Pasta/Noodles/ Pork/ Salads

BBQ Bacon Cheddar Macaroni Salad

BBQ Bacon Cheddar Macaroni Salad ~ Your favorite picnic salad just got a huge makeover with bbq sauce, bacon, and cheddar cheese.

BBQ Bacon Cheddar Macaroni Salad ~ Your favorite picnic salad just got a huge makeover with bbq sauce, bacon, and cheddar cheese ~ The Complete Savorist Summer is the time for BBQ’s and macaroni salads.  So, why not put them together?

I was heading to big bbq to celebrate one of my favorite people turning 12 years old.  And to the surprise of no one, I can’t ever attend a gathering without bringing something to eat.  Without a doubt the salad was a hit, but bacon and cheese with bbq sauce, well what’s not to love?
All the prep work can be completed in the time it takes the pasta to cook, making this a relatively easy dish to prepare.  The longer the salad gets to sit before serving the more intense and bold the flavors become.

I hope you enjoy this macaroni salad as much as we all did.BBQ Bacon Cheddar Macaroni Salad ~ Your favorite picnic salad just got a huge makeover with bbq sauce, bacon, and cheddar cheese ~ The Complete Savorist

BBQ Bacon Cheddar Macaroni Salad

Course: Salad
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8
Author: Michelle De La Cerda
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Ingredients

  • 1 lb . elbow macaroni
  • 4-6 bacon slices; thick cut , cubed, and cooked
  • 6 oz . cheddar cheese; grated
  • 2 green bell peppers; seeded and finely chopped
  • 1 rib celery , finely chopped
  • 4 green onions; thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup carrots; grated
  • 1 tbsp . butter
  • 2 tbsp . apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 tsp . paprika
  • 1/2 tsp . chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp . granulated garlic
  • 1 cup Miracle Whip (or mayo, if that’s how you roll)
  • 1/2 cup BBQ sauce
  • Salt/pepper to taste
  • 1 tbsp . cilantro; chopped

Instructions

  1. Cook the elbow macaroni according to package directions.
  2. While the pasta is cooking, prepare the bacon, the veggies, and grate the cheese.
  3. In a small bowl, mix the vinegar, paprika, chili powder, and granulated garlic together.
  4. In another bowl, mix the BBQ sauce and the Miracle Whip (mayo).
  5. Once the pasta is done, drain it, and rinse it with cold water.
  6. Shake it well; making sure no water is clinging to it or in it, then add it to a large mixing bowl.
  7. Coat the warm pasta with the butter; this will prevent the noodles from sticking together.
  8. Add the carrots, green onions, bell peppers, and bacon to the still slightly warm pasta.  Toss well.
  9. Let it sit for 5 minutes.
  10. Pour the seasoned-vinegar mixture over the pasta and mix it well.
  11. Allow it to stand for another 3-5 minutes.
  12. Mix in the cheddar cheese, a small amount at a time, until it is all well mixed in.
  13. Slowly fold in the BBQ sauce/Miracle Whip blend until the entire salad is evenly coated.
  14. Season with salt and pepper.
  15. Add the cilantro in or use as garnish.
  16. Cover and chill until ready to serve.
BBQ Bacon Cheddar Macaroni Salad ~ Your favorite picnic salad just got a huge makeover with bbq sauce, bacon, and cheddar cheese ~ The Complete Savorist BBQ Bacon Cheddar Macaroni Salad ~ Your favorite picnic salad just got a huge makeover with bbq sauce, bacon, and cheddar cheese ~ The Complete Savorist

Thank you for sharing!

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33 Comments

  • Reply
    janelle
    August 8, 2014 at 7:55 am

    this is a pile of cheese goodness! looks great

    • Reply
      Michelle
      August 8, 2014 at 11:08 am

      Thanks Janelle, my personal belief system is that anything with bacon and cheese has to be wonderful.

  • Reply
    The Food Hunter
    August 8, 2014 at 10:30 am

    there’s a lot of goodness in this dish!

    • Reply
      Michelle
      August 8, 2014 at 11:08 am

      Thank you, it really has a great combination of ingredients.

  • Reply
    Sandi Gaertner
    August 8, 2014 at 11:21 am

    Ahhh, you did say bacon right? What a delicious recipe!

