Grilling season is upon us and with it comes vats of homemade macaroni salad. Make yours stand out from the crowd with this Texas style bbq macaroni salad that’s full of spicy barbecue flavor and hearty enough for a vegetarian main dish. I’ve created this recipe in partnership with Stubbs BBQ and Activate.
For this recipe you’ll need: macaroni, mayonnaise, Stubbs Original BBQ sauce, Stubbs Spicy BBQ sauce, cider vinegar, green bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, orange bell pepper, celery, onion, cumin, smoked paprika, sugar, corn kernels (frozen or canned), cooked black beans
When He Grills…
I don’t know about you but I love the days that my husband grills. Not only is the food full of that outdoorsy grilled flavor but it means that I have some extra time to spend on Pinterest (score!).
It’s during this time of year that friends and family congregate in my big kitchen or out on the deck to laugh, talk, and just have a good time. There’s just nothing like it — memories are made that will last forever.
Pool Parties and Grilling Circa 1965
When I was growing up my parents were big into grilling and pool parties. I know I’ve told y’all before. We had a pool with a deck around it that my dad and his friends had built. I remember when it was time to fill up the pool a firetruck came and used the hose to fill it from the fire hydrant because we were friends with someone high up in the fire department. Talk about a memory!
Well, it was the 1960s and weekend parties were a given. Beer would be iced, the grill would be fired up and my mom would make her famous homemade macaroni salad. It was magical.
Making Summer Memories
I don’t know if I am making those kinds of magical memories for my kids but I try. I want them to remember their childhoods filled with laughter and the love of family.
I’ve spent years recreating my mom’s macaroni salad but I can never get it quite right. It’s yummy but not like I remember it. This year I decided that I was going to try to go rogue and make a bbq macaroni salad that she wouldn’t have thought of.
I took her recipe, added some things and subtracted others, and came up with this spicy, creamy bbq macaroni salad that tastes just like Texas in the summer. Smoky, sweet, spicy, tangy goodness wrapped up in one of the most beloved summer dishes ever.
You’ve got to try it.
Stubbs BBQ Sauce
Sometimes I make my own barbecue sauce but more often I pick up Stubbs BBQ sauce because not only is it quicker, it is seriously good and I know that they are as committed to high quality ingredients as I am — you can tell by the flavor.
You know there’s a saying that you don’t get a silk purse out of a sow’s ear and it’s certainly true with food. The flavor that you end up with is only as good as the quality you put into it. You’re not going to want to hit up farmers’ market for the freshest vegetables ever and then toss something on them that isn’t just as yummy, are you?
Stubbs makes great flavor & real ingredients for those who know their away around the kitchen or the grill. Because as we all know, great food = the real good life! In fact, their 2016 focus is: Real ingredients. Real goodness.
I didn’t think so.
They’ve got several flavors and I love all of them. Stubbs Original BBQ Sauce, Spicy BBQ Sauce, Green Chile Anytime Sauce (try that over your nachos, y’all), and Texas Sriracha Anytime Sauce were the four that they sent me but I’ve used most of the others in the past and I haven’t found one dud in the bunch.
BBQ Macaroni Salad Tips
Now, let’s talk about the bbq macaroni salad.
My mom taught me that in order to really make a good homemade macaroni salad you have to kind of overcook the pasta. Now, I hate overcooked pasta as much as anyone but after a lot of trial and error I had to admit she was right.
The slightly over cooked pasta soaks up more of the flavors in the dressing and just tastes better.
Cook the pasta until it is tender, don’t stop at a la dente. Trust me.
Once that pasta is cooked and drained you are going to add the crunchy vegetables, the corn, and the black beans.
The dressing is pretty spicy but you can adjust it by the ratio of Spicy BBQ Sauce and Original BBQ Sauce that you use. And, like most pasta salads, this is best if you make it the day before. Taste before serving and if the macaroni soaked up too much dressing just stir in a little more BBQ sauce.
It’s just that easy.
This Texas Style bbq macaroni salad is going to be the star of your summer parties. For more recipes and ideas follow Stubbs BBQ on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. And… if you don’t already follow me on Pinterest I’d love for you to connect!
If you’re looking for something a little different check out this classic pea, cheese, and bacon salad!
Easy BBQ Macaroni Salad Recipe
I could eat this macaroni salad all day every day! It just gets better and better. Give it a try at your next cookout and see if it doesn’t disappear fast!
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars!
