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This Mexican macaroni salad is a fun twist on a classic! It’s creamy, tangy, and full of flavor with crisp veggies, cheese, and a little kick from jalapeños. Perfect for BBQs, potlucks, or anytime you want an easy, delicious side.
A Side Dish You’ll Keep Coming Back To
- The Dressing is Next Level: Creamy mayo, sour cream, fresh lime juice, and jalapeño brine mix together for a tangy, zesty kick!
- Texture in Every Bite: Pasta, smoky ham, sweet corn, Monterey Jack cheese, and spicy jalapeños all in one bowl.
- Perfect for Cookouts: This pasta salad is great with burgers, hot dogs, or grilled chicken. It’s also just as good the next day!
Ingredients for This Mexican Macaroni Salad
- Cheese: I used Monterey Jack, but any semi soft cheese works well. Try pepper jack, Oaxaca, or mozzarella.
- Pasta: You can use any short pasta. Try ditalini, shells, rotini, or bowties.
- Corn: Use canned, frozen, and thawed or fresh grilled corn for extra flavor.
- Vegetarian Swap: Leave out the ham or swap it out for black beans to make this vegetarian.
- Sour Cream: Try Mexican crema or Greek yogurt in place of the sour cream.
How to Make Mexican Macaroni Salad
This macaroni salad is the perfect side dish! Just cook your pasta, chop up the mix-ins, stir together the creamy dressing, and toss it all together. Give it a little time to chill, and it’s ready to serve with the best flavor!
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook elbow macaroni until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water, then add the cooled, drained pasta to a large bowl.
- Combine: To the bowl of pasta, add diced ham, corn, shredded carrots, diced bell pepper, Monterey jack cheese, diced celery, diced red onion, and chopped pickled jalapeño.
- Make the Dressing: Mix mayonnaise, sour cream, juice from pickled jalapeños, fresh lime juice, yellow mustard, and salt and pepper to taste.
- Toss: Add the dressing to the pasta bowl and mix until evenly combined. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. Chill the Mexican macaroni salad for 30 to 60 minutes if you can, it helps the flavors come together.
Alyssa’s Recipe Tip
Quantity: This recipe makes a lot of macaroni salad. It’s great for a potluck or party. If you are not serving a crowd, you can cut the recipe in half.
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Mexican Macaroni Salad
Equipment
- Large pot for boiling pasta
- Colander for draining pasta
- Large serving bowl
- Vegetable chopper
Ingredients
- 1 pound elbow macaroni
- 1 cup diced ham
- 1 cup corn fresh, canned, or frozen and thawed
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1 cup finely diced bell pepper
- 1 cup cubed Monterey Jack cheese
- ½ cup finely diced celery
- ½ cup finely diced red onion
- ¼ cup chopped pickled jalapeno
Dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons juice from pickled jalapeños
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook 1 pound elbow macaroni until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water. Add the cooled, drained pasta to a large bowl.
- To the bowl of pasta, add 1 cup diced ham 1 cup corn, 1 cup shredded carrots, 1 cup finely diced bell pepper, 1 cup cubed Monterey Jack cheese, ½ cup finely diced celery, ½ cup finely diced red onion, and ¼ cup chopped pickled jalapeno.
- Make the dressing by mixing 1 cup mayonnaise, ½ cup sour cream, 2 tablespoons juice from pickled jalapeños, 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice, 1 tablespoon yellow mustard, and salt and pepper to taste.
- Add the dressing to the pasta bowl and mix until evenly combined. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. Refrigerate until ready to serve or serve immediately.
Notes
- Refrigerate: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Do not freeze: Macaroni salad doesn’t freeze well and can become watery.
- Make ahead: Prepare up to 24 hours in advance, the flavors get even better as it chills!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More Easy Pasta Salad Recipes
If you love this one, then you’re going to want to try a few more of my favorite pasta salads. They’re just as easy, full of flavor, and perfect for everything from weeknight dinners to weekend cookouts.
So, with all the Jalapeno in this, I assume it’s not a macaroni salad for kids?
I didn’t think it was spicy, but depending on the kids you are wanting to feed, you can take the jalapeno out. It just gives it a wonderful flavor.
Looks delicious. Can’t wait to try it.