Muy Bueno: Fiestas 
Easy Macaroni Salad with Cheese, Spam, & Dill Pickles
If you’re on the hunt for a delectable side for your next cookout, look no further than my Mom’s Dill Pickle Macaroni Salad with Cheese & Spam. With a perfect balance of al dente pasta, creamy dressing, crunchy veggies, tangy pickles, and salty meat, you shouldn’t be surprised when everyone asks for this easy macaroni salad recipe.
Want to save this recipe?
I'll email this recipe to you, so that you can come back to it later!
This special macaroni salad is loaded with tangy dill pickles, briny black olives, and zippy mustard, Mom’s mayo-based mac salad recipe is a much spunkier version of classic macaroni salad than you can normally get in the deli. Add some of her secret ingredient (SPAM!) plus two types of cheese cut into tiny cubes, and you’ve got yourself the ideal side dish for any summer gathering.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
For as long as I can remember, my Mom, Vangie, has been whipping up her own version of Southern macaroni salad for just about every summer fiesta she’s invited to, like Easter and 4th of July. This recipe for the BEST macaroni salad is so dang tasty and near-and-dear to my heart that it’s even published in my new cookbook, Muy Bueno FIESTAS.
When I was a kid I remember these huge family cookouts for the Fourth of July. We either celebrated at a park or one of my aunts would host a barbecue in their backyard. We never went to see a professional firework display — my cousins and I had our own firework display and shot off bottle rockets, popped black cats, sparked sparklers, and lit up stinky little black snakes all night long without any adult supervision. We would be entertained for hours and thankfully no one was ever hurt. Wow, how times have changed.
This macaroni salad immediately reminds me of dozens of happy memories shared with my loved ones, and I just couldn’t wait to share it with you.
If you’re still on the fence, though, this homemade macaroni salad recipe is also:
- Quick & Easy – You’ll basically be done prepping as soon as your pasta is done boiling. It’s a cinch!
- Made With Only 10 Ingredients – And I’d bet you probably have at least half of what you need already.
- Perfect For Sharing – I call this the best macaroni salad recipe because it truly is superlative. No joke — people go nuts for this stuff. Make a batch for your next get-together and witness the magic!
- Meal Prep-Friendly – Don’t you just love dishes that you can tuck away in the fridge for a few days? Me TOO. This homemade pasta salad with mayo dressing keeps beautifully for up to 5 days in the fridge. That means you can either get well ahead on your party planning, or just make a delicious dish to snack on at work all week long.
- Budget-Friendly – Despite being nice and filling, this SPAM pasta salad is super inexpensive. A tin of meat and a box of pasta make up the bulk of the recipe, so you can keep your grocery spend to a minimum!
Ingredients & Substitutions
As promised, you only need 10 simple ingredients to make this dill macaroni salad with ham and cheese. Here’s what to grab:
- Elbow Macaroni – You’re welcome to swap in any short shape of pasta you prefer, but elbow macaroni is traditional for this classic pasta salad.
- Real Mayonnaise – I always reach for Best Foods mayo! Feel free to swap in your preferred mayonnaise.
- Mustard – I love the puckery tang mustard brings to this ham pasta salad. I use plain yellow mustard, but feel free to experiment with other creamy varieties like dijon or spicy brown instead.
- Celery Stalks – For that inimitable crunch. PRO TIP: You can always peel the outer edge of the celery to get rid of the strings if they bother you.
- Scallions – Make sure to keep both the white/pale green and dark green parts for the best mix of flavor and flair.
- Black Olives – I am a sucker for black olives. If they’re not your jam, feel free to omit them.
- Dill Pickles – For extra crunch and tanginess. You can also use sour pickles instead. For a spicy kick, dice up some tangy Pickled Jalapeños.
- Spam – For salty, umami goodness, plus a burst of protein. Feel free to swap in ham if you prefer.
- Muenster Cheese – Mild, creamy, and semi-firm, muenster is one of my all-time favorite cheeses. You’re welcome to swap in another mild variety of melty cheese like Enchilado or Monterey Jack.
