- Categories