If you are looking for the perfect summer side dish, this BBQ macaroni salad recipe is to die for. It is great for cookouts and get-togethers this summer with the wonderful BBQ flavors.
You can make a family dinner into a favorite family dinner with this BBQ macaroni salad recipe. It has a lot of flavor mixed with a deliciously creamy base and a little added crunch. It is the best macaroni salad recipe in my opinion.
One of my favorite things about this BBQ side dish recipe is that you can make it your own. Add more or less of one of the carrots, cucumbers, or green onion. Or you can even omit it if you know you’ll like it better without it.
Changing the recipe to suit your family will not mess it up, just makes it even tastier. If you are making this for a group you know that likes things spicy, you can even ramp up the spice a little bit by adding more chili powder or hot sauce.
Don’t stop with just this amazing macaroni salad, make sure you take a look at our Best Creamy Pasta Salad Recipe, Cheesy Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad Recipe, and Pizza Pasta Salad Recipe for great summer side dishes.
Related Recipe: Try our kids’ favorite dinner! The BEST Cheeseburger Macaroni Recipe HERE!
Ingredients Needed For Our BBQ Macaroni Salad Recipe:
- Elbow Macaroni
- Mayonnaise
- BBQ Sauce
- Garlic powder
- Chili powder
- Hot sauce
- Apple cider vinegar
- Finely chopped red bell pepper
- Finely chopped celery
- Cubed cucumber
- Shredded carrots
- Chopped green onion
- Chopped purple onion
- Colby jack cheese
How To Make Our BBQ Macaroni Salad Recipe:
Start by cutting up the red bell pepper, celery stalk, cucumbers, green onion, purple onion, and colby jack cheese.
Once that is done, set them aside until later.
Then, cook the macaroni noodles according to the directions on the packaging.
After the noodles are done cooking, drain the water with a colander and then rinse the noodles with cold water and let them drain again.
NOTE: By washing the noodles in cold water, this will stop the cooking process and keep the noodles the consistency you want for macaroni salad.
When you are done cooking the noodles, use a large mixing bowl and combine the mayo, BBQ sauce, garlic powder, chili powder, hot sauce, and apple cider vinegar in the bowl.
Mix it all together well to form the creamy base for the salad.
Next, add in the cool and rinsed noodles, and all of the chopped vegetables and cheese.
Give it a good mix until all of the pasta is coated in the sauce.
Now, just store the salad in the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving for the best results.
Related Recipe: Try another favorite BBQ Side, our Easy Homemade Cornbread!
To Make The Best Macaroni Salad You Will Need:
- Cutting board
- Knife
- Large mixing bowl
- Medium pot
- Wooden spoon
- Colander (THIS is a great one!)
“I have so much time!” -No mom ever
Let us give you your time back. With the Six Sisters’ Meal Plans, we do the dinner planning, grocery ordering, and then all you have to do is decide whether to pick them up or have them delivered.
What to do if You Don’t Have Any Apple Cider Vinegar
It happens often when I think I have everything I need in the house, and when I go to make the recipe I am missing one thing! Well, since apple cider vinegar isn’t used in a ton of recipes, I always just assume I have some. Ha.
But what to do if you don’t have any and you don’t want to run to the store? Take a look at the list A Couple Cooks make for the best apple cider vinegar substitutes that you can use in a pinch.
Want More Easy Dinner Ideas?
Join our email list today and we will send you a FREE ebook of our favorite dinner recipes – plus we will send you recipes each week to help make your dinner planning easier!
Join today by CLICKING HERE.
Have you checked out our YouTube channel? We show you how to make our favorite recipes right in our own kitchens!
Our latest cookbook – Six Ingredients with Six Sisters’ Stuff – is all about using a few ingredients to make a delicious dinner! With only 6 ingredients or less per recipe in this cookbook, cooking has never been easier!
Whether you are a cook just starting out or a busy parent looking to save time in the kitchen, this cookbook is for you! It’s full of entrees, side dishes, and desserts.
We are so excited to share these recipes with you. Order your copy today!
SIX INGREDIENTS with Six Sisters’ Stuff <—– Click here to order!
Take a Look at These Other Great Pasta Salad Recipes:
- Roasted Veggie Pasta Salad
- Tortellini Pasta Salad
- Italian Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe
- The BEST Homemade Pasta Salad Recipe
- Street Corn Pasta Salad
- Easy Creamy Macaroni Salad
- Tuna Macaroni Salad
Serves: 12
Barbecue Macaroni Salad Recipe
A summer barbecue isn’t complete without a macaroni salad! The salad is easy to throw together and is full of flavor! It is perfect for a party or potluck!