- Colby Cheese – For extra mild and creamy vibes, plus a pop of color. Feel free to swap in mild cheddar instead.
How To Make Vangie’s Old-Fashioned Macaroni Salad
This simple macaroni salad recipe comes together in just a few easy steps:
Step 1: Cook & Cool Pasta. Boil the macaroni in lightly salted water according to package directions. Drain but do not rinse. Transfer to a large bowl. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate until cool.
Step 2: Add Dressing (mayonnaise and mustard) to the bowl with the chilled pasta and lightly combine.
Step 3: Stir in celery, scallions, black olives, pickles, spam, and cheese.
Step 4: Chill the assembled macaroni ham and cheese salad for at least 2 hours before serving.
Optional Variations
While I love this recipe for easy macaroni salad just the way it is written, I want you and your family to love it just as much. Here are a few ways to customize it to fit your needs:
- Gluten-Free – Simply swap in your favorite GF macaroni or other short noodle shape to make this dish celiac-friendly.
- Vegetarian – If you have vegetarians in the mix, omit the SPAM or use your favorite plant-based meat alternative.
Expert Tips
- Don’t over- or under-cook the pasta. You want it to be al dente, so cooked, but with a bit of a bite.
- Make sure to salt your pasta water. You only get one shot to season the actual noodles, so don’t miss it!
- Don’t rinse the pasta after draining. The leftover starch is what helps the dressing adhere to the noodles.
- If you’re serving this pasta salad at a party, consider using nesting bowls. Place the macaroni salad with cheese cubes in the smaller bowl, then fill the larger bowl about halfway with ice and enough water to barely cover the ice. Place the smaller bowl in the larger bowl, and you have a perfect serving setup to keep your macaroni salad nice and safe!
Serving Suggestions
This macaroni Spam salad is the perfect accompaniment to pretty much any of your favorite summer mains and sides. I like to serve it with:
- Beer Brats
- Easy Grilled Pork Tacos al Pastor
- Veggie Torta with Grilled Portobello Mushrooms
- Grilled Vegetable Tacos with Avocado Pesto Guacamole
- Chipotle Chicken Salad
- Grilled Skirt Steak with Chimichurri Sauce
If you’re looking for more sides to serve with it, consider:
- Waldorf Salad with Yogurt (No Mayo!)
- Salad with Grilled Corn, Avocado, and Stone Fruit
- Mexican Street Corn (Elote)
- Creamy Zucchini, Corn, and Poblano Rajas
No matter what you choose to share the plate with your macaroni salad with pickles and SPAM, chances are, it’s gonna be delicious!
Frequently Asked Questions
If stored properly in an airtight container in the fridge, this creamy macaroni salad recipe should last for 3-5 days.
Technically speaking, you *can* freeze this macaroni salad with cheese and ham for up to 2 weeks. However, that’s not to say you *should.* Defrosted mac salad that has been previously frozen won’t be as tasty as when you originally made it.
Only about 20 minutes of prep work, and, at the time I’m writing this (June 2023), I was able to make a 12-serving batch for just shy of $8. Not too shabby!
More Summer Cookout Side Dish Recipes
- Ensalada de Coditos (Macaroni Salad)
- Potato Salad
- Slow Cooker Borracho Beans
- Red, White and Blue Fruit and Cheese Board
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating on this recipe below and leave a comment, take a photo and tag me on Instagram with #muybuenocooking.
Vangie’s Famous Macaroni Salad
Ingredients
- 16 ounces dry elbow macaroni
- salt
- 1 ½ cups light mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup mustard
- 3 celery stalks, thinly sliced
- 3 scallions, sliced (white and dark green parts)
- 1/2 cup black olives, chopped
- ½ cup chopped dill or sour pickles
- 6 ounces Spam, or ham, cut into 1/4-inch dice
- 4 ounces Muenster cheese, cubed
- 8 ounces Colby cheese, cubed
Want to save this recipe?
