AMISH PASTA SALAD
This recipe for Amish Pasta Salad is one of our most popular recipes. It has wonderful reviews and has been a family favorite for many years. It’s perfect to take to any gathering. Every event I have ever taken this delicious salad too, I come home with an empty pan. I can eat this pasta salad for breakfast! We hope it becomes one of your family favorites, too. You might also enjoy our recipe for maple baked beans with sausage as another great side dish.
Amish Pasta Salad Simple Ingredients:
Medium shell pasta
Hard-boiled and chopped
Celery chopped
Sweet onion
Jar of pimentos
Green pepper
Sweet pickle relish
Garlic powder
Paprika
Black pepper
Celery seed
Mayonnaise
Sour cream
Sugar
Yellow mustard
Apple cider vinegar
Every time I post this recipe I get asked “Can I leave the sugar out”.. of course you can, but in my opinion the dish won’t be as good. The ingredients in this salad go together very well and that is what makes it such a hit. All recipes are versatile and I always urge people to make the recipe “their own”, but this pasta salad is excellent the way it is written. You can add a meat if you like, such as cooked chicken, diced ham, tuna or shrimp. If the pasta gets dry after a day or so, just add more mayonnaise.
The other most common question “What mayonnaise do you use?”.. Dukes.. we always use Dukes!
Recipe feedback: “This is the best recipe. My whole family will eat it even the picky ones. By far my favorite pasta salad. Thank you.” – Kim
“Wow this pasta salad is amazing! I made it on the weekend and we just loved it. The recipe is a keeper for sure.” – Karen
“I made this delicious pasta salad this weekend and it is so good!! Reminds me of my Amish Grandmother’s salad and no one had the recipe all these years! Thank you so much for your wonderful recipes!” – Teresa
“This is my favorite recipe for making Amish Macaroni Salad! I added a red pepper, chopped, because I didn’t have pimentos. Also, added thawed, frozen peas. Amazing!!! My mother asks me to make it for every family gathering . She even wanted it for her birthday as her present!! I have had to triple the recipe since everyone wants to take some home. Thank you for your great recipes. I use them all the time!” – Sherri
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Full recipe in the recipe card below.
Amish Pasta Salad
Video
Ingredients
- 1 16 ounce box medium shell pasta, uncooked
- 5 eggs hard-boiled and chopped
- 1 cup celery chopped
- 1/2 cup sweet onion chopped
- 1 2 ounce jar pimentos drained
- 1 cup green pepper chopped
- 3 tablespoons sweet pickle relish drained
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon celery seed
- 1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 3 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions and drain.
- In a large bowl mix pasta, eggs, onion, pimentos, celery, green pepper and relish. In another bowl mix garlic powder, paprika, black pepper, celery seed, mayonnaise, sour cream, sugar, mustard and vinegar.
- Pour the mayonnaise mixture over the pasta and mix well. Can sprinkle with more paprika. Chill in refrigerator several hours or overnight. This makes about 12 cups and keeps well in the refrigerator for several days.
Notes
Don’t forget to pin this delicious pasta salad!
© The Southern Lady Cooks photos and text – All rights reserved. No copying, posting on other sites, or other uses allowed without written permission of the copyright holder.
I like to add a little shredded carrot to the salad. Great recipe!
Thought I’d been making the best macaroni salad for the last 40 hrs, not so, lol. This one’s going to replace it. I added tiny salad shrimps to make it a really special lunch. Absolutely deliscious!
This is wonderful Patricia and I love that you added shrimp! Great addition!
I haven’t made this recipe, but the ingredient list made me take notice!
I usually like all things Amish (or Mennonite, which is what I am).
I live in Harrisburg, PA (near Lancaster County — lots of Amish and Mennonite folks).
What I’m thinking of doing is using this recipe but make it Potato Salad instead.
I’m not sure how many potatoes would quate to the 16 Oz. of pasta!
I’m think of using either red or gold potatoes — maybe around 2-3 lbs.?
What do you think?
Thanks,
Ray
Probably about 3 lbs!
You were right-on with 3 lbs. potatoes.
It’s very good potato salad — after I looked at the ingredient list, I just knew it would be a good potato salad.
This is one of my Keepers!
Thanks,
Ray
You’re very welcome! So glad it was a success and you loved it!
Hello, I’m about to make this recipe now, and I’m wondering, shouldn’t you cool the cooked pasta first with cold water before adding dressing and other ingredients??
