It’s backyard BBQ season and I’ve always prided myself on delivering some unique side dish options for grill-out parties. This Bacon Macaroni Salad is really fast to stir together, packed with flavor, and has a unique ingredient: Charred Scallions! 

Betsy and I live near one of the larger parks in Denver and every year we have dreams and plans to have “park days” a few times a month where we would just post up in a shady spot, fill a cooler with drinks, invite friends and play all day.

I think we end up doing it about once a month because we have young kiddos and it was much easier to not plan things.

But, when we do have park days, have a great side salad to go along with the grillables is always a good idea. So you better believe I’ll be bringing big containers of salads like this charred scallion & bacon macaroni salad.

What makes a good macaroni salad

My nightmare when it comes to pasta salads is the kind you find at deli sections that are swimming pools of mayo and dressing. The purpose a good dressing is just to hold everything together. This recipe has the right amount. No more and no less. It also has charred scallions, which maybe you didn’t know were a thing, but they are SO a thing.

Another thing that can make or break your bacon macaroni salad is how you cook the pasta. If you overcook the pasta, it’ll get really mushy and not hold up well. A perfect al dente pasta is key for a good pasta salad. 

Cooked elbow macaroni.
That elbow.

When it comes to what kind of pasta to use, elbow macaroni pasta is the standard, but it’s far from a rule. Any smaller extruded pasta works well! 

Cooking the bacon for this salad

You can cook the bacon for this recipe however you want. I like to bake mine with some foil underneath for easy cleanup and because it makes it easier to pour off the bacon grease, which we will use because it’s delicious.

Bake your bacon until it’s really crispy, probably about 20 minutes at 350 degrees F. Be sure to rotate your pan if your oven cooks a bit unevenly like mine does.

Baked crispy bacon for bacon macaroni salad.
Bacon bits.

Be sure to reserve some of the bacon grease which is a great flavor boost to the charred scallions! 

The Charred Scallions

These guys bring the flavor. It’s crazy how addictive they are. Clean your scallions well and trim off the roots. Dry them and toss them with some reserved bacon grease and kosher salt.

Blast these under your broiler for 2-3 minutes. They cook really quickly so keep a close eye on them. Depending on the strength of your broiler they might need a minute on either side so watch them closely while they cook.

Charred Scallions for bacon macaroni salad.
After a broil.

They are done when they are smoking and charred in places. They will still be a bit crispy in some spots, which is nice.

The Macaroni Salad Dressing

I can’t stand over-dressed pasta salads. This is just enough to hold everything together. You could always double it if you want more dressing, but it’s the right amount in my mind.

Macaroni salad dressing.
Easy dressing.

Just stir the mayo, vinegar (you could sub apple cider vinegar for the rice vinegar), mustard, and hot sauce together.

Then toss in your cooked and rinsed macaroni. Each piece should be lightly coated.

LIghtly coated pasta for macaroni salad.
All together.

Then stir in your chopped crispy bacon and scallions in a large bowl.

Taste the bacon macaroni salad and season it with salt and pepper. It shouldn’t need much extra seasoning, but maybe a small pinch of both.

Stirring together bacon macaroni salad.
The Goodies

Enjoy a few park days this spring, everybody!

Easy substitutions for this bacon macaroni salad

There are so many substitutions to make beyond just using different noodles. Here are a few ideas!

  • Boost the vegetables in the macaroni salad with celery, diced tomato, crunchy broccoli, or even diced pickles! 
  • Make a creamy dressing by adding a bit more mayo and adding some Greek yogurt to the dressing. 
  • Instead of bacon, use a rotisserie chicken for an easy protein boost to the salad. 
  • Cheese it up! Add some cubed sharp cheddar cheese or havarti cheese.
Charred Scallion and Bacon Macaroni Salad: Your new favorite macaroni salad, just in time for picnics and outside parties. Slightly sweet charred scallions, crispy bacon, and just enough dressing to hold it all together. Macaroni salad done right! | macheesmo.com

Charred Scallion & Bacon Macaroni Salad

5 from 1 vote
Author: Nick Evans
Servings: 6 servings
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Your new favorite macaroni salad, just in time for picnics and outside parties. Scallions, bacon and dressing!

Equipment

Ingredients 

  • 12 oz. elbow macaroni, Cooked al dente
  • 8 oz. bacon, baked
  • 2 bunches scallions
  • 1 tbsp bacon grease or olive oil

Dressing

  • cup mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup rice wine vinegar
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 teas hot sauce
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

  • Bake bacon at 350 degrees F. on a baking sheet lined with foil until it’s very crispy, about 18-20 minutes. Pour off bacon grease, but reserve 1 tablespoon. Cook pasta according to package. Drain pasta and rinse with cold water.
  • When bacon is done cooking, prep your scallions by cutting the root ends off and washing them well. Dry scallions and toss them with reserved bacon grease and a big pinch of kosher salt. Spread out scallions a baking sheet. Heat oven to broil.
  • Broil scallions for about 2 minutes until they are charred in spots. Rotate pan if needed. Keep a close eye on them so they don’t completely burn. You might need slightly longer or shorter depending on your broiler.
  • Let scallions cool. Meanwhile, whisk together mayo, vinegar, mustard, and hot sauce. Stir in cooked macaroni to coat with dressing.
  • Roughly chop up bacon and scallions and stir into macaroni salad. Season with salt and pepper. Chill salad until served.

Notes

The salad is actually better if it can sit for a day in the fridge.
Leftovers keep fine for 3-4 days and then the scallions start to get too wilted.

Nutrition

Calories: 564kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 14g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 35mg | Sodium: 652mg | Potassium: 233mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 113IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 1mg
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American

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