Authentic Hawaiian Style Pasta Salad Recipe

_{Hawaiian Style Pasta Salad is my favorite cold pasta salad recipe! Picture yourself on a tropical vacation when you take a heaping serving of this pasta salad. Go ahead and give this Hawaiian Pasta Salad a try.} 

Authentic Hawaiian Style Pasta Salad Recipe

Prep Time: 30 Minutes Cook Time: 10 Minutes Total Time: 40 Minutes Servings: 8 Servings

Hawaiian Style Pasta Salad is my favorite cold pasta salad recipe!  Picture yourself on a tropical vacation when you take a heaping serving of this Homemade pasta salad. This is just a basic recipe.

You can add in a few extras, such as chopped ham or chopped pineapple. I personally like it just as is, but you can get creative. All you need is a great base or starting point. I am sure you will enjoy it as much as I do with or without all the add-ins.

The key to Hawaiian Style Macaroni Salad is in the dressing. 

The dressing is mayonnaise-based, ALWAYS using my personal favorite, Hellmann’s mayonnaise, or my delicious homemade mayo recipe (Do NOT Substitute for Miracle Whip, much too sweet) thinned with milk, soured with a bit of cider vinegar, and sweetened with brown sugar. If you honestly use any other dressing, it just will not taste the same.

I like to say that this recipe is a meal in itself or you can have it as a side. I like to have it at family get-togethers, lunch…dinner. You get my point. It is just super tasty. This salad is ridiculously simple. It is a no-frills pasta salad, yet so creamy and flavorful.

Another pasta salad that I love for a cookout is Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad. or our Best Broccoli Salad with Bacon Recipe. Either of these salads is just too good.

Let’s Get Cookin’

Please note that the full printable recipe and list of ingredients are below. Authentic Hawaiian Pasta Salad is ridiculously simple. It is a no-frills mac salad yet; it is so creamy and flavorful. I had a friend in Hawaii who was also a caterer there.

Ingredients Needed for this pasta salad

• 1 pound elbow macaroni
• ½ cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 cups mayonnaise, divided
• 2 cups whole milk, divided
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
• 1 bunch of scallions, sliced thin (about 5-7 scallions)
• 1 ½ cups shredded carrot
• 1 ½ cups minced celery
• 1 medium onion (grated fine)

How to Make Hawaiian Pasta Salad

Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add macaroni and cook until very soft (10-12 minutes). Drain, return to the cooking pot immediately, and toss with apple cider vinegar.

 Allow the macaroni noodles to cool for 10 minutes.

Making the dressing

In a large bowl, whisk together 1 cup of the mayonnaise, 1 ½ cups of the whole milk, the granulated sugar, salt, and pepper. Once the macaroni has cooled for 10 minutes, toss it with the mixed sauce and let it cool to room temperature.

The key difference between Hawaiian Style Macaroni Salad and our typical macaroni salad. Both styles of macaroni salad have a mayonnaise-based dressing. However, in Hawaiian Macaroni Pasta Salad, the mayo is often thinned with milk.

Once cool, fold in the scallion, carrot, onion, and celery. Don’t chop or slice the onion. Grate it. It should be almost liquid inconsistency. The grated onion will allow it to mix better with the dressing instead of being left in chunks throughout your salad.

Now you will want to whisk together the remaining 1 cup mayonnaise and ½ cup whole milk and pour over the macaroni salad. Then toss well to coat. Add additional salt and pepper to taste.

Hawaiian Pasta Salad Optional Add-Ins

• 2 Cups Ham, Chopped
• 1-20 Ounce Can of Pineapple Chunks, Drained

Keep in mind that once you add any of the optional ingredients above, the salad no longer becomes authentic. That is okay, because it is the taste that matters. If you prefer to add extras; I say, “Go for it!”

Next, chill in the refrigerator for 2 – 4 hours until cold. If you have the time, letting the whole dish chill overnight is even better. This is my preferred method. Fix it and forget it.

Allowing it to sit overnight in the fridge gives the dressing time to soak into the pasta. Before serving, I will usually add a little additional mayonnaise and milk. Give this recipe a try. You won’t be disappointed.

Authentic Hawaiian Style Pasta Salad Recipe

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Eating out is easy, and it usually tastes delicious, but it’s expensive. Making this meal at home will save you money. Add this recipe to your weekly meal plan.