With a mayonnaise base, it’s like a delicious blend between pasta salad and chicken salad. This easy Chicken Macaroni Salad also contains sweet pickle relish, hard-boiled eggs, celery, red onion, and red bell pepper. You can leave out any of these ingredients if you don’t care for them.

There’s also a touch of Dijon mustard and apple cider vinegar both of which perk up the flavor.

I don’t use canned chicken often, but I think this is a super delicious way to use it.

Chicken Macaroni Salad close-up in a glass serving bowl.

Chicken Macaroni Salad Recipe Tips

You don’t have to use canned chicken for this recipe but I find having some canned chicken in the pantry has been so helpful lately with super markets sometimes being low on fresh meat. Rotisserie chicken or any leftover cooked chicken can be used instead or you can swap out the chicken with tuna.

Cook the pasta to al dente (slightly firm) so it doesn’t get mushy from the dressing.

If I’m going to make this Macaroni Salad well in advance, I set aside 1/2 cup of the mayonnaise and mix it in just before serving. It’s much creamier this way.

Variations and Substitutions

Dill pickle relish can be used instead of sweet pickle relish but I like the slight sweetness the sweet relish gives this pasta salad.
Tuna can be substituted for the chicken.
Try using a different pasta shape. Shells or mini farfalle work well.