That’s what I’m going to do. Please email your answer. Thanks.
You can do that if you like, we dont completely chill it. As far as emailing you our answer, we don’t sit on our website 24/7. You can see from the comments on this recipe its gonna turn out regardless.
I made this pasta for the 4th of July. Everyone loved it and got to take some home. It was delicious!
Yay!! We’re thrilled it was a hit. Thank you for the kind comment.
This is my favorite pasta salad recipe!! Make extra sauce in case it dries out if made ahead. Made it as written but second time left out green peppers because they are not my fav. Definitely a keeper.
So glad this recipe was such a hit! We love this one too!
I made the Amish Pasta Salad this weekend. Having read all the reviews I made it exactly according to the recipe except…..
Having eaten pasta salad with shells and macaroni all my life, I decided to use orecchiette. Worked just fine. Lots of compliments and questions about the pasta
This salad was so good! I will make it routinely and it will be my go-to salad now for bbq’s. Thank you very much for such a good recipe.
I made it exactly as written and it’s delicious. My husband was making noises out loud when he ate it and kept raving about it. I worried that it would be too sweet (I usually prefer dill relish) but it was perfection and I wouldn’t change a thing in making it again.
YAY! I am so glad you made it and it was hit!
Thought I already had the perfect pasta salad recipe. This recipe proved me wrong! Don’t know how all the ingredients work together but they do. Huge thanks! ❤️
YAY! We are agree.. this recipe just works! So glad you gave it a try.
I have made your Amish Pasta Salad quite often. I reside in Australia and most Australians do not think of salads with mayonnaise as we American’s do.. I must say, whenever I have taken this salad with me to any gathering it has always been a big hit.. I have even had to hand out the recipe.. So not only over your way down South and from the Amish area of the South or Penn. it is winning hearts.. thank you for so many of your wonderful recipes..
You are so welcome Sue! We are so thrilled you are sharing our recipes and that you and your friends are enjoying them.
I have made this pasta dish a few times and each time a winner. I follow the recipe and have only decreased it when not such a large amount required. So even over here in Australia, you recipes are a hit.. Thank you girls..
YAY!!! I love that its a hit! Thank you for letting us know.
I have made this so many times, always get rave reviews. Make according to recipe, don’t change a thing. Made it for, our Women’s s Club luncheon and not one bite left….
YAY! I agree.. if you make it the way it’s written it’s absolutely wonderful!
This recipe is by far the best recipe for Amish pasta salad I have ever made! Everyone loves it every time I make it! You will not be disappointed!
YAY!! So glad you love this one, we do too!
Great recipes Ladies, Keep them coming.
Cheers, Paul
I’ve been making this for a few years now and it’s still the best pasta salad recipe I’ve ever made!
Made this today. It’s delicious! I did leave out the celery as i didnt have any. Thanks for the recipe!
This is delicious! I don’t think I’ll add the pimentos when I make it again, they were expensive, and I didn’t taste them in the salad. I’ll also use smaller shells. However, this is hands down the best! And I am very very fussy about pasta salads!
This is hands down my favorite pasta salad for a group! The flavor and creaminess and wonderful. So quick and easy to whip it together. There is always an empty bowl when we have a group gathering.
The only thing I change is instead of a green pepper, I use an orange pepper.
So glad its such a hit! It is our favorite too and we agree.. never any left!
I’ve made this salad before and remember “we loved it”. BUT I can’t remember if we used mayo or Miracle Whip since there is a difference in taste. Help me remember please.
No way to help you remember as it’s personal taste, but we have only ever made it with mayo.
This may be the best pasta salad I have ever had! I made it exactly the way the recipe is written and we all agreed it’s perfect!
So glad! We agree, and it’s best to made the way it’s written!
Don’t change a thing!! This salad is fabulous! I followed it exactly and everyone loved it! No clue why everyone wants to change a recipe..make this one the way it’s written and you will love it!
Thank you!! We love it this way as well, turns out perfect every time!
This looks delicious. I’m planning on making this soon. The pimento amount has a space between the 1 and the 2. Is it supposed to read 12 ounce jar of pimentos or One 2 ounce jar of pimentos?
It is one TWO OUNCE jar of pimentos. Thanks!
Loved this recipe I’ve never had a pasta salad turn out so well. Had to rweek a couple things. Chopped up some roastes jar red peppers and wasn’t sure about sweet pickle relish as we have in Australia either sweet mustard picke relish in a jar which is like a sauce or sweet pickles in a jar so I used half the relish and chopped up a medium pickle. Still turned out beautiful
Is the mustard dry powder or prepared
It is prepared yellow mustard.
