An updated version of a recipe originally published in February 9, 2006.
A salad from my childhood days. So many ways to do it but, for me, it’s about the creamy texture without using too much mayo and the right blend of saltiness, sweetness and tanginess.
The chicken and macaroni salad I grew up with had lots of pineapple tidbits–which I hated. When I learned to prepare the salad myself, I ditched the pineapple altogether but that really detracted from the overall taste of the dish. I realized that the contrast, the tang and sweetness of the pineapple, was really wonderful for the otherwise plain salty dish. Still, I didn’t like the discernable pieces of pineapple in the salad. Fortunately, I discovered canned crushed pineapple.
Salad or elbow macaroni can be used. Or just about any shape for that matter. But do choose a pasta shape with lots of grooves to catch the dressing.
Makes enough salad to fill a half gallon container.
Ingredients
- 225 g. of macaroni, cooked according to package directions
500 g. of chicken (I used thighs and legs), boiled and meat roughly chopped
250 g. of your favorite soft cheese (Monterey Jack is a nice choice), cut into small cubes
1/2 to 3/4 c. of mayonnaise
1 c. of crushed pineapple, drained
1/4 c. of sweet pickle relish
salt
sugar
pepperTo serve:
toasted nuts, coarsely crushed
lettuce
Instructions
- Place the chicken, pickle relish, cheese and drained pineapple in a large mixing bowl. Add half a cup of mayo, 1 tsp. of salt, 1/2 tsp. of pepper and 1 tsp. of sugar. Toss well. Add the macaroni and toss until everything is evenly distributed. It’s easier to see the distribution by adding the macaroni last.
Transfer to a container, cover and chill for at least six hours.
Take out of the fridge and taste a piece of macaroni. At this time, the pasta would have absorbed the seasonings and the dressing. That’s really the thing about macaroni salad. You can never tell if it’s “right” until it has chilled and the flavors have blended. Only then can you tell what needs to be adjusted. More salt? Sugar? Pepper? Does the salad look dry? Need to add more mayo? Adjust the seasonings and the dressing, put back in the fridge, chill for another couple of hours and it’s ready to serve.
Quick Notes
Serving suggestion: Place a couple of lettuce leaves on a salad plate. Pile the salad on top. Garnish with toasted nuts.
Cooking time (duration): 10 minutes
Number of servings (yield): half gallon
Meal type: snack
Hi! Just wanted to know what brand mayo you used.
I have tried making a dish similar before but was told the taste depends on what type you use. Is this true?
American Maid, Alma.
Best Foods is too soupy (malabnaw); Lady’s Choice and Kraft are too expensive.
hey sassy may iba guest naman ko
anyway I also chop mine
it looks better
how much is a bottle of mayo sa pinas
I dont have a mayo in my fridge
I only buy a small bottle when i need it
kasi if i do keep one
i just spread it on anything
LOL Sha, we can’t live without mayo. A 948ML jar costs about PhP 138.00.
the reason I ask is… mayo is always inside the balikbayan boxes.. padala ng mayo from here to pinas
thinking is it the price or the quality
am going to ask around hehehe
If I may ask, where do you purchase American Maid mayo? I am not familiar with the brand
… It seems that we don’t have that kind of brand in groceries around the vicinity. Have not checked Landmark and/or SM though. 
Thanks. You’re such a great help in the kitchen.
God bless!
Sha, there must at least half a dozen brands of mayo locally. The oldies just don’t look hard enough.
Hi Cherleen, Shopwise and Cherry carry the brand.
umm.. can anybody give me the recipe for a chicken macaroni salad. with detailed ‘how to make it’. I love chicken macaroni salad but i really don’t know how to make one. please help.
Click the link to page 2, Ann.
Thank you so much Connie!
Do you also happen to know how to make a window cathedral too?
Yes, there is a recipe in the archive.
i think mas cheaper ang mayo sa abroad compared to pinas. FYI
Probably true because we either import mayo OR, in the case of multinational corporations with local satellites, we pay for the brand name.
hi! ask ko lang how long usually tumatagal ung chicken macaroni salad? the pics were nice, nagutom tuloy ako hehe thanks!
naku, mommyallehs, I don’t know. Macaroni salad never lasts more than a couple of days in our house.
I want to recieve a weekly recipe. Thank you.
Then, sign up, Cristinida. The form is just above this comment thread.
What about Miracle Whip, my pinoy friends here in states told me MW is better drsg. than Mayo, how true is that? love this web site….
