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Rainbow Drive-In Hawaiian Mac Salad Recipe
Capri Koch

Rainbow Drive-In Hawaiian Mac Salad Recipe

Make the famous Rainbow Drive-In Hawaiian Mac Salad at home with this creamy island-style recipe. Soft macaroni, rich mayonnaise, and authentic Hawaiian plate lunch flavor in every bite.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Chilling Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 32 minutes
Servings: 8 Servings
Course: Hawaiian Recipes, Salad, Side Dish, Summer Recipes
Cuisine: American, Hawaiian
Calories: 390
Ingredients Equipment Method Video Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 8 oz Elbow Macaroni About 2 cups of uncooked
  • 2.5 cups Mayonnaise Best Foods or Hellmann's
  • 1 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar Optional but authentic
  • 1 tsp Salt Adjust to taste
  • 0.5 tsp Black Pepper Freshly ground
  • 0.5 tbs Garlic Powder For flavor
  • 1 tbsp Sugar Optional
  • 0.5 cup Carrot Finely grated
  • 2 tbsp Onion Finely grated, optional

Equipment

  • 1 Large Pot For boiling macaroni
  • 1 Colander To drain pasta
  • 1 Large mixing bowl For mixing salad
  • 1 Measuring Cup Set Accurate measurements
  • 1 Measuring Spoon Set For seasonings
  • 1 Rubber spatula For mixing mayo
  • 1 Storage Container For chilling

Method
 

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
  2. Add elbow macaroni and cook for 20-25 minutes until very soft. Hawaiian mac salad traditionally uses softer pasta than regular macaroni salad.
  3. Drain the pasta and rinse briefly under cold water.
  4. Let the pasta cool completely.
  5. In a large bowl, combine mayonnaise, vinegar, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and sugar.
  6. Stir until smooth and creamy.
  7. Add grated carrots and grated onion.
  8. Fold in the cooled macaroni.
  9. Mix until every piece of pasta is coated.
  10. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
  11. Stir again before serving.
  12. Serve cold alongside Hawaiian plate lunch favorites.

Video

Notes

• Best Foods mayonnaise is traditionally used in Hawaii.
• Slightly overcooking the pasta creates the authentic texture.
• Chilling overnight gives the best flavor.
• Add extra mayonnaise before serving if the pasta absorbs too much dressing.
• This salad should always be served cold.
• Do not freeze, as the mayonnaise can separate after thawing.