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    Recipes » Recipes

    Instant Pot Southwest Macaroni Salad

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see disclosure for more information. Published: May 23, 2018 by Dee

    Instant Pot Southwest Macaroni Salad is an easy summer side dish for barbecues and cookouts and full of delicious Southwestern flavors. It's easy to make the pasta in the Instant Pot and mix in the remaining ingredients before serving!

    Jump to Recipe -

    instant pot southwest macaroni salad in red and white bowl

    You can make all kinds of pasta dishes in the Instant Pot, but have you ever made plain pasta in the pressure cooker? It's super easy, and there's no standing over a hot stove and no need to drain the pasta when it's done. Use this easy method for cooking pasta in the Instant Pot to make pasta salad all summer long!

    You guys, I can't believe it's practically Memorial Day Weekend already! Another school year is over, and summer vacation is just beginning. Seriously, where did this year go?!

    Anyway, if you're hosting or attending a BBQ or cookout this summer, you know you need a few easy side salads to go with whatever's on the grill. I used to make my Grandma's potato salad the old fashioned way, or should I say "normal" way. But now I make it in the Instant Pot. And since that's so much easier, I decided to make macaroni salad in the Instant Pot, as well!

    How to make pasta in the Instant Pot electric pressure cooker

    It's so easy to make macaroni or any pasta in the pressure cooker. If you're making spaghetti, you add both water and sauce, and for mac and cheese, you'll add cream after the pasta cooks. But for plain pasta or macaroni salad or any pasta salad, all you need is pasta and water.

    How long do you cook pasta in the Instant Pot?

    The general rule for pressure cooking pasta is to cook it for half the time it says on the box. So, you want to cook the pasta in the Instant Pot for 4 or 5 minutes tops!

    How to make Instant Pot Southwest Macaroni Salad

    Just add the pasta, water and a little salt to the pot, and cook it for 4 minutes. There's no standing over a hot stove, no stirring and no need to lift a pot of boiling water and drain it in the sink.

    When the macaroni is done, just rinse it with cold water -- just like you would if you made pasta on the stove.  Then, put it into a bowl, and add the ingredients for the salad. Easy peasy!

    mix tomatoes and peppers with macaroni salad

    You can make your favorite macaroni salad recipe, but this Southwestern macaroni salad is a delicious change from the usual. I throw in some grape tomatoes, an avocado, lime juice, mayo and diced jalapeño peppers. I also sprinkle in some smoked paprika and cilantro for extra flavor.

    If  you want to cut back on the heat, you can use diced green chiles, instead. And, if you're like my daughter and think that cilantro tastes like soap, feel free to leave that out!

    Looking for more Instant Pot summer side dishes?

    • Instant Pot potato salad
    • Instant Pot corn on the cob
    • Instant Pot Mexican street corn

    Recipe for Instant Pot Southwest Macaroni Salad

    instant pot southwest macaroni salad in red and white bowl

    Instant Pot Southwest Macaroni Salad

    Published by Dee
    Instant Pot Southwest Macaroni Salad is an easy summer side dish for picnics, potlucks and BBQ cookouts. Just Make the pasta in the pressure cooker and mix in the remaining ingredients!
    5 from 7 votes
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    Prep Time 8 mins
    Cook Time 4 mins
    Total Time 12 mins
    Course side
    Cuisine American
    Servings 15
    Calories 200 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 16-ounce box elbow macaroni
    • 4 cups water
    • 1 teaspoon sea salt
    • 1 4-ounce can diced jalapeno peppers
    • 1 ½ cups grape tomatoes, halved
    • 1 medium avocado, diced
    • lime, juice of
    • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika or chili powder
    • 2 cups mayonnaise

    Instructions
     

    • Add uncooked macaroni to pressure cooker, and add water and sea salt
    • Cover, turn vent to sealing position, and hit PRESSURE COOK for 4 minutes
    • When time is up, do a quick release, and remove lid when pin drops
    • Pour macaroni into colander, rinse with cold water, and drain well
    • Add macaroni to a large mixing bowl, and stir in remaining ingredients
    • Season with additional salt, to taste, if needed, and refrigerate until ready to serve

    Notes

    Diced green chiles can be substituted for jalapeños for a milder salad

    Nutrition information is estimated. Please do your own calculation to fit special diets.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 200kcal
    Tried this recipe? Please comment and rate it! Show me your dish on Instagram!Mention @meatloafandmelodrama or tag #meatloafandmelodrama!

    You guys, my family absolutely loved this Instant Pot Southwest macaroni salad, and I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

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    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Artresha says

      June 29, 2020 at 6:18 pm

      How much lime juice?

      Reply
      • Dee says

        July 01, 2020 at 2:25 pm

        I used the juice of 1 lime.

    2. Miz Helen says

      May 31, 2018 at 11:05 am

      Congratulations Dee!
      Your post is featured in our Top Ten this week on Full Plate Thursday. Thanks so much for sharing this awesome recipe with us!
      Miz Helen5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        May 31, 2018 at 4:49 pm

        Awesome news! Thanks so much for letting me know!

    3. Miz Helen says

      May 27, 2018 at 8:03 am

      This will be a great salad for the hot summer days! Hope you are having a great weekend and thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday!
      Miz Helen5 stars

      Reply
    4. Sandra | A Dash of Sanity says

      May 25, 2018 at 10:05 am

      This salad looks amazingly delicious! Would love to give this a try!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        May 26, 2018 at 10:21 am

        Thanks, Sandra. I hope you get a chance! Let me know how it goes. 🙂

    5. Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says

      May 24, 2018 at 10:02 pm

      This macaroni salad needs to happen at my house very soon!!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        May 25, 2018 at 9:46 am

        Thanks, Erin! I hope you like it! 🙂

    6. Catalina says

      May 24, 2018 at 1:46 pm

      This seems to be the perfect pasta salad for bbq or summer parties!

      Reply
    7. Jacque Hastert says

      May 24, 2018 at 8:15 am

      Adding to my list of menu items that I am making this weekend.5 stars

      Reply
    8. Sabrina says

      May 24, 2018 at 5:27 am

      Such a perfect summer side dish! Love a bit of heat!!

      Reply
    9. Anna says

      May 23, 2018 at 7:56 pm

      This macaroni salad sounds perfect for summer! Love that I can use my IP to make it.5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        May 23, 2018 at 9:28 pm

        Thanks, Anna. The IP makes it so much easier!

    10. Dorothy at Shockinglydelish says

      May 23, 2018 at 6:39 pm

      I haven't made many pasta dishes in the Instant Pot yet. This looks delicious! It is a perfect summer side dish!!

      Reply
      • Dee says

        May 23, 2018 at 9:32 pm

        Thanks, Dorothy! We'll be making this all summer long. 🙂

    11. Amanda says

      May 23, 2018 at 2:11 pm

      I can almost taste it through the picture. This recipe is an amazing combination!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        May 23, 2018 at 9:31 pm

        Thanks! My family absolutely loved it!

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