Luisa, of course, it’s a matter of taste — my family does not like Miracle Whip.
Hi Connie! This is my very first na nagtry ng recipe mo last December 31, 2007….So dito tayo nagkakilala…he!he!he! This is my son’s favorite, I add lang I sugar beets kasi they want it with color,,,,,,,and my bestfriend who hate macaroni loved this one too…It’s so yummy!
hi! Connie! I’m glad to have found this website & sharing of authentic PINOY Recipes ^_^! My question is the same : how long does it last?
I cooked the macaroni salad last week, but still ate some today (he,he)! taste seemed ok, & I’m not dead yet…
Ruth, I really don’t know how long it lasts in the fridge. In our house, salad doesn’t last for more than a couple of days, nauubos.
How do I get rid of the oily look of my macaroni salad? Before, I thought it was because I used a cheaper brand of mayo, but the last one I did, I used the old reliable Lady’s Choice.
I reviewed your recipe before I wrote this. It’s practically the same ingredients I use in making the salad. The family loves the taste. It just doesn’t look tangy and becomes less apetizing, as if wanting in more mayonnaise.
Would appreciate hearing from you on this. Many thanks!
Chill the salad in the fridge for a few hours then stir again. That gives the macaroni to absorb some of the oil.
hi! my kids loves to eat chicken macaroni… nung nag luto ako, bakit dry sya masyado? mayonnaise lng ba talaga ang ilagay? tapos maasim sya dahil sa mayonnaise… para makain sya, nilagyan ko nang evap milk ayon sumarap at naubos…pls help
hi ms. connie! super nice ng Tastebook mo! mgiipon muna ako para makabili din ako.Ü
re chicken macaroni salad, just an idea, mga ilang teaspoon po ng salt and sugar ang dapat ilagay ko? i will not be using parmesan. tnx po. we will have have it on christmas day.
Advance merry christmas!
Khrizia, quality of mayonnaise varies from one brand to the next.
Janet, naku eh, to taste lang. I start with one tsp each then add and adjust while tossing.
thanks so much! yung carrots po ba ok lang kung i-blanch lang or kelangan boiled talaga? thanks po again!
Depends how tender or mature the carrot is.
pwede po bang gamitin ang chicken sandwich spread and at the same time mayonnaise?
You mean chicken sandwich spread instead of fresh chicken? Your salad won’t be as chunky.
I love chicken macaroni salad. I always prepare this dish sa Christmas and New year’s Eve. But I include chopped onions and also nestle cream and condensed milk to make it creamier. I also use Light Mayonnaise.
I put condensed milk and some juice from the can of the crushed pineapple, I also put apples and i teaspoon of finely chopped onions, carrots and sometimes celery.
i love macaroni salad and i prefer this version where only mayo is used. i don’t like the version with condensed milk but that’s a personal preference. Sometimes, i use fruit cocktail instead of pineapple and that gives the sweet twist.
I just knew there are so many versions.
Hi Connie. Nakakagutom naman picture, hay! close to midnight pa naman dito.
I read through the comments and I guess ako lang ang sobrang takaw na nagaa-add nang cubed ham and cubed Eden cheese sa kanyang macaroni & chicken salad.
I add cubes cheese too but if I have chicken, no more ham.
i love macaroni salad but mine is so simple with mayo mustard cheese and chop onion.
Have you tried using cubed spam instead of chicken? It’s yummy too.When it’s too salty and sour(from the pickles- Lady’s choice has more tang than the other brands) I balanced it with the sweetness of condensed milk and pineapple.I find the Dole Pineapple (in cans) sweeter than Del Monte.Have you tried doing your own mayo?
Tried Spam, yes, but after chilling, the fat congeals and I don’t like the texture so much.
“Have you tried doing your own mayo?”
Yep, but since they don’t keep very long, I stopped. More economical to buy mayo in jars.
Commercially available mayo is safer to use compared to homemade mayo.
Homemade mayo which is made with fresh egg yolks and oil does not go thru the process of “pasturization” which commercial brands undergo. That is the reason why homemade mayo spoils easily especially if there is no refrigeration.
Even the commercial brands that claim to be REAL mayo are now processed with starch and cooked thru a pasturization process. NOT as GOOD as the real thing but definitely SAFER, more economical and a lot more convenient to use!
hi, what are the utensils that will be going to use here??? i need it in my project!
Please introduce me to your teacher first so I can take credit for the grade.
tried this recipe last weekend! just perfect! thanks for sharing this recipe!