Get ready to taste a delicious recipe - Sweet Vegan Macaroni Salad. It's a tangy side dish with just the right touch of sweetness, making it a crowd-pleaser for picnics, BBQs, camping, game day, and any gathering that calls for a refreshing and satisfying dish!
During each pregnancy, I had a rather unconventional craving: sweet macaroni salad on top of my pizza. I know it sounds weird, but trust me – the cold, creamy, sweet salad on a hot, gooey, cheesy pizza was a match made in hormonal heaven.
This vegan version of sweet macaroni salad brings back those fond, delicious, sweet, and savory memories with every bite... and yes, I will still top my cheesy vegan pizza with it from time to time, but these days, I make it regularly as a side dish for game days, picnics, and my kids' lunchboxes. It's definitely a family favorite.
For more great salads, try Classic Vegan Coleslaw Recipe, Vegan Greek Pasta Salad, or Vegan Caesar Pasta Salad.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Make Ahead: This is a great dish to make ahead of potlucks or gatherings. Make it ahead of time so the flavors meld in the fridge overnight.
- Packed with Veggies: It's loaded with fresh, colorful veggies like carrots and bell peppers for a nutritious boost.
- Easy to Make: Simple ingredients and straightforward preparation make this side dish a breeze to whip up in less than 15 minutes, so you're in the kitchen less time.
- Versatile: Great for picnics, BBQs, potlucks, or as a side dish for any meal.
- Crowd-Pleaser: This pasta salad recipe is a hit with kids and adults and makes a really big bowl, making it perfect for gatherings.
- Vegan-Friendly: Completely plant-based, but I guarantee no one will notice it's vegan!
- Great Recipe All Year: This is not just a summer salad. It's a great recipe to have any time of year!!
Recipe Ingredients
You’ll need the ingredients in this pic to make a creamy vegan macaroni salad. Feel free to omit or add veggies as you like. See the recipe card for suggested quantities.
Ingredient Notes
- Sweetened Condensed Oat Milk - I find this at Whole Foods locally, but it's just a click away on Amazon – and trust me, it's worth ordering a few. This sweetened condensed oat milk is incredibly delicious and makes a fantastic replacement for condensed milk in any recipe. I have used the condensed coconut milk in a pinch but prefer the oat milk version.
- Vegetables - This cold salad is packed with veggies, but feel free to add or omit any to suit your taste. It's incredibly customizable! See variations below for other ingredient ideas.
- Pasta - Elbow macaroni is the classic pasta for this dish, but choose any pasta that will hold the dressing.
How To Make Sweet Vegan Macaroni Salad
This recipe is ready in less than 15 minutes, plus chilling time to get it cold and thicken the dressing a bit. See the recipe card for details.
Step 1: Cook the macaroni in lightly salted water according to package directions or until al dente. Drain and let cool.
Step 2: In a large bowl, combine vegan mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, and sweetened condensed oat milk until smooth.
Step 3: Add grated carrots, finely diced red and green pepper, and red onion to the bowl.
Step 4: Add the tender pasta to the bowl and mix until the pasta is well coated and evenly combined with the crunchy veggies.
Step 5: Cover and chill in the fridge for at least 6 hours. For the best results, chill overnight and stir it before serving.
Recipe Tips
- Chilling: Because of the vinegar, the dressing will be thin when you mix all the ingredients. Don't worry - if you chill overnight, it gets absorbed, making the salad wonderfully flavorful and creamy.
- Cool the Pasta: Rinse the pasta under cold water and let it cool completely before mixing it with the dressing. Make sure it's drained completely.
- Adjust Sweetness: Taste the dressing before mixing in the pasta and adjust the sweetness or acidity by adding more sugar or vinegar as needed.
- Make Ahead: This salad tastes even better when made a day ahead, allowing the flavors to meld together in the fridge and thicken the dressing.
This recipe features a thin dressing, exactly how I prefer my sweet macaroni salads. Don’t worry, it’s not a watery mess, but it differs from the thicker, mayonnaise consistency you find with savory macaroni salads. To make sure you're optimizing the consistency and flavor of this recipe, don't skip chilling the salad overnight.
