
    • 🥘Ingredients
    • 🔪Instructions
    • 📖Variations
    • ⏲️Storage
    • ❓Frequently Asked Questions
    • 📖 Recipe

    🥘Ingredients

    all ingredients in macaroni salad with text labels.

    You can use any pasta you want, including gluten-free. Keep in mind that some gluten-free pasta's dry out quicker and your salad may not be so great the next day. The best way to work with gluten-free pasta is to keep the sauce and pasta separate so you can re hydrate the noodles as needed.

    To re-hydrate gluten free pasta, simply add some water to the bowl and microwave until the water is hot, stir the pasta around for a few minutes, then drain. Rinse to cool, drain, and mix with the sauce!

    Sugar, and relish are optional ingredients, skip them if you wish.

    Use vinegar in place of relish, and also exchange yellow mustard for Dijon, if you're feelin' extra spicy.

    If using frozen peas, you do not need to thaw or do anything with them. Just add them in frozen and they will naturally thaw.

    Please see recipe card for exact quantities

    🔪Instructions

    step one adding all sauce ingredients to the bowl.

    Step 1 - Add the sauce ingredients to a bowl. Mayo, sugar, relish, mustard and lemon juice.

    step two mixing the dressing for macaroni salad.

    Step 2 - Mix everything well, then set in the fridge to chill for around 30 minutes. (optional)

    step three folding salad together with sauce.

    Step 3 - If your pasta is cooled and ready, add it into the dressing and mix around.

    step four in making the salad adding peas and bell peppers.

    Step 4 - Add in your veggie options and mix again! Refrigerate until ready to serve.

    👩🏻‍🍳Cook's Top Tip
    If you want to make this ahead of time, make the sauce and then cover it and place it in the refrigerator and store the pasta separate.

    📖Variations

    While I have used bell peppers and peas for the vegetables in this macaroni salad, you can change it up entirely and add just about anything you wish!

    If you want to keep the crunchy factor:

    Onions - This popular option is how most macaroni salads are made, however, bell peppers are a great option to add that familiar crunch if you can not stomach onions.

    Broccoli - Y'all... back in the day I used to get a similar pasta salad at Walmart's deli. Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Anyway, it was my favorite and it had broccoli in it! not the one with raisins, the with cheese and mayo.

    Shredded carrots - Another great crunchy addition with the added nutritional benefits of carrots.

    Cabbage slaw mixture - If you want to make this meal even easier and skip chopping anything, this would also make this recipe extremely kid-friendly, and just get a bag of pre-mixed coleslaw. I do this often when my body doesn't want to cooperate.

    Looking to make this with no mayo? Feel free to use yogurt, make a cashew based cream sauce or a tofu based cream sauce!

    bite shot view of mac salad on wooden spoon topped with fake bacon bits.

    ⏲️Storage

    • Store in the refrigerator in an air-tight container.
    • Eat within 5 days.
    • Do Not Freeze.
    • If making ahead, store pasta and dressing separate.

    ❓Frequently Asked Questions

    How long does vegan macaroni salad last?

    Around 4-5 days. Most food starts to lose flavor after day 3, and it is not recommended that you freeze this salad.

    How do I get the sauce to stick in my macaroni salad?

    Your pasta needs to be nearly dry before you place them into the sauce, if the noodles are still wet, water will mix with the sauce and make it too runny. Also make sure you're not over cooking your noodles.

    Check out some of my other delicious salads!

    • Vegan Egg Salad with Black Salt
    • Vegan Cucumber Salad
    • Vegan Chicken Salad (using Soy Curls)
    • Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad with Maple Mustard Dressing

    If you try the recipe, don't forget to rate it and leave a comment! Thank you so much!

