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Home » Recipe Index » Meat and Poultry » Filipino-style Macaroni Salad

Filipino-style Macaroni Salad

Published: Sep 29, 2018 · Modified: Oct 18, 2020 by Lalaine Manalo · This post may contain affiliate links

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Filipino-style Macaroni Salad is a must for any party or celebration! Loaded with chicken, ham, cheese, and crushed pineapple, it's hearty, delicious, and a sure crowd favorite.

Filipino-style Macaroni Salad on a serving plate
Filipino-style Macaroni Salad

Like spaghetti, Filipino-style macaroni salad is one of the dishes we adapted from the west and gave our own Pinoy twist. Bursting with tropical flavors, it's the perfect fit for our tastes.

This recipe was first published in September 2013 but I am giving it a little makeover today with new photos and cooking tips because, well, Christmas is almost here. No Filipino party or gathering is complete without chicken macaroni and if I may say so myself, this version of mine is THE mother of all macaroni salads!

macaroni, diced ham, crushed pineapple, cheese cubes, diced carrots, chopped eggs, mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, chopped onions, raisins

With a delicious hodgepodge of hearty pasta, shredded chicken, cubed ham and cheese, crushed pineapples, plump raisins, diced carrots, and chopped eggs, it's a smorgasbord of flavors and textures your guests wouldn't be able to get enough of. They will be lining up for seconds thirds!

Good thing this macaroni salad recipe can be easily doubled (or tripled) for a large crowd and can be prepped in advance for less-stress entertaining.

pouring elbow macaroni in a pot of boiling water

Helpful tips:

  • Macaroni is the highlight of the show here so make sure it's done just right. Do not overcook as it gets tossed with an overwhelming amount of mixed ins and you want it firm enough to hold up.
  • Poach the chicken instead of "boil".  This gentle method of cooking ensures the meat is moist and succulent instead of dry and stringy. I like to use boneless chicken breasts but a  combination of dark and white meat will work well, too.

cooked macaroni, cubed cheese, chopped eggs, shredded chicken, diced ham, sweet relish, diced carrots, crushed pineapple, raisins in a glass bowl

  • Like poaching the chicken, blanching the carrots is another step that makes a difference. By parboiling in hot water and then immediately shocking them in iced water, the vegetables vibrant and tender-crisp.
  • I like to dice sweet gherkin pickles for extra crunch but feel free to swap sweet pickle relish.
  • Feel free to experiment with other add-ins such as chopped bell peppers and celery to flavor and color.

pouring condensed milk in a bowl of chicken macaroni ingredients

  • Do not skip the condensed milk! It adds creaminess and a touch of sweetness which counterbalances the savory flavors of the dish.
  • For food safety, allow the pasta and ingredients to cool completely before mixing.
  • The pasta salad will be a little loose when first combined but it will thicken beautifully after an hour or so in the fridge. I know everyone will be excited to dig in but give it a little time to cool completely and meld.

stirring together chicken macaroni in a bowl

How long can you keep macaroni salad

  • Although you can prep the salad in advance, I don't recommend keeping it at room temperature for more than 2 hours or for more than 3 days in the refrigerator due to food safety. With mayo, eggs, and other protein-rich ingredients, it will spoil quicker than most foods.
  • Unfortunately, due to the nature of the ingredients, this chicken macaroni salad does not freeze well. The fats and oils in the mayonnaise break down and lose creaminess when frozen and thawed.

chicken macaroni on a serving plate

Include this Filipino macaroni on your holiday or special occasion menu and make A LOT as it's sure to be a crowd favorite! It's a great side dish as well as a complete meal-in-itself.

If you're looking for more festive salads, enjoy the same flavors in potato form! Or try my pasta fruit salad for a delicious Noche Buena dessert option. If you like tuna, I've got you covered, too!

chicken macaroni on a serving plate
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3.56 from 247 votes

Filipino-style Macaroni Salad

Chicken Macaroni Salad with chicken, ham, crushed pineapple, and raisins is perfect for potlucks or parties. Hearty, tasty, and loaded with tropical flavors, it's sure to be a crowd favorite.
Prep Time20 mins
Cook Time30 mins
Total Time50 mins
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Filipino
Servings: 12 Servings
Calories: 600kcal
Author: Lalaine Manalo