    • Reply
      Michelle
      August 8, 2014 at 12:17 pm

      Always Bacon, ALWAYS! 🙂

  • Reply
    Erren @ Erren's Kitchen
    August 8, 2014 at 12:35 pm

    YUM YUM YUM!

  • Reply
    Cindy Gordon
    August 9, 2014 at 2:36 pm

    This looks great! My MIL will love it!

    • Reply
      Michelle
      August 14, 2014 at 12:04 am

      I hope she does. Thank you Cindy.

  • Reply
    Kaisin
    September 3, 2014 at 8:22 pm

    Thanks for sharing the wonderful recipe! cant wait to try it! I recently bought some BBQ Hotplates Online can’t resist mysle fto cook the bacon on it and use in the salad!

    • Reply
      Michelle
      September 3, 2014 at 10:11 pm

      Oh Thank you Kaisin. I will check out that item.

  • Reply
    Cynthia
    November 19, 2014 at 9:01 am

    This looks amazing. How many people does it serve?

    • Reply
      Michelle
      November 19, 2014 at 10:02 am

      Hi Cynthia, this recipe will serve 6-8 people easily. Thanks for stopping by.

  • Reply
    Arman @ thebigmansworld
    March 11, 2015 at 1:55 am

    Michelle I could faceplant this right now.

    • Reply
      Michelle
      March 11, 2015 at 4:57 pm

      Let me grab you a bib first.

  • Reply
    Susan | LunaCafe
    March 11, 2015 at 9:51 pm

    5 stars
    What an interesting mac salad. Love the barbecue sauce angle. Great for summer buffets and potlucks. Can’t wait to try it.

    • Reply
      Michelle
      March 11, 2015 at 11:41 pm

      Thank you Susan, it is different, but delicious.

  • Reply
    Florian @ContentednessCooking
    July 9, 2015 at 1:32 am

    This is perfect comfort food, Michelle! So versatile for to bring on any summer gatherings or BBQs

    • Reply
      Michelle
      July 9, 2015 at 1:48 am

      Thank you Florian, I am certain you will find a tasty way to keep the spirit of this recipe but vegan-ize it.

  • Reply
    Judy@ImBoredLetsGo
    July 9, 2015 at 5:52 am

    Bacon and cheese? Together with pasta? and BBQ sauce? Oh yes, please!

  • Reply
    Julie @ Texan New Yorker
    July 9, 2015 at 5:59 am

    Mind. Blown. I think you win macaroni salad for all time. This sounds beyond amazing! Talk about punching up the flavor of what can be a very bland dish. Wow!! I love it!

  • Reply
    Kacey @ The Cookie Writer
    July 9, 2015 at 8:51 am

    Love how gorgeous and colourful this macaroni salad looks! Such an easy summer dish with bold flavours!

    • Reply
      Michelle
      July 9, 2015 at 12:55 pm

      Thank you Kacey, it’s great for summer.

  • Reply
    Jenna
    July 9, 2015 at 11:58 am

    This pasta salad has three of my favorite ingredients: cheese, bacon, and bbq! So, it HAS to be good! 🙂

    • Reply
      Michelle
      July 10, 2015 at 11:14 am

      I like the way you think Jenna!

  • Reply
    Healing Tomato
    July 9, 2015 at 1:20 pm

    5 stars
    This sounds like great comfort food. I will make a vegetarian version of this recipe.

    • Reply
      Michelle
      July 10, 2015 at 11:15 am

      You could easily make this vegetarian, omit bacon and you’re done. But I’d add a teeny tiny bit of liquid smoke to get a bit of that smoky flavor that bacon gives food.

      • Reply
        Healing Tomato
        July 10, 2015 at 11:45 am

        5 stars
        How about adding a little smoked Gouda. How do you add liquid smoke?

        • Reply
          Michelle
          July 10, 2015 at 12:51 pm

          It’s a bottle of liquid sold usually by the ketchup and BBQ sauces. But I like your thinking with the smoked Gouda.

  • Reply
    Grilled Chicken and BBQ Coleslaw Tacos - The Complete Savorist
    May 18, 2016 at 2:19 pm

    […] was succulent and the rub was amazing. I still had to use the sauce, and once upon a time I made a BBQ Bacon Cheddar Macaroni Salad and thought, what other salads could I make with a bbq sauce base. […]

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