    📖 Recipe

    a detailed close up of finished macaroni salad.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 9 votes

    Creamy Vegan Mac Salad

    Share on Facebook
    Creamy, refreshing vegan mac salad complimented by crisp, fresh bell peppers make this the perfect side to compliment any meal.
    Cook8 mins
    Total38 mins
    Servings - 6
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • medium bowl
    • medium sauce pan
    • Spatula or Spoon
    • Knife

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups macaroni noodles
    • 1 cup vegan mayo
    • 2 tablespoons mustard
    • 1 tablespoon sugar
    • 2 tablespoons dill relish
    • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
    • ½ cup frozen peas
    • ½ cup diced bell peppers - any colors
    • pinch of salt and pepper - to taste

    Instructions

    • Start by cooking your pasta according to package directions.
      2 cups macaroni noodles
    • While the pasta is cooking, grab a medium-size bowl and start making the sauce.
    • To the bowl add: mayo, mustard, dill relish, sugar, salt & pepper, and lemon juice and mix well and until sugar is dissolved, then set aside. If serving next day, store dressing and pasta separately and mix the day of.
      1 cup vegan mayo,2 tablespoons mustard,1 tablespoon sugar,pinch of salt and pepper
    • Next, cut up or prepare any veggies you are adding. In this case, dice up some bell pepper.
    • Once the pasta is cooked, remove from the heat immediately and drain. Then run super cold water over them until they are completely cooled. Drain well.
      2 cups macaroni noodles
    • Once the noodles are good and drained, add them to the dressing and mix until the noodles are coated in sauce.
    • Throw in any veggies at this time and mix well once more.
    • Serve and enjoy!

    Notes

    • For Gluten-free - use gluten-free pasta. Keep in mind that some gluten-free pasta's dry out quickly and aren't as great the next day.
    • Want spicy? - Add a tablespoon of jarred or fresh jalapenos. I typically use the jarred just because of the extra juice and vinegar.
    • To make things easier - use a bagged coleslaw mix in place of bell peppers. You get more options as well as the crunch factor!
    • Do Not Freeze
    • Refrigerate - up to 5 days in an air-tight container.
    Nutrition Facts are a rough estimate without considering extras. Please consult a medical professional for accuracy if needed.
    This recipe belongs to Planty Of Eats

    Nutrition

    Calories: 341kcal | Carbohydrates: 42.1g | Protein: 7.2g | Fat: 16.4g | Saturated Fat: 0.2g | Sodium: 462mg | Potassium: 189mg | Fiber: 2.6g | Sugar: 5.4g | Calcium: 49mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe? Share it with me! I'd love to see it!Mention @plantyofeats

    This post was originally published on Jan 5, 2021. It has been updated on Jan 31, 2023 .

    Check out more delicious vegan recipes!

    • Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes (Dairy-Free)
    • Dairy Free Coleslaw
    • Cucumber Avocado Salad with Herbed Dressing
    • Korean Style Marinated Cucumbers

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Asher

      November 15, 2021 at 2:00 pm

      5 stars
      How is this SO MUCH BETTER with bell peppers?! Seriously, I may never use onions again, haha!

      Reply
      • Bree

        December 21, 2021 at 7:51 am

        Thank you!

        Reply
    2. Tom

      November 19, 2021 at 12:45 pm

      5 stars
      I've personally had this and I can tell you that this stuff is delicious! I wish Bree would make more!

      Reply
      • Bree

        November 20, 2021 at 7:32 am

        5 stars
        Thank you, dear <3

        Reply
    3. Bree

      December 21, 2021 at 7:51 am

      5 stars
      Thank you so much, Mandy!

      Reply
    4. Cassius

      August 04, 2022 at 12:27 pm

      5 stars
      10/10

      Reply
    5. Chris

      September 09, 2022 at 3:22 pm

      How much lemon juice? You mention it in the instructions, but it’s not listed in the ingredients.
      Thanks!

      Reply
      • Bree

        September 12, 2022 at 1:18 pm

        Hi Chris! Thank you for reaching out and pointing out my error! I will fix this right away! It is 1 Tablespoon of Lemon Juice.

        Reply

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