Serving Suggestions
This recipe works best as a side dish with a sandwich, warm vegan nuggets, or a slice of warm vegan cheese pizza. I also love scooping it up with corn or potato chips. Here are some other serving ideas:
- Picnic Perfect: This sweet vegan macaroni salad is a great addition to any picnic spread. Pair it with a veggie wrap, fresh fruit, and iced tea for a refreshing outdoor meal.
- BBQ: Serve alongside grilled veggies, a vegan burger like Chipotle Black Bean Burger, Grilled Vegan Kebabs, or grilled portobello mushrooms.
- Potluck Favorite: Bring it to a potluck or family gathering as a crowd-pleasing side dish. It’s sure to be a hit - but make sure to chill it!
- Lunch Box: Pack it in lunch boxes for a tasty, satisfying, and easy-to-eat meal alongside a Vegan BLT Sandwich.
- Side Dish: Enjoy it as a side dish at dinner time with something savory like Easy Falafel Pita Sandwich or topped on pizza - no joke - I love it.
- Other Sides: Serve it along other side dishes like Air-Fryer Fries, Orange Miso Glazed Brussels Sprouts, or Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Vegan Parmesan.
Storage
Store the sweet vegan macaroni salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. It's even better after a day or two. To maintain the best texture, stir the salad before serving to redistribute the dressing and flavors.
Additions and Variations
- Vary the quantities of the veggies to suit your tastes. You can also add or omit any you want to. This recipe is very forgiving.
- Throw in green onions, fresh dill, or black olives for variation.
- Add raisins or pickle relish for a more sweet variation.
- Add shredded vegan cheddar or cut the blocks of cheddar cheese into small cubes for a savory variation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Gluten-free pasta works well and is a great option for those with gluten sensitivities.
You can use any plant-based sweetened condensed milk or make your own. Try this recipe for homemade condensed oat milk.
More Vegan Salad Recipes You'll Love
What did you think?
Got a minute? Dive into the comments and rate this sweet vegan macaroni salad to let me know how it turned out for you. Was it a hit? Any twists you added? I want to know if my directions were any good. Follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for inspiration.
PrintRecipe
Sweet Vegan Macaroni Salad
- Total Time: 12 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 10 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This recipe makes a large batch of Sweet Vegan Macaroni Salad – a tangy pasta side dish with just the right touch of sweetness. It is a crowd-pleaser for summer picnics, BBQs, camping, game days, and any gathering that calls for a refreshing and satisfying side dish!
Ingredients
- 16 oz macaroni pasta
- 2 cups vegan mayonnaise ~450 grams
- 1 11-ounce can of sweetened condensed oat milk
- ½ cup white vinegar - or apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 cups carrots, grated
- 1 small red onion, finely chopped
- 1 green pepper, finely chopped
- 1 red pepper, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt, to taste
- ½ teaspoon pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Cook the macaroni in lightly salted water according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta completely and let it cool. You can rinse it to keep it from sticking.
- Prepare the Dressing: While the pasta cooks, combine the vegan mayonnaise, sweetened condensed oat milk, vinegar, and sugar in a large bowl. Mix until smooth and well blended.
- Chop the Veggies: Grate the carrots, and finely dice the red onion, green bell pepper, and red bell pepper. Mix all the veggies in the large bowl with the dressing.
- Mix in the Pasta: Add the cooled macaroni to the bowl and mix until the pasta is well coated with the dressing and evenly combined with the veggies.
- Season and Chill: Season with salt and pepper and adjust the taste. Cover the bowl and refrigerate overnight to allow the flavors to meld together and the dressing to thicken.*
- Serve: Give the salad a good stir before serving.
Notes
*Because of the vinegar, this recipe results in a thin dressing. Let it chill overnight to achieve the best flavor, and so the ingredients absorb the dressing. If it sits for a while and the dressing has pooled a little at the bottom, give it a quick stir, and it will be perfectly creamy and super delicious.
If you think a can of sweetened condensed oat milk will be sweet enough, omit or only add 1 tablespoon of sugar.
Use any color peppers you would like.
Mini shells can also be used as a substitute for macaroni-style pasta because they hold the sauce well.
Nutritional information is only an estimate.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Chill: 12 hours
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: side dishes
- Method: stove top
- Cuisine: American
Beverly says
I love sweet macaroni salad and this vegan version was delicious. Thanks for the recipe!
Regi Pearce says
You're welcome! Glad you enjoyed it.