This Instant Pot macaroni salad is super easy to prepare and cook. While the pressure cooker is cooking the pasta, you can be chopping the celery, onion, and pickles. Just let the macaroni cool, toss it with the chopped veggies and dressing mixture, and enjoy!
No pressure cooker? You can still make this salad by boiling the macaroni on the stovetop as the package directs. Drain, cool, and mix!
Plan to make the salad a few hours in advance. This gives the flavors time to develop. Once the pasta cools, just combine the ingredients in a bowl, cover, and put it in the fridge until it’s time to serve. With the sweet pickles running through it and the tangy mayonnaise dressing, it’s always a hit!
How to Make Instant Pot Macaroni Salad
Pressure cook the Macaroni
Combine the macaroni, water, and salt in the Instant Pot and cook for 3 minutes. Let the pressure come down naturally for 2 minutes then do a quick release.
Cool the Macaroni
Transfer the cooked macaroni to a bowl to cool.
Add the Vegetables
Add the pickles, pimientos, celery, and red onions to the macaroni and toss to blend.
Dress the Salad
Combine the dressing ingredients in a bowl and whisk to blend. Stir the dressing into the salad until well combined. Cover and chill.
Serve
Transfer the macaroni salad to a serving bowl. Enjoy!
Why the Instant Pot
With pressure build and release time, the Instant Pot takes as long, if not slightly longer, than the stovetop method, but there are advantages.
No Need to Drain -With the precise amounts of pasta and water, there’s no need to drain the pasta in a colander, saving yet another dish that needs to be washed.
Convenience (Set-it-and-forget-it) – You just set a timer, seal the lid, and you can walk away until it’s time to release the steam. Just be aware that you have to be ready to release the steam, or you could have overcooked pasta.
No Boil-Overs – There’s no risk of a foamy, messy overflow that you often get when boiling pasta on the stovetop.
Energy Efficiency – The Instant Pot is considered more energy-efficient than the stovetop methods. Plus, it doesn’t heat the whole kitchen the way a pot of boiling pasta can. This can be a big advantage for small kitchens, especially on hot days.
Good for Limited Stovetop Access – Whether you have too many items on the stove or are cooking in a dorm or RV, the Instant Pot can handle the job.
PrintInstant Pot Macaroni Salad
With sweet pickles and loads of crunchy veggies, this macaroni salad is a crowd pleaser.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Pressure Time: 8 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 minutes
- Total Time: 26 minutes
- Yield: 4 to 6 servings 1x
- Category: Pasta Salad
- Method: Instant Pot
- Cuisine: Summer
Ingredients
- 8 ounces elbow macaroni
- 3/4 cup diced celery
- 1/3 cup chopped sweet pickles
- 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
- 1 4-ounce jar pimientos (diced, drained)
Dressing
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons sweet pickle juice
- 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon Creole or Cajun seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- Dash crushed red pepper flakes or cayenne (optional for spicy version)
Fresh chopped chives or parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Put the macaroni in the Instant Pot with 2 cups of water and 1 teaspoon of salt. Lock the lid in place, choose high pressure cook, and set the timer for 3 minutes. It will take approximately 6 to 8 minutes to come to pressure. When it stops cooking, wait 2 minutes and then do a quick release.
- Cool the pasta: Transfer the macaroni to a bowl and let it cool.
- Add the vegetables: Add the celery, sweet pickles, onion, and pimientos and toss to combine.
- Make the dressing: Combine the dressing ingredients in a bowl and whisk to blend.
- Dress the salad: Add the dressing to the salad and stir until well combined. Transfer the salad to the fridge and let it chill for at least 1 hour to develop the flavors.
- Serve: Transfer the macaroni salad to a serving bowl. Enjoy!
Equipment
All-Clad Stainless Steel Bowls
Buy Now →
Mercer 7-inch Nakiri Vegetable Knife
Buy Now →
Frontier Organic Cajun Seasoning
Buy Now →This content may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