I made the Amish Pasta Salad for our Family Reunion. I did add some pre sliced black olives and probably an additional 1/4 c of sugar. Went back for a second helping but it my huge bowl of it was completely empty. I would rate that as a 200% success!!
Everyone should try this recipe at least once. It’s fantastic!
It’s still YUMMY with just a tablespoon of sugar and I left out the relish because while I love pickles I do not like relish…go figure! A really quick and easy crowd pleaser!
I also never liked relish but loves pickles, however I have recently found dill pickle relish. YUMMY !!!
This is a family favorite and I’m making it for my graduating senior’s chorus end-of-year potluck. I do have to double the amounts for the dressing , I found that the regular amount is soaked up the next day and the pasta salad is kind of dry, so I usually have to add more.
This is the best pasta salad ever! Weather warming up and getting ready to make this again!
Thank you so much for the kind comment!
Absolutely the best pasta salad out there!! This recipe is PERFECT just the way it is and The sugar adds the perfect amount of sweetness!!!! This gets devoured at every gathering I bring it too and everyone asks for the recipe!!! Thanks so much for sharing this happiness in a bowl!!!
This is FABULOUS! Thanks for this recipe!
I’ve been looking at this salad for years and finally made it up for Sunday dinner. Yummers Served with some grilled bratwurst. Great mac salad for summer or anytime. I made a 1/2 batch, but that was the only thing I changed.
Thanks for recipe. Love your site.
I’m lactose intolerant. Can I substitute the sour cream for something dairy free?
You can certainly try it! Thanks!
This sounds delicious Iam going to make for weekend I usually make my mamas famous salt spring salad since I was a teenage it’s about the same but we use Cucumber Ranch dressing. And use the little shells pimento diced bell peppers diced cucumbers and tomatoes snd diced water chestnuts and add finely sharp shredded cheese and add a can of white tuna with a lemon juice on it. ❤️ I love your recipes ❤️❤️
This is absolutely the best pasta salad I’ve ever made. I left the sugar out because I didn’t want it that sweet (and I don’t think it needs it). Delicious and this will be my go to from here on out!
This may be the best pasta salad there is! I will say your recipes are always a hit! I’ve made this twice in the past week. I also bought your magazine…it’s lovely! Keep up the great work.
This is my favorite recipe for making Amish Macaroni Salad! I added a red pepper, chopped, because I didn’t have pimentos. Also, added thawed, frozen peas. Amazing!!! My mother asks me to make it for every family gathering . She even wanted it for her birthday as her present!! I have had to triple the recipe since everyone wants to take some home. Thank you for your great recipes. I use them all the time!
So glad this recipe is such a hit and thank you for the kind comment.
We like Duke’s but you can use whatever your family likes.
This was the best, I call it Macaroni Salad, that I’ve made. It’s a keeper!
You can sign up at the bottom of any recipe on our website.
If you can find Dukes mayo it is good as well
This is the best recipe. My whole family will eat it even the picky ones. By far my favorite pasta salad. Thank you 🙂
That’s just wonderful Kim! So glad it’s such a hit. We love this one too!
Great recipe my family enjoyed it thank you
Yes.
Made this for the first time today for a pot luck and it was excellent and everyone loved it!
So glad it was a hit!
You can try it. I’ve never made it without it.
Yum! I used dill relish and left out the sugar. Perfect!
I have used both. Either one is good, Becky.
This is delicious!!
I use canned chicken instead of tuna…it’s delicious that way so rotisserie chicken would be great too.
I’m confused. Was tuna in the recipe?
No but as it says at the bottom of the recipe, you could add tuna, chicken or ham.
No, you could leave it out, Mindy.
I use dill relish and love
There are plenty on my site, that don’t use pickles or relish. You can always leave it out. Here is a link to a list: https://thesouthernladycooks.com/?s=pasta+salad
Can you use seafood in this recipe
Of course! Add whatever you like.
Wow this pasta salad is amazing! I made it on the weekend and we just loved it. The recipe is a keeper for sure 🙂
Thank you so much Karen. So happy you like the recipe! Thanks for letting us know. Have a great day.
My mother always put tuna in her’s…I still do it this way as of today, delicious…
Made this for dinner and the entire family raved about it! Thank you.
