Hawaiian Macaroni Salad Recipe with Potatoes (2024)

Hawaiian Style Potato Macaroni Salad– A Hawaiian plate lunch special! Creamymacaroni saladwith tender chunks of potato, sweet peas, and carrots mixed in.

Easy Macaroni Salad Recipe

Creamy comfortingHawaiian Style Potato Macaroni Salad is the perfect side dish to add a littlealohato your table!

One thing I always look forward to when wevacation in Hawaiiis the potato salad.

Yes, I love the fresh fish andpoke, the towering shaved ice, and thefruit smoothies. Yet it’s the hearty comfort foods you find on a traditional Hawaiian plate lunch that really get me excited.

I think it’s because some of these dishes are so unexpected in a tropical environment… Like Hawaiian Style Potato Macaroni Salad.

Combining Dishes in the Hawaiian Style

At Hawaiian delis, you will find potato salad and you will find macaroni salad. Yet most commonly, you find a potato-macaroni combo salad with all the best attributes of both!

With Hawaiian Macaroni Salad you get tender bits of potato, so soft they break down into the dressing. Then you get firm, yet silky, macaroni pasta holding little pockets of dressing in each tube.

Hawaiian Mac Salad Ingredients

For classic Hawaiian mac salad, here’s what you will need:

• Russet Potatoes–Peeled and chopped into bite-sized pieces.
• Dried Elbow Macaroni Noodles–Or your favorite small pasta for pasta salads.
• Shredded Onion –Shaved to add zesty flavor, without a firm texture.
• Shredded Carrot–Shredded carrots add texture and a touch of sweetness to the flavor profile.
• Frozen Peas –A special ingredient for this Hawaiian dish, adds color and sweetness.
• Chopped Scallions–Brings in a pop of color and more perky flavor, or green onions.
• Mayonnaise–This is what binds the whole dish together. You can use full-fat or low-fat mayo in this recipe.
• Sweet Pickle Relish–Adds an additional touch of sweetness to this savory dish.
• Apple Cider Vinegar–To balance the heavy and sweet components with a bit of acidity.
• Yellow Mustard–This provides color and depth to the flavor profile.
• Ground Allspice–Adds a touch of exotic flavors.
• Salt and Black Pepper –Always.

The surprise ingredients you don’t often find in either potato salad or pasta salad recipes are peas and carrots!

The sweetness of the peas and carrots, along with a touch of allspice, brings all the ingredients together into a salty-sweet side dish that makes you want to pull up a bowl and face plant into this Hawaiian mac salad!

How To Make Potato Salad

Making Hawaiian Style Potato Macaroni Salad is no more difficult than making regular potato salad.

1. Cut the potatoes into 1-inch cubes and place them in a large stock pot. Fill the pot with cold water until it is one inch over the top of the potatoes. Set the pot over high heat and bring to a boil. Once boiling, add 1 tablespoon salt. Then set the timer and cook the potatoes for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, stir in the macaroni noodles and continue boiling for 6-8 minutes, until the pasta is al dente.
2. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl mix the mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish including juices, apple cider vinegar, mustard, allspice, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste. Stir until smooth. Then use a grater to shred the onions and carrots.
3. Drain the potatoes and macaroni in a colander and place in a large salad bowl. Add in the onion, carrots, peas, and scallions. Pour the dressing over the top and mix until well combined.
4. Cover the potato macaroni salad and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. If you have time to make it ahead, it tastes even better on day two! Keep refrigerated in an airtight container for up to one week.

If you love making potato salad or macaroni salad for spring picnics and backyard parties, give this Hawaiian Style Macaroni Salad a try.

It has all the appeal of classic southern sides, with a touch of Hawaiian charm!

Get the Complete (Printable) Hawaiian Macaroni Salad Recipe Below. Enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does potato salad keep?

This recipe can last in an airtight container in the fridge for aboutfour to five days. Packed tightly in a very well-sealed container, it could even last up to a week. This is also a dish that you can make the day before a party or an event, to take with you the next day.

How do you know when potato salad goes bad?

Bacteria can grow pretty rapidly when salads like this are left out. So if the dish has been sitting out at room temperature for longer than 4 hours, I would be safe and discard it. Otherwise, you might risk getting food poisoning.

It’s best to set out smaller portions, leaving the main container in the refrigerator. Then refill the serving bowl as needed.

Why is my macaroni potato salad watery?

Both potato salad and macaroni salads tighten as they sit. If you find your salad is watery, one of the issues could be the type of potato you used. (Pick a starchy potato for this recipe, like Russets.) After draining the potatoes, if they still seem watery, place the waterless potatoes back on the stove for a few minutes to steam away any excess moisture.

Why allspice, and can you really taste it in the finished product?

Allspice adds a touch of exotic flavor. It is an ingredient often used in Polynesian, Caribbean, and other tropical cuisines. If you are nervous about the flavor, you could add half the allspice, then add more later if you think it needs more.

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Check the printable recipe card below for the nutrition information including calories, carbohydrates, protein, cholesterol, sodium, potassium, fiber, vitamin, and calcium percentages.