Classic Macaroni Salad Recipe – DF/GF

Only seven ingredients in this macaroni salad recipe! It’s simple, tasty and the perfect addition to any summertime barbeque. Plus, it’s allergy-friendly!

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Have you ever thought about what you associate with seasons? By the time summer rolls around here in Canada, all I can think about is watermelon (like these slushies), dirty little footprints (from playing out in the grass!) and barbeque side dishes like this macaroni salad recipe.

The downside of summertime for myself is that I’m dairy-free now (read more about my tips to go dairy-free!).

This isn’t by choice or for health or ethical reasons, it’s because I get stabbing pains when I ingest dairy. Trust me, I was (read: still am) not impressed upon learning this! I mean, I didn’t consume a lot of dairy prior to figuring it out but I still liked a cheese omelet or some feta in my salad every so often! Which makes barbeque season somewhat difficult now!

The truth is, most party salads are loaded with unhealthy ingredients. Miracle whip, candied nuts, lots of dried fruit and those weird crispy things (wonton strips maybe?) that people put for crunch. Or, they’re some sort of marshmallow salad which truly just freaks the sh*t out of me.

Regardless, dairy-free is pretty much on NO ONE’S radar.

You can’t have cheese?

What about feta? *sigh*

And so, I started bringing my own salads with me (along with all my other crap, like juice box alternatives, snacks for the girls, etc). problem solved.

And then one day, I just freaking wanted macaroni salad.

I LOVE macaroni salad. It’s one of the items I don’t make often because I will eat the whole batch… seriously, all to myself.

So my trials began and I am so happy to finally have a macaroni salad recipe that’s simple to make, curbs the craving and contains some healthy ingredients!

Healthy Mayonnaise

Most mayonnaises don’t typically contain dairy. They do, however, contain canola oil which is inflammatory to our bodies and cannot be broken down.

While this mayonnaise uses a refined version of avocado oil, I still feel comfortable using it.

You can grab this mayonnaise off of amazon but the perk.. Costco actually carries it too! And while it’s not something I use often, I can’t deny how happy I am that with the new health food Costco craze.

Gluten-Free Noodles

Another wickedly awesome Costco find these gluten-free noodles are quinoa-based! This means that not only are they perfect anyone who is celiac but they also have a bit of protein in them!

You can easily use any noodles you wish but the quinoa ones are ideal to me:

• They taste great and like “normal noodles”
• The quinoa don’t get all mushy
• These noodles provide a protein source to the pasta salad

Why Pickles?

It wasn’t until my twenties that I realized many people do not put pickles in a pasta salad. But my mom always did.

And so this macaroni salad recipe has pickles. This makes it slightly addictive, refreshing and a great pair with a burger 😉

A Macaroni Salad Recipe For Everyone

This macaroni salad recipe is beautifully allergy-friendly. It’s easy to make, requires a bit of chilling in the fridge and I’m happy to say that even normal people (like my hubby who has the exact opposite nutritional habits as me) loved it and went back for seconds.

Bring this healthy salad to a party and take a breath knowing there will at least be something that you can eat (if you’re dairy-free that is). Or, bring it to a party to take pity on someone you know who has allergies.

Or hoard it all to yourself if you’re so inclined. I don’t care – though warning, it makes like nine cups which is kind of a lot to eat yourself. I ate about five of the cups and most definitely didn’t want pasta salad for the rest of the summer.

You’ve been warned.

This macaroni pasta salad is perfect for:

• Gatherings (baby showers, bridal showers etc)
• Barbeque parties
• A side dish for dinner

Ingredients In The Macaroni Salad

• 3 cups quinoa pasta
• 4 stalks celery diced
• 1 apple, diced,
• 6 pickles sliced in half and diced
• 1 red pepper diced
• ½ cup + 2tbs avocado oil, dairy-free mayo
• 3 tablespoons spicy brown mustard

Don’t forget to pin this tasty, allergy-friendly, macaroni salad recipe!

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Classic Macaroni Salad- DF & GF

A summertime staple this dairy-free macaroni salad is delicious and uses real food ingredients, along with plant based protein to keep you fueled.

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 0 minutes

Total Time 6 hours 20 minutes

Servings 9 cups

Calories 258 kcal

Author Fit as a Mama Bear

Ingredients

• 3 cups quinoa pasta
• 4 stalks celery diced
• 1 apple diced,
• 6 pickles sliced in half and diced
• 1 red pepper diced
• ½ cup avocado oil dairy free mayo
• 2 tbs avocado oil
• 3 tablespoons spicy brown mustard

Instructions

1. Cook the pasta according to directions. Drain, rinse and cool in the fridge.
   
2. Add in all the diced veggies and mix.
   
3. Whisk together the mayo and mustard and mix into the pasta.
4. Mix very, very well until everything is combined.
   
5. Let set in the fridge overnight or at least 6 hours,

Nutrition Facts

Classic Macaroni Salad- DF & GF

Amount Per Serving

Calories 258 Calories from Fat 144

% Daily Value*

Fat 16g25%

Saturated Fat 2g13%

Sodium 438mg19%

Potassium 101mg3%

Carbohydrates 28g9%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 3g3%

Protein 3g6%

Vitamin A 512IU10%

Vitamin C 18mg22%

Calcium 22mg2%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Pasta salad is a summertime staple but it’s a bit of a cry worthy situation if you have a dairy allergy. This macaroni salad recipe removes all the major allergen worries though. It’s gluten-free, dairy-free delicious and the bit of pickle gives it a great (but addictive) tangy-ness. Make a huge batch and even your “I love dairy” friends will be impressed with this one!