Macaroni Pasta Salad with Ketchup Dressing
This cold macaroni pasta salad with crunchy veggies and a sweet homemade ketchup dressing is the perfect side for barbecues, potlucks, and family dinners. If you love a classic macaroni salad but want to try something a little different, this ketchup pasta salad is going to surprise you in the very best way!
Summertime and macaroni salad just seem to go together, don’t you think? At some table around the world ~ at this very moment ~ there is most likely a family dinner, potluck, or picnic at the beach where pasta salad is making an appearance.
My mom used to make a yummy version with a creamy dressing, ham cubes, and cheese. It was scrumptious. But a few years ago, a friend introduced us to a whole new twist on macaroni salad. We’re hooked.
Unlike most traditional macaroni pasta salads with mayonnaise dressing, this one is slightly unusual with a red dressing made with ketchup. I know you may be skeptical, but trust me – it’s delicious!
Ingredients you’ll Need for this Macaroni Pasta Salad with Sweet Ketchup Dressing
Refer to the printable recipe card below for exact measurements.
- Small pasta (macaroni, small shells, or rotini all work!)
- Tomato
- Onion
- Yellow pepper
- Red pepper
- English cucumber
For the ketchup dressing:
- Sugar
- Vegetable oil
- Ketchup
- Vinegar
- Salt & pepper
- Paprika
Macaroni Salad
A cold macaroni pasta salad loaded with crunchy veggies and covered in a sweet, tangy ketchup dressing — the perfect side for barbecues, potlucks, and every summer get-together.
Ingredients
- 4-6 cups cooked & cooled macaroni
- 1 tomato, diced
- 1 onion, diced finely
- 1 yellow pepper, diced
- 1/2 red pepper, diced
- 1/4 english cucumber, diced
- DRESSING:
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1/3 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup vinegar
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. pepper
- 1 tsp. paprika
Instructions
- Chop all the veggies and stir into the cooled, cooked pasta.
- Mix up the ketchup dressing by whisking all the ingredients together.
- Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and stir until combined.
- Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use.
Here’s How to Make This Ketchup Pasta Salad
- First things first — get your pasta boiling! Cook it according to the package directions, just until al dente. The second it’s done, drain it and run cold water over the top right away. This stops the cooking and cools everything down quickly, which is key for a good pasta salad texture.
- While that pasta is cooling, this is the perfect time to chop up your veggies. Dice the tomato, onion, and peppers all nice and small — you want every bite to have a little bit of everything!
- Once your pasta has cooled completely, toss it into a big mixing bowl with all those colorful veggies.
- Now for the fun part — the dressing! In a separate bowl or measuring cup, whisk together the ketchup, oil, vinegar, sugar, and seasonings until it’s smooth and well combined. I promise, it smells (and tastes!) better than it sounds.
- Pour that dressing right over your pasta and veggies, and stir until everything is coated. Pop it in the fridge, covered, until you’re ready to serve — and sweet friend, if you can let it sit for even an hour, the flavors really do get better!
What to serve macaroni pasta salad with.
Like the Greek Salad recipe I shared a few weeks ago, this salad compliments anything done on the barbecue. Diced ham or grilled chicken can be added to it the next day to make a filling lunch.
It is also a lovely side to sandwiches like tuna melt bunsteads, crock pot pulled pork sandwiches, sloppy joes, and homemade turkey burgers. You can even serve cold pasta salad with this super popular meatloaf recipe.
FAQs About Macaroni Pasta Salad with Ketchup Dressing
Other Salad Recipes:
Looking for more salad recipes? Here are some great options:
- Creamy old fashioned potato salad
- Grilled Chicken Salad with Red Chili Peanut Sauce
- Strawberry spinach salad with creamy poppyseed dressing
- 12 tasty summer salads
- Black Bean Salad
- Orange Fluff Salad with marshmallows is a quick and classic salad that’s so refreshing and fun.
Cold pasta salads are always a great choice because they can be prepared ahead of time. Thanks for sharing!
Sounds like a great recipe. I live in a Seniors Manor and I may give this recipe to the the cook and give a hint that it sounds like a very delicious recipe. Thanks for sharing.