Ingredients

  • 16 ounces uncooked medium elbow macaroni
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast or thigh meat
  • 1 large carrot, peeled and diced
  • 1 cup ham, cubed
  • 6 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and coarsely chopped
  • 14 ounces crushed pineapple
  • 1 cup Eden or Velveeta Cheese, cubed
  • ½ cup sweet pickle relish
  • 1 cup raisins
  • 1 onion, peeled and diced
  • 1 ½ cups mayonnaise
  • ½ cup sweetened condensed milk
  • salt and pepper to taste
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • In a pot over medium heat, bring about 4 quarts salted water to a boil. Add macaroni and cook according to package directions for about 8 to 9 minutes or until firm to bite. Drain well and allow to cool completely.
  • In a pot, add chicken meat and enough water to cover. Bring the water to a boil, skimming scum that floats on top. Lower heat, cover, and simmer for about 15 to 20 minutes or until cooked through. Drain from the liquid, allow to completely cool and shred. Set aside.
  • In a pot, bring water to a boil. Add diced carrots and cook for about 30 seconds. With a slotted spoon, remove from water and plunge into an ice bath until completely cool. Drain and set aside.
  • In a large bowl, combine macaroni, chicken, carrots, ham, eggs, crushed pineapple including packing juice, cheese, sweet pickle relish, raisins, onions, mayonnaise, and sweetened condensed milk. Gently stir together until evenly distributed.
  •  Season with salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate for about 1 hour to cool completely and to allow flavors to meld.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 600kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 149mg | Sodium: 812mg | Potassium: 580mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 1375IU | Vitamin C: 5.6mg | Calcium: 186mg | Iron: 1.7mg
Tried this recipe? I'd love to see what you made!mention @Kawalingpinoy and hashtag your photo with #kawalingpinoy

 

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Lalaine from Kawaling Pinoy

Hello! My name is Lalaine and welcome to Kawaling Pinoy where you’ll find Filipino and Asian-inspired recipes, cooking tips, and how-to videos. Read more...

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Comments

  1. Marie says

    September 25, 2020 at 11:38 pm

    4 stars
    Looks delicious

    Reply
    • Lalaine Manalo says

      October 18, 2020 at 4:20 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  2. Dudu says

    September 12, 2020 at 12:49 am

    Hi i love this macaroni salad thanks for sharing. I just want to know you served with what or you just just eat like that
    Thanks

    Reply
    • Lalaine Manalo says

      September 13, 2020 at 7:17 pm

      Hello there! It can be eaten just like that but it's usually a side dish.

      Reply
  3. Emily Marcelo says

    August 13, 2020 at 11:35 am

    I will definitely try this recipe that really looks delicious and easy to prepare love it

    Reply
    • Lalaine Manalo says

      October 18, 2020 at 4:23 pm

      Enjoy!

      Reply
  4. ELLEN G. THORNHILL says

    August 12, 2020 at 4:58 am

    5 stars
    Very delicious and very nutritious. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Lalaine Manalo says

      October 18, 2020 at 4:23 pm

      Thank you for the 5-star rating. I'm glad you like it.

      Reply
  5. Milagros Pavon says

    May 10, 2020 at 12:30 pm

    Awesome recipe - thanks for sharing. Please continue to cook delicious food. Thanks again 👍

    Reply
    • Lalaine Manalo says

      October 18, 2020 at 4:23 pm

      You're welcome. I am glad you find the recipes useful.

      Reply
  6. ambie says

    May 01, 2020 at 11:59 am

    i love it 🤩
    ...iwill tryout soon..
    i want to learn more..
    hoping for the best result..
    .

    Reply
  7. Leilani says

    April 28, 2020 at 4:44 pm

    I always tell my kids if you don't like the food just say, I don't like it, thank you but never say yuk, gross or disgusting! Food is food and it's always good to someone who has the palate for it. And no to hotdogs in my Macaroni Salad, thank you! And this recipe looks yumm!!

    Reply
    • Lalaine Manalo says

      April 28, 2020 at 11:01 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  8. Luzviminda Valoria 3-23-2020 says

    March 22, 2020 at 11:01 pm

    I love this Recipes. Thank you for sharing us your Recipes. God bless.

    Reply
  9. Luzviminda Valoria says

    March 22, 2020 at 10:57 pm

    I love this Recipes. Thank you for sharing us your Recipes. God bless.

    Reply
    • Lalaine Manalo says

      April 28, 2020 at 11:01 pm

      You're welcome. Enjoy the recipes 🙂

      Reply
  10. Audrey says

    January 04, 2020 at 2:13 am

    Hello Ms. Lalaine,

    I found your recipes really helpful, i started from your soy chicken and now i can no longer count how many recipes i did try and everything turned out really yum! Thanks a lot! 🤗 i just have some concern here, my macaroni tasted really sour on the following day since i made it, i know of course its probably from the p/a juice but is it really?😟

    Reply
    • Lalaine Manalo says

      April 28, 2020 at 11:00 pm

      I am thinking maybe it was spoiled already? Was it left outside of refrigeration? Unfortunately, this spoils fast because of the mayo and eggs 🙁

      Reply
  11. Jezca says

    December 24, 2019 at 3:24 am

    5 stars
    Hi, made this bfore but today I forgot pickles:( wat can I substitute pls? Thanks

    Reply
    • Lalaine Manalo says

      April 28, 2020 at 10:58 pm

      You can skip it and jsut add a bit more crushed pineapples 🙂

      Reply
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