📖 Recipe
Texas Style Macaroni Salad
Print Add to CollectionIngredients
- 16 ounces macaroni
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup Stubbs Original Barbeque Sauce
- 3/4 cup Stubbs Spicy Barbecue Sauce
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cider vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 cups corn
- 2 cups black beans, cooked -canned is fine
- 3/4 cup onion, diced
- 1/2 cup green bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 cup yellow bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 cup orange bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 cup celery, diced
- 1/4 cup poblano pepper, optional, roasted and diced
Instructions
- Cook the macaroni in salted water until tender.
- Drain and set aside.
- Mix the mayonnaise, both BBQ sauces, vinegar, cumin, smoked paprika, and sugar.
- Set aside.
- If you happen to be grilling add the corn kernels to a mesh grill roasting pan and grill until some of the kernels start to brown. If you’re not, don’t worry about it.
- Drain the corn and beans if they are canned.
- Add the corn, black beans, onion, bell peppers, celery, and poblano if you’re using it, to the macaroni in a large bowl.
- Spoon the mayonnaise mixture over the top.
- Gently stir and fold until the mayonnaise mixture covers everything.
- Cover and chill overnight for the best flavor.
Nutrition
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We’ll never share your email or send you spam. Pinkie swear.If you liked this BBQ Macaroni Salad recipe you might also like…
My Mom’s Classic Macaroni Salad
Sue
I made this for an Independence Day party I was invited to. I wanted to make it more if a main course so I added some chopped up barbeque chicken breasts to it. It was a big hit. Thank you for this recipe; it’s a keeper.
Marye
I am so glad you liked it! I bet it was awesome with the chicken!
Anne P
I was asked to contribute a pasta salad to our village ‘Big Bash’ last weekend over here in rural England, to go with a hog roast. My daughter sent me a link to your recipe and said she’d had this at Stubbs BBQ in Texas and I must make it. It went down a storm – very different from all the other pasta salads on offer, but the favourite! (though sorry, here I had to use a different brand of sauce.)
Thank you for this excellent recipe.
Marye Audet
This makes me SO happy!!!I am so glad you liked it!
christine
Oh nice, great flavor change up from the classic macaroni salad.
Marye Audet
Thanks!!
Melanie
That BBQ sauce looks delicious! I need to try it.
Marye Audet
It is really good!
Angie | Big Bear's Wife
We love Stubbs Original BBQ! Totally one of our favorites!
Marye Audet
🙂 mine too!!!
Heather | All Roads Lead to the Kitchen
I love Stubb’s…actually have some at home right now for a recipe I’m making soon. This pasta salad looks delicious!
Marye Audet
Let me know what you think, Heather!
Meaghan
I’ve got to make this for our next BBQ, it sounds so yummy! You can never have too many great pasta salad recipes on hand.
Marye Audet
Oh I agree!!
Kat@Home. Made. Interest.
Wow I wouldn’t have thought to make pasta salad this way but this is going to be perfect for all of my summer BBQs!
Marye Audet
It’s is so good. 🙂 I love BBQ sauce anyway so BBQ sauce and pasta was a no brainer for me.
Jenny
I never would have thought to use the sauce this way. So fun! I can’t wait to try it.
Marye Audet
It was really a nice twist on a classic !
Tara @ Unsophisticook
What a fun twist on macaroni salad — can’t wait to try it this summer!
Marye Audet
Thanks!
Jeannette
I love macaroni salad and I love BBQ so this is the perfect combination for me! I don’t know why I had never thought of combining the two before! I can’t wait to try this recipe.
Marye Audet
Let me know what you think!
Citra Kale @Citra's Home Diary
Sometimes I made my own macaroni salad for my “midnite snack” with just simple thousand island dressing with some vegetables… your texas style seems awesome to try
Alisa Fleming
I had no idea there was Texas-style macaroni salad, but darn does this look good. I always here such raves about Stubb’s, too.
Marye Audet
Well… maybe there wasn’t until I made this. 😉
Nutmeg Nanny
What a fun macaroni salad!
Marye Audet
Thank you! We loved it.
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen
Stubbs is always on hand in this house, never thought to use it as a pasta dressing though, great idea!
Marye Audet
🙂 thanks!
Florian @ContentednessCooking
The perfect comfort dish for so many gatherings. Especially in the summer months!
Marye Audet
🙂 thanks!
Dee Dee (My Midlife Kitchen)
Oh man! Why haven’t I thought before to put BBQ sauce in macaroni salad?? Well, you’ve corrected that! This looks a-mazing. Yum!
Marye Audet
🙂 It is so good. And I loved the color.