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    Vegan Macaroni Salad

    August 22, 2018 By Rene 8 Comments

    This Vegan Macaroni Salad is a lighter, vegan-ized version of a classic BBQ staple. This is a total crowd pleaser. 

    Jump to Recipe
    This Vegan Macaroni Salad is a lighter, vegan-ized version of a classic BBQ staple. This is a total crowd pleaser | ThisSavoryVegan.com #thissavoryvegan #bbq #sidedish

    Was anyone else totally grossed out by mayo when they were a kid? You couldn't get me to eat anything with mayo on it. If it even touched my sandwich, I wasn't eating it. Funny story though, I could eat ranch all day every day. Makes total sense, I know.

    It wasn't until I got a little older that I realized a little mayo can add some nice flavor to certain meals. And lucky for us vegans, there are so many vegan mayo options these days. From Veganaise, to Just Mayo to Trader Joe's spread, you will probably be able to find at least one version of vegan mayo at your local grocery store.

    This Vegan Macaroni Salad is a lighter, vegan-ized version of a classic BBQ staple. This is a total crowd pleaser | ThisSavoryVegan.com #thissavoryvegan #bbq #sidedish

    How to make Vegan Macaroni Salad

    A classic summer staple that usually calls for A LOT of mayo is macaroni salad. And while the flavor of macaroni salad is tasty, I don't think you need ALL that mayo (vegan or otherwise).

    You can still achieve a really great flavor and get all of your macaroni coated without going overboard with the vegan mayo.

    Ok, now that you've heard my whole rant on mayo, let's talk about the rest of this salad.

    This Vegan Macaroni Salad is a lighter, vegan-ized version of a classic BBQ staple. This is a total crowd pleaser | ThisSavoryVegan.com #thissavoryvegan #bbq #sidedish
    This Vegan Macaroni Salad is a lighter, vegan-ized version of a classic BBQ staple. This is a total crowd pleaser | ThisSavoryVegan.com #thissavoryvegan #bbq #sidedish

    How to serve Vegan Macaroni Salad

    I like to keep my veggies simple. Some bell pepper, red onion and celery are all you really need. I've seen other recipes that call for a bunch of extra stuff. But I like keeping it minimal. The flavor comes from the dressing...the veggies are just there for some crunch.

    Once you have your dressing made, veggies chopped and macaroni cooked, you're literally going to combine everything in a bowl and let it chill for an hour. This will give everything time to marinate and develop a really great flavor.

    I swear no one will ever know this is vegan. Perfect for BBQs and parties.

    NOTE: If you are someone who likes a heavily dressed macaroni salad, just double the dressing recipe. It's all about personal taste!

    Need more recipe inspo? Check these out:

    • Best Vegan White Mac and Cheese
    • Vegan Roasted Cauliflower BBQ Pizza
    • BBQ Tempeh Tacos with Vegan Ranch
    • No Mayo Vegan Potato Salad
    • Vegan Pesto Mayo
    This Vegan Macaroni Salad is a lighter, vegan-ized version of a classic BBQ staple. This is a total crowd pleaser | ThisSavoryVegan.com #thissavoryvegan #bbq #sidedish
    Print Pin
    5 from 5 votes

    Vegan Macaroni Salad

    This Vegan Macaroni Salad is a lighter, vegan-ized version of a classic BBQ staple. This is a total crowd pleaser. 
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Keyword bbq sides, pasta, pasta salad, salad, summer
    Prep Time 20 minutes
    Cook Time 10 minutes
    Resting Time 1 hour
    Total Time 30 minutes
    Servings 8
    Calories 297kcal

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups macaroni dry
    • 1 cup vegan mayo
    • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
    • 1-2 tablespoon pickle juice
    • 1 tablespoon spicy mustard
    • 1 tablespoon agave
    • red pepper flakes to taste
    • garlic salt to taste
    • pepper to taste
    • 1 bell pepper chopped
    • 2 stalks celery chopped
    • ½ red onion chopped
    • fresh parsley, red pepper flakes, pepper optional toppings

    Instructions

    • Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook macaroni according to package instructions. Drain and rinse with cold water. 
    • While macaroni is cooking, prepare dressing. Combine mayo, vinegar, pickle juice, spicy mustard, agave, red pepper flakes, garlic salt and pepper in a bowl. Stir to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning.
    • Add macaroni, dressing and chopped veggies to a large bowl. Toss to combine and place in the fridge for an hour to let the flavors marinate. 
    • Serve with chopped parsley, pepper and/or red pepper flakes. 

    Notes

    *NOTE: If you are someone who likes a heavily dressed macaroni salad, just double the dressing recipe. It's all about personal taste!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 297kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 220mg | Potassium: 130mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Iron: 1mg

    This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on one and make a purchase I will receive a small percentage of the sale. Please know I would never link a product unless I have personally used it and loved it!

    If you make this recipe be sure to snap a photo + post it + and tag #thissavoryvegan and  @thissavoryvegan!

    This Vegan Macaroni Salad is a lighter, vegan-ized version of a classic BBQ staple. This is a total crowd pleaser | ThisSavoryVegan.com #thissavoryvegan #bbq #sidedish
    « Vegan White Bean Pesto Pitas
    Vegan Summer Squash Rigatoni »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Courtney R

      July 01, 2020 at 2:00 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious! Great dressing!

      Reply
      • Rene

        July 07, 2020 at 3:31 pm

        So glad you liked it!

        Reply
    2. Rebecca

      May 31, 2019 at 8:39 pm

      I have a family member that is allergic to celery. Any ideas for a replacement?

      Reply
      • Rene

        June 02, 2019 at 2:35 pm

        Fennel might be a good swap!

        Reply
    3. Pat

      May 27, 2019 at 7:06 pm

      5 stars
      I made this exactly, adding some
      sliced radishes. I served it with sesame
      seed-coated potato slices and kidney
      bean salad. This Mac made the meal!!

      Reply
    4. marti

      March 14, 2019 at 2:16 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe is so good!! I added chopped dinosaur kale from my garden....so delicious.

      Reply
    5. christie provost

      January 06, 2019 at 11:48 am

      5 stars
      My son has been asking for vegan macaroni salad for months. Your recipe was exactly what he wanted. We made it for New Year's Eve for a family dinner and it was a big hit. So simple and delicious, just the right amount of crunch. Thank you!

      Reply

    Trackbacks

    1. 7 Easy Vegan Meals (Pinterest Tested/Inspired) – Mojave Desert Mama says:
      November 16, 2018 at 6:22 am

      […] Macaroni Salad […]

      Reply

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    I’m Rene! So-cal native, dog mom and lover of all things spicy. Learn more.

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