Dairy Free Macaroni Salad Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I may earn from qualifying purchases, at no additional cost to you.

Jump to Recipe

This dairy free macaroni salad recipe is a creamy delicious side dish to serve at a BBQ, cookout, or potluck. Classic deli-style flavor with lots of added vegetables for a bright and fresh crunch in each bite.

No dairy needed for this simple mac salad. It’s great to make ahead for your next gathering. It’s a crowd-pleaser, and no one will even know it’s dairy free!

Want more dairy-free pasta salad ideas? Try our orange sesame noodle salad, vegan pasta salad with mayo, and our favorite spicy soba noodle salad!

dairy free macaroni salad recipe no milk or cream vegan gluten free macaroni salad recipes plant based creamy pasta salad

Table of Contents

The Midwesterner in me loves macaroni salad! I’ve made tons of versions of it, and this non dairy macaroni salad recipe is one of the best yet. It tastes exactly like the kind you’d get from the grocery deli, but much more cost effective (and plant-based/dairy-free)!

Dairy Free macaroni salad is so yummy served with anything coming off the grill. Its awesome with veggie burgers, hot dogs, fresh grilled corn, or any salad. This deli-style salad is actually loaded with tons of vegetables in it, so it has a nice refreshing crunch in eat bite.

This Dairy Free Macaroni Salad Recipe Is:

Creamy
Tangy
Savory
Loaded with Vegetables
Versatile: you can use any vegetables you have on hand, or swap in your favorites.
Vegan, Dairy Free & Egg Free – and you can make this gluten free too!

Ingredients You’ll Need

dairy free mac salad ingredients like pasta, carrots, celery, relish, and bell pepper

Onion, Celery, Carrots, Bell Peppers
Macaroni Noodles
Vegan Mayonnaise: I like to use a vegan/dairy free mayo to keep this recipe plant-based, but you can use whatever mayo that you would normally use in recipes. If you don’t normally like mayo, try my dairy free mayo recipe. It’s creamy but still plant based.
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.
Yellow Mustard – while I normally like cooking with whole grain or Dijon mustard, sometimes a good classic yellow mustard is exactly what you need!
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!

Additions and Substitutions

You can use any dairy-free mayo you prefer. I used a vegan version, but you could even choose to use a homemade mayo (with eggs/vinegar) as well.
Add your favorite vegetables into this dish – diced cucumber, tomatoes, or olives would be a great addition.
You can use a different pasta other than macaroni. Use other small-shaped pasta like ditalini, orzo, or small shell pasta. A medium pasta like tri-colored rotini, penne, or bowties would also be a great option.

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, 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 dairy-free mayo, apple cider vinegar, sweet relish, mustard, 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 Ahead Option

This creamy dairy-free 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 a lot of pasta salads or coleslaw, it actually tastes better if made a day or two before. Just be sure to stir well before serving.

Recipe FAQs

How do I make macaroni salad dairy-free?

While most of the ingredients of your macaroni salad will have naturally dairy-free ingredients (pasta, vegetables, herbs) you’ll want to have a dairy-free dressing made with a vegan/plant-based dressing. This recipe has a thick and creamy dairy-free dressing made from plant-based mayo and NO added dairy!

How to store leftovers?

If you have leftover macaroni salad, you can store it in an airtight container (or a bowl with plastic wrap) and refrigerate. Enjoy within 3 days of making, and make sure to stir the pasta well before serving.

non dairy macaroni salad dairy free mac salad in a bowl with fresh vegetables

Dietary Modifications

This recipe is vegan, dairy free, & egg free – and contains no meat in the macaroni salad.
To make gluten free, use gluten free macaroni pasta noodles or any bottled ingredients (like 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 Dairy Free Side Dishes

Let’s connect on social!

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!

This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn from qualifying purchases from affiliate programs, at no additional cost to you. Please read our privacy policy for more information.

This was a fabulous salad. It had all the ingredients I had on hand and my family raves about its great flavor. It was a hit