Ranch Macaroni Salad Recipe

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This ranch macaroni salad recipe is a fun twist on classic mac salad – with a zesty, tangy dressing without any mayonnaise! It makes the perfect side dish or appetizer.

Ready in under 30 minutes, this ranch pasta salad is a simple and delicious dish with great flavor and texture in every bite. It makes a fantastic side dish for a potluck, dinner party, or backyard barbecue.

Want more great side dish recipes? Try our avocado black bean salad, Thai quinoa salad with peanut sauce, or our favorite sourdough panzanella salad.

creamy ranch pasta salad with macaroni noodles in a bowl with celery chopped carrots and cherry tomatoes with a spoon.

Table of Contents

The Midwesterner in me loves macaroni salad! I’ve made tons of versions of it, and this ranch macaroni salad recipe is one of the best yet! If you like ranch dressing then this is the mac salad recipe for you.

This macaroni salad is so yummy served with anything coming off the grill. It’s fantastic with burgers (especially our chickpea burgers), veggie dogs, fresh grilled corn, or any side dish. This deli-style salad is actually loaded with tons of vegetables, so it has a nice refreshing crunch in eat bite.

Why This Recipe Works

It’s creamy, tangy, and zesty – a great twist on a classic!
There is no mayonnaise in the dressing, the ranch makes a great substitute.
The dressing is ready in 5 minutes, and is fresh and herby.
It’s loaded with freshly chopped vegetables.
Versatile: you can use any vegetables you have on hand, or swap in your favorites – see our recommendations below!

What’s In This Ranch Dressing Macaroni Salad Recipe?

ingredients for ranch macaroni salad with vegetables for a bbq side dish

Onion, Celery, Carrots, Bell Peppers
Macaroni Noodles – I love the light springy texture of macaroni noodles, they are so perfect for creamy vegetable salad like this.
Ranch Dressing – you can use a regular ranch, or a vegan/dairy-free version if desired.
Sweet Relish – to give this dish a little extra sweetness. I love this classic sweet relish which has a nice crunch and a sweet and tangy flavor.
Sugar – for a bit on extra sweetness.
Apple Cider Vinegar, which gives this dressing a little extra tang which is really fantastic! I love using this organic apple cider vinegar with the mother which has a great flavor. I think it gives a nice extra sweetness and depth.

Be sure to visit the recipe card below for full ingredient amounts and recipe instructions!

Substitutions and Additions

If you want to use another small shaped pasta instead of macaroni, go for it! Orzo, ditalini, or small shells would be excellent substitutions. Or use penne, rotini, or bowtie farfalle pasta for a medium-shape.
For chopped vegetables, you could also add in some cucumber, broccoli, or tomatoes if desired.
I find a little extra apple cider vinegar gives the dressing a nice tang – you can use white vinegar or white wine vinegar for a different taste.

How To Make This Recipe

dried macaroni noodles being added to a boiling pot of water to make macaroni salad

Step 1: Cook macaroni noodles according to package instructions. Drain, rinse under cold water, and add the noodles to a large bowl.

chopped celery, carrots, and onion added to a large bowl of cooled macaroni to make macaroni salad.

Step 2: To the cooled macaroni, add the chopped carrots, celery, bell peppers, and onion.

a small mixing bowl with greek yogurt, relish, apple cider vinegar, and sugar for mac salad dressing

Step 3: In a small mixing bowl, add the ranch dressing, apple cider vinegar, sweet relish, onion powder, sugar, salt and pepper.

cooked macaroni salad with greek yogurt dressing for a high protein macaroni salad recipe

Step 4: Mix the dressing well to combine, and pour it over the macaroni and vegetables.

a hand mixing a big bowl of macaroni salad with carrots, onion, celery, and a creamy dressing.

Step 5: Stir well to combine the dressing, making sure it coats all of the macaroni and vegetables.

a bowl of vegetable macaroni salad with creamy dressing topped with fresh parsley and herbs to taste

Step 6: Taste, and adjust seasoning as needed, adding more salt or pepper if desired. Stir in the fresh parsley and chill before serving.

Make It Ahead!

This creamy ranch macaroni salad is great to make ahead for a BBQ, party, or potluck. Make it the day before, cover and let it rest overnight, and it’s ready to go the following day!

Like traditional pasta salad or coleslaw, this macaroni salad tastes better if made a day or two before.

Recipe FAQs

What’s in ranch macaroni salad?

This salad has all the classic elements of macaroni salad: pasta, vegetables, and a tangy creamy dressing. However the dressing is made with ranch dressing instead of mayo which is traditional in mac salads.

How to store leftover macaroni salad?

If you have leftover mac salad, store it in an airtight container. Refrigerate and enjoy the salad within 4 days. Give it a stir before serving.

Can I use store-bought ranch dressing?

Absolutely, store-bought ranch makes a great dressing for this macaroni salad recipe. You can make your own if desired, or simply use a store bought bottled dressing too.

Inexpensive Party Side Dishes

I love how cost-effective this ranch macaroni salad is to make! This recipe uses many pantry and refrigerator staple ingredients. From ranch dressing to dried pasta, the base of this dish is super budget-friendly.

Keeping a well-stocked pantry makes it easy to come up with delicious and tasty meals using a few staples you can rotate.

mayo free macaroni salad with ranch dressing and vinegar

Dietary Modifications

To make gluten free, use gluten free macaroni pasta noodles or any bottled ingredients (like ranch, relish, mayo, etc.)
To make this refined sugar free, just substitute a natural sweetener for the sugar in this recipe, and make sure there is no added sugar in the relish.

More Cookout Pasta Salads

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If you made this recipe, please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you!

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