Made for supper was great! Love your recipes
The great thing about this salad is you can use it as a side dish or a bit of doctoring a complete meal. I only use about half the sugar we do not like it quite as sweet. I grill a couple of tuna steaks dice and add that a quite often also add things like steamed broccoli and peas. Thanks for posting.
Thanks, Sounds delicious. Plan to try it soon.
Can I use Miracle Whip instead of Mayo?
Yes, you can Chrys.
That’s great, going to make and take this to a bbq party, Thanks
I made it 2 weekends ago and going to make it again today we love it.
This is my favorite pasta salad. EVER! I use! Miracle Whip and sweet pickle relish. I also think this would be fabulous as potato salad and plan to try it soon.
Looks great. Will try it for Easter at my daughters. Thank you.
OMG SA, do tell, the likes of you! Duh
Anytime I say sugar in a recipe, I mean regular granular sugar. If it is powdered sugar, I will say so, Shirley.
pimentos have a sweet mild taste, use them a lot…like in pimento cheese.
Dill relish with hellmans. Delis hand diabetic friendly. Don’t need sugar.. Trust me!
I like the thought of swapping out the sweet relish for dill and omitting the sugar. Savory is my preference. Thanks for a lovely recipe!
Pimentos are very similar to roasted red pepper and have a sweet flavor. If you’ve ever had a red bell pepper, it is that kind of sweetness.
tuna and shrimp and you have a wonderful summer meal………..
I’ve made this for years! (using tuna & minor variations) We always just called it Tuna Macaroni Salad. I’m not actually surprised at the Amish part, though. We lived near Amish & my German ancestry cooking was very similar to a lot of theirs.
I make something very similar but I use Dorothy Lynch salad dressing in mine. It is divine….I’m going to try it your way and see how it compares.
My family loves this pasta recipe. The only thing we do different is we leave the pimentos out.
Peas added are real good too !
I made this delicious pasta salad this weekend and it is so good!! Reminds me of my Amish Grandmother’s salad and no one had the recipe all these years! Thank you so much for your wonderful recipes!
So happy you enjoyed this salad, Teresa.
Looks and sounds delicious! I think I make a darn good pasta salad, and it’s actually pretty similar to this one – but you had me at “Amish” – I really want to try making this next time I have company over! My mom’s family is from Pennsylvania, so all things Amish are near and dear to our hearts.
I grew up on this…and many other Amish recipes as they had a community in our area. It’s the most versatile one ever! People always ask for the recipe. It looks really impressive with a grape tomato ring inside the dish and a small sprinkle of coarse chopped parsley on top.
I like adding a can of albacore tuna. I love pasta salad anyway, anytime!!!
I’ve made a similar pasta salad with imitation crab meat chunks. All are great salads for summertime when you want something cool to eat.
I think adding a Rotisserie chicken in it would be great too..
I’m new.
Regarding Step 2, at what point do you combine the 2 separate bowls of ingredients?
Thank you.
It says to pour the mayonnaise mixture over the pasta.
Second time I have made this and it’s even better than the first time! Thanks for the awesome recipe!
You’re so welcome!! So glad you enjoyed it, it’s our favorite too!!
This sounds heavenly but I would be the only one eating it at my house (which is fine with me) as my husband hates celery & green pepers. Oh well poor him…I have made a macaroni salad since we first married that is just like hiw Mom’s. Macaroni, Miracle Whip, chopped sweet pickle & chopped tomatoes. Everyone loves it & I get many requests for it.
That looks delicious!!! Think I’m gonna make it right now!! Thanks!
oh my !!! this likes so GOOD, iwish i had the stuff to make it right now!! I Love You!!<3
This looks and sounds awesome! My other half and I are always at odds for the summer time or picnic side dish, usually between potato salad and macaroni salad. I’ve never been very good at making the macaroni salad so I usually don’t. I’m going to try this out on him!
I just made this and have been sampling while the pasta cooked, the dressing is wonderful, I finally added the pasta and…I added some grilled left-over chicken breast meat to it, what a wondeful way to use up left over chicken too!
What a great idea!
gave some to my mom and she just loved it, I’ve never been known for making a pasta salad that was any good other than the one she taught me to make and that one is just macaroni, mayo, cucumber and fresh tomatoes. She made that one for my wedding reception many, many years ago.
this pasta salad does sound delcious, it has a great combination of ingrediants and flavors. I’m not a huge pasta fan but I think it would work well as a potato salad also.
Jaine, I was thinking the same thing.