I’ll email this recipe to you, so that you can come back to it later!
Instructions
- Cook the macaroni in lightly salted water according to package directions. Drain but do not rinse. Transfer to a large bowl. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate until cool.
- Add mayonnaise and mustard and lightly combine.
- Stir in celery, scallions, black olives, pickles, spam, and cheese.
- Chill for at least 2 hours before serving.
Notes
- This creamy Macaroni salad will stay good refrigerated for 3 to 5 days. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, or store in an airtight container to maximize freshness.
- Gluten-Free – Simply swap in your favorite GF macaroni or other short noodle shape to make this dish celiac-friendly.
- Vegetarian – If you have vegetarians in the mix, omit the SPAM or use your favorite plant-based meat alternative.
- Don’t over- or under-cook the pasta. You want it to be al dente, so cooked, but with a bit of a bite.
- Make sure to salt your pasta water. You only get one shot to season the actual noodles, so don’t miss it!
- Don’t rinse the pasta after draining. The leftover starch is what helps the dressing adhere to the noodles.
- If you’re serving this pasta salad at a party, consider using nesting bowls. Place the macaroni salad with cheese cubes in the smaller bowl, then fill the larger bowl about halfway with ice and enough water to barely cover the ice. Place the smaller bowl in the larger bowl, and you have a perfect serving setup to keep your macaroni salad nice and safe!
Originally published: July 2013. This recipe is also published in Muy Bueno Fiestas.
Photography: Jenna Sparks
21 Comments on “Easy Macaroni Salad with Cheese, Spam, & Dill Pickles”
I made my salad the same as you .I also have added diced pimentos, I have substitute the spam with canned drained chicken or canned drained ham as well.
This is an excellent recipe for macaroni salad! The spam and celery are a nice touch and makes it different from the rest.
Give it a little kick, try it with Jalapeno or Black Pepper Spam.
Yumm this sounds so good! And I like the different Mac Salad from the usual egg,celery and olives. I can’t wait to try it with the spam/ham it sounds like it may be a winner for my casa =)
Hi!
What is muenster cheese? Will I be able to find it at a regular supermarket? Thanks!
Hi Azalia,
Yes, muenster cheese is readily available and you can also replace with Monterey Jack.
This is perfect timing as we are hosting a family bbq this coming weekend. I definitely will use some smoked or lean ham. Thanks for the delicious recipe
So excited you will be giving this recipe a try. Keep us posted 😉
I have to try that macaroni salad. It looks so good! What a neat ingredient to add Spam.
Thank you Lori! The Spam adds a great flavor, but tastes just as yummy with ham 😉
I am remembering all your family bbq’s and this sounds so good. I’m making potato salad today and referencing the recipe in the cookbook since its been awhile. This pasta salad is next.. making it for the 4th.
Awww I miss you amiga! You are like a cuzin/hermana. Love ya!
Please take pictures of your salads and post them on the Muy Bueno facebook page so I can share. That way I feel like we are eating and celebrating together.
Hugs to all!
Nice recipe. Thanks and have a great 4th.
ok, one more question. Sweet or dill pickles?
Lea Ann,
Dill or sour pickles. Keep me posted if you give it a try. I just made it last weekend and a guest said its the BEST pasta salad he has ever had 😉
Yay, sounds great.
Same here, me and my cousins would throw firecrackers, burn sparklers for hours. Unsupervised. Love this unique macaroni salad. I’ll have to give it a try. Is there no recipe? Just add ingredients to taste?
Silly me! Recipe is now showing. Thanks for catching that Lea Ann.
Have a fun and safe 4th of July!
A scrumptious salad!
Cheers,
Rosa
This recipe sounds SO good. Will have to make it for the next family gathering.
Have you always made macaroni salad with Spam Erika? How did you guess? Have a happy Fourth of July cuzin!! I miss all the familia, memories, y comida too! Let’s continue the tradition for our children!