Prep Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins
Total Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins
PrintPin
Ingredients
- 16 ounces elbow macaroni 1 box
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup BBQ Sauce
- ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon hot sauce
- 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 red bell pepper seeded and finely chopped
- 1 celery stalk finely chopped
- ½ cup cubed cucumber
- ½ cup shredded carrots
- 2 Tablespoons green onion finely chopped
- 4 Tablespoons purple onion finely chopped
- ½ cup colby jack cheese cubed
Instructions
Cook macaroni according to package directions.
Drain the noodles, rinse in cold water and drain again.
In a large bowl, combine mayo, BBQ sauce, seasonings, hot sauce and vinegar.
Add the drained noodles and chopped veggies and cheese.
Stir to combine and refrigerate before serving.
Video
Notes
- By washing the noodles in cold water, this will stop the cooking process and keep the noodles the consistency you want for macaroni salad.
Nutrition
Calories: 235 kcal · Carbohydrates: 37 g · Protein: 7 g · Fat: 7 g · Saturated Fat: 2 g · Trans Fat: 1 g · Cholesterol: 8 mg · Sodium: 305 mg · Potassium: 183 mg · Fiber: 2 g · Sugar: 7 g · Vitamin A: 1336 IU · Vitamin C: 14 mg · Calcium: 56 mg · Iron: 1 mg
Equipment
Cutting Board
Knife
Large Mixing Bowl
Medium Pot
Wooden Spoon
colander
Recipe Details
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
(Recipe from Tasty Kitchen)
Be sure to not miss another recipe! Follow Six Sisters’ Stuff on Instagram|Facebook|Pinterest|YouTube
If you made our recipe be sure to tag us on Instagram so we can see your hard work using #sixsistersstuff.
Join The Discussion
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
-
Dana says:
OK, Ladies! This looks fantastic! I'm cleaing up my drool drips as we speak!
-
Jenny says:
Will definitely have to try for my next BBQ. Subscribed to your channel :)
-
Karissa says:
I just wanted to say real quick that I love your new site and totally love your videos!! Keep up the awesome work!!!
-
capturing joy with kristen duke says:
this looks delicious! that video pretty much rocks, too.
-
jennilyn gha reyes says:
i wud try all of recipes here :).. for sure so delicioso !!
-
Eve Bock says:
WONDERFUL!!!!My husband and I BOTH love this, going in the KEEP file, :)Thanks Ladies!!!
-
Rachel says:
I made this last night and it was so good! It is nice to have a new macaroni salad recipe! I will definitely be making this again! Thanks!
-
Jill says:
I made this Saturday. It was even better on Sunday. My husband really liked it. A definite "DO AGAIN" at our house
-
Carole says:
Lovely work! Would you be happy to link it in to the current Food on Friday which is about all things BBQ? This is the link . I do hope to see you there. Cheers
-
Barb says:
We made this for my birthday weekend and oh wow was it a hit! Because we had leftovers, we stored it in the refridgerator until the next day - it was a bit dry so we just simply added a bit more bbq sauce and it again was perfection! My son just can't get enough - it's such a great summer salad. Two thumbs up from me and my family!
-
Carole says:
thanks for bringing this over to the big BBQ. Cheers
-
isabelle says:
Excellente salade!!http://lepalaisgourmand.blogspot.ca/2013/06/salade-macaroni-bbq.html
-
Cheri says:
Made this to celebrate our 4th of July holiday. Delish!
-
Jennifer says:
I've been intrigued by this ever since I found it on Pinterest a couple weeks ago. I made it today and it's delicious. I added some leftover grilled chicken to make it a complete meal for lunch. Even without the chicken it would be a great side dish when grilling burgers.
-
Maureen Foster says:
I made this today for a work potluck and it received RAVE reviews! Thank you! :)
-
Rachel Page says:
This looks so, so good! Nothing says summer to me more like a giant bowl of good macaroni salad- it?s the best!
-
Smunkeemama says:
Some crunchy bacon bits would be divine in this!! Can’t wait to make it!!
-
Cyd says:
Oh yes! Bacon bits would be amazing! Have a great week.
About The Author:
Momma Cyd
Cyd is the mom of the six sisters and joined the team early on to help out. She shares the best of the best recipes from her kitchen.
Read More
Other Recipes You Might Enjoy
Chili Mac Skillet Recipe
30 minutes mins
Pink Sauce Chicken Pasta Bake Recipe
43 minutes mins
I made AN ENTIRE Christmas Dinner in 30 Minutes
Grilled BBQ Pork Skewers Recipe
8 hours hrs 25 minutes mins
Readers’ Favorite Recipes
Easy Baked Crack Chicken Recipe
30 minutes mins
Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars Recipe
40 minutes mins
Honey Lime Chicken Enchiladas Recipe
1 hour hr 15 minutes mins
Peaches and Cream Oatmeal Cookies Recipe
20 minutes mins
Peach Cobbler Dump Cake {4 Ingredients} Recipe
50 minutes mins
Chicken Zucchini Casserole Recipe
55 minutes mins