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Home » Recipes » Side Dish Recipes

BBQ Macaroni Salad Texas Style

Published: Apr 15, 2023 Last Updated: Apr 15, 2023 by Marye 1269 words. | About 7 minutes to read this article.

25 minutes mins
You'll love this unusual bbq macaroni salad recipe! It's SO easy but so delicious that it's one of the first to disappear at potlucks. One reader even won a contest with it!!
Jump to Recipe
Side view of a plate of bbq pasta salad with text overlay for Pinterest.
Overhead view of a bowl of macaroni salad with a text overlay for Pinterest.

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!

Overhead view of a bowl of macaroni salad with a title text overlay.
Jump to:
  • ❤️ Why you'll love it
  • 🧾 Ingredients
  • 🔪 Instructions
  • 🥫 Storage
  • 📖 Variations
  • 💭 Things to know
  • 👩‍🍳 FAQs
  • 📚 Related recipes
  • 🍽️ Serve with...
  • Restless Chipotle recommends...
  • 📞 The last word
  • 📖 Recipe
  • ✍🏻 A note from Marye...
  • 💬 Comments

❤️ Why you'll love it

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

Grilling season is upon us and with it comes vats of homemade macaroni salad.

This is the perfect pasta salad for bbq! It's full of spicy barbecue flavor and hearty enough for a vegetarian main dish.

🧾 Ingredients

This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.

Labeled ingredients for this recipe.

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.

🔪 Instructions

This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page.

Step by step images showing how to make barbecue macaroni salad.
  1. Mix all the salad ingredients in a large bowl.
  2. Mix the dressing ingredients in a medium bowl.
  3. Whisk the dressing mixture until smooth.
  4. Pour over the salad ingredients and mix well. Chill for several hours.

🥫 Storage

You can store this delicious macaroni salad in the refrigerator for about 4 days. Just cover the bowl with plastic wrap or place in an airtight container.

In fact, it's much better the day after it's made!

It doesn't freeze well so eat it up.

A plateful of bbq macaroni salad on a table.

📖 Variations

  • I like to use shell pasta for this recipe but any shaped pasta will work fine.
  • Use your favorite bbq sauce.
  • If you like more heat use jalapenos instead of poblanos.
  • Use some candied jalapenos chopped up in it.

💭 Things to know

Expert Tip: Like most pasta salads, this is best if you make it the day before.

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.
  • Taste before serving and if the macaroni soaked up too much dressing just stir in a little more bbq sauce.
  • Save time by buying the onions and peppers pre-diced.

👩‍🍳 FAQs

Should pasta salad sit overnight?

Yes! The flavors blend and it's so much better! Be sure to cover and refrigerate.

Why is my pasta salad dry?

More than likely the pasta isn't cooked long enough. If the pasta is undercooked it will soak up the dressing and your salad will be dry.

📚 Related recipes

  • If you're looking for something a little different check out this classic pea, cheese, and bacon salad!
  • You can't really get through summer without a big bowl of classic potato salad!
  • This tangy pasta salad is covered in a yummy vinaigrette.
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See more Side Dish Recipes →

🍽️ Serve with...

  • I love this as a side to this bacon wrapped bbq chicken.
  • Is it even a cookout without cornbread?
  • A summer fruit salad is the perfect dessert!

Restless Chipotle recommends...

The following are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

  • 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
  • large mixing bowl
  • medium mixing bowl

📞 The last word

This Texas Style bbq macaroni salad is going to be the star of your summer parties. Smoky, sweet, spicy, tangy goodness wrapped up in one of the most beloved summer dishes ever.

You've got to try it. It's absolutely the perfect salad for bbq!

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

If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!

If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📖 Recipe

Closeup overhead view of the macaroni salad in a bowl with a spoon in it for serving.
4.75 from 36 votes

Texas Style Barbecue Macaroni Salad

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You'll love this unusual bbq macaroni salad recipe! It's SO easy but so delicious that it's one of the first to disappear at potlucks. One reader even won a contest with it!!
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American - Southern
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes minutes
Servings:10
Calories:489
Author:Marye Audet-White
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Equipment Needed

  • Whisk
  • mixing bowl

Ingredients

  • 16 ounces macaroni
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • ½ cup sweet barbecue Sauce, like Stubbs original
  • ¾ cup spicy barbecue sauce , like Stubbs spicy
  • 1 ½ teaspoons cider vinegar
  • ½ teaspoon cumin
  • ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 2 cups corn
  • 2 cups black beans, cooked -canned is fine
  • ¾ cup onion, diced
  • ½ cup green bell pepper, diced
  • ½ cup yellow bell pepper, diced
  • ½ cup orange bell pepper, diced
  • ½ cup celery, diced
  • ¼ cup poblano pepper, optional, roasted and diced

I earn a commission from Instacart from qualifying purchases.

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.

Notes

Storage
You can store this delicious macaroni salad in the refrigerator for about 4 days. Just cover the bowl with plastic wrap or place in an airtight container.
It doesn't freeze well.
Tips
  • 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.
You'll find more helpful tips and variations in the body of the post.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 489kcal | Carbohydrates: 71g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 518mg | Potassium: 460mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 510IU | Vitamin C: 35.1mg | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 1.9mg

Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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    ✍🏻 A note from Marye...

    I know y'all don't always like the stories bloggers tell so when I have one I try to put it at the very bottom so you can read or skip as you like.

    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.

    First published July 2016. Last updated April 15, 2023.

    overhead vies of pasta salad showing all the ingredients.

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    About Marye

    With a 40 year focus on the importance of family and a passion for southern comfort food, Marye Audet-White is an expert in melding the two together effortlessly. Marye's a NY Times Bestselling author with 10 cookbooks under her belt and her recipes have been featured in Good Housekeeping, Country Living, Today, House Beautiful, Texas Living, Food & Wine, and many more.

    Reader Interactions

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      Love it? Give it 5 stars!




    1. Auntie Sue

      July 05, 2023 at 9:54 pm

      5 stars
      My niece’s birthday was last month and she always asks me to make my classic macaroni salad. I had made bbq chicken to go with it, and while I was eating dinner, some bbq sauce mingled with my macaroni salad and I was instantly taken with it. As I was toying with possible ingredients (I usually create my own recipes), I actually thought to google bbq macaroni salad and found this recipe. Boy am I glad I did. I saved the recipe and decided to try it at a cookout I went to on the Fourth of July. This is an instant classic and it will be at every summer gathering I have, or am invited to. This dish is a grand slam. I made it with small pasta shells, and would highly recommend it. Next time I make it, I will add another cup of corn.

      Reply
      • Marye

        July 06, 2023 at 10:44 am

        I am SO glad you liked it!

        Reply
    2. Sue

      July 05, 2019 at 6:12 am

      5 stars
      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.

      Reply
      • Marye

        July 05, 2019 at 8:18 am

        I am so glad you liked it! I bet it was awesome with the chicken!

        Reply
    3. Anne P

      June 04, 2018 at 9:06 am

      5 stars
      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.

      Reply
      • Marye Audet

        June 06, 2018 at 2:23 pm

        This makes me SO happy!!!I am so glad you liked it!

        Reply
    4. christine

      July 29, 2016 at 10:43 am

      Oh nice, great flavor change up from the classic macaroni salad.

      Reply
      • Marye Audet

        July 29, 2016 at 10:46 am

        Thanks!!

        Reply
    5. Melanie

      July 27, 2016 at 3:06 pm

      That BBQ sauce looks delicious! I need to try it.

      Reply
      • Marye Audet

        July 28, 2016 at 10:01 am

        It is really good!

        Reply
    6. Angie | Big Bear's Wife

      July 26, 2016 at 2:26 pm

      We love Stubbs Original BBQ! Totally one of our favorites!

      Reply
      • Marye Audet

        July 26, 2016 at 7:53 pm

        🙂 mine too!!!

        Reply
    7. Heather | All Roads Lead to the Kitchen

      July 25, 2016 at 7:07 pm

      I love Stubb's...actually have some at home right now for a recipe I'm making soon. This pasta salad looks delicious!

      Reply
      • Marye Audet

        July 26, 2016 at 7:54 pm

        Let me know what you think, Heather!

        Reply
    8. Meaghan

      July 25, 2016 at 6:39 pm

      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.

      Reply
      • Marye Audet

        July 26, 2016 at 7:54 pm

        Oh I agree!!

        Reply
    9. Kat@Home. Made. Interest.

      May 24, 2016 at 1:33 pm

      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!

      Reply
      • Marye Audet

        May 25, 2016 at 7:54 am

        It's is so good. 🙂 I love BBQ sauce anyway so BBQ sauce and pasta was a no brainer for me.

        Reply
    10. Jenny

      May 24, 2016 at 8:55 am

      5 stars
      I never would have thought to use the sauce this way. So fun! I can't wait to try it.

      Reply
      • Marye Audet

        May 24, 2016 at 11:31 am

        It was really a nice twist on a classic !

        Reply
    11. Tara @ Unsophisticook

      May 24, 2016 at 8:28 am

      What a fun twist on macaroni salad -- can't wait to try it this summer!

      Reply
      • Marye Audet

        May 24, 2016 at 11:30 am

        Thanks!

        Reply
    12. Jeannette

      May 24, 2016 at 8:24 am

      5 stars
      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.

      Reply
      • Marye Audet

        May 24, 2016 at 11:28 am

        Let me know what you think!

        Reply
    13. Citra Kale @Citra's Home Diary

      May 24, 2016 at 4:07 am

      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

      Reply
    14. Alisa Fleming

      May 23, 2016 at 10:40 pm

      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.

      Reply
      • Marye Audet

        May 24, 2016 at 11:28 am

        Well... maybe there wasn't until I made this. 😉

        Reply
    15. Nutmeg Nanny

      May 23, 2016 at 10:19 pm

      What a fun macaroni salad!

      Reply
      • Marye Audet

        May 24, 2016 at 11:28 am

        Thank you! We loved it.

        Reply
    16. Gina @ Running to the Kitchen

      May 23, 2016 at 7:37 pm

      Stubbs is always on hand in this house, never thought to use it as a pasta dressing though, great idea!

      Reply
      • Marye Audet

        May 24, 2016 at 11:27 am

        🙂 thanks!

        Reply
    17. Florian @ContentednessCooking

      May 23, 2016 at 9:11 am

      The perfect comfort dish for so many gatherings. Especially in the summer months!

      Reply
      • Marye Audet

        May 23, 2016 at 10:11 am

        🙂 thanks!

        Reply
    18. Dee Dee (My Midlife Kitchen)

      May 23, 2016 at 9:04 am

      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!

      Reply
      • Marye Audet

        May 23, 2016 at 9:56 am

        🙂 It is so good. And I loved the color.

        Reply

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