BBQ Macaroni Salad Texas Style

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 pasta salad recipe that's full of spicy barbecue flavor and hearty enough for a vegetarian main dish.

For a more traditional recipe try My Mom's Classic Macaroni Salad.

Jump to:

• ❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
• 🧾 Ingredients
• 🔪 Instructions
• When He Grills...
• Pool Parties and Grilling Circa 1965
• Making Summer Memories
• Barbecue Pasta Salad Tips
• Easy BBQ Macaroni Salad Recipe
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Comments

❤️ Why you'll love this recipe

• All the creamy goodness of macaroni salad but with a delicious barbecue twist.
• Stands out at potlucks.
• One reader won a prize with this recipe!

🧾 Ingredients

I use both sweet and spicy barbecue sauces to create a blend I love. Be sure to experiment with brands and amounts to make it your own.

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• red bell pepper
• green bell pepper
• poblano pepper
• red onion
• celery
• corn
• black beans
• pasta (I like shells but elbow macaroni is fine)
• bbq sauce
• mayonnaise
• apple cider vinegar
• sugar
• bacon
• smoked paprika
• cumin

🔪 Instructions

Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the green recipe card below.

Step one

1. Cook the macaroni in a large pot in salted water until tender.
2. Drain in a colander and set aside.

Step two

3. Whisk the mayonnaise, both BBQ sauces, vinegar, cumin, smoked paprika, and sugar in a medium bowl until smooth and blended.
4. Set aside.

Step three

5. 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.
6. Drain the corn and beans if they are canned.
7. Add the corn, black beans, onion, bell peppers, celery, and poblano if you're using it, to the macaroni in a large bowl.
8. Spoon the mayonnaise mixture over the top.
9. Gently stir and fold until the mayonnaise mixture covers everything.

Step four

10. Cover and chill overnight for the best flavor.

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 barbecue 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.

Barbecue Pasta 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 and sweet barbecue 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.

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 easy 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!

📖 Recipe

First published July 2016. Last updatedJune 29, 2021 to add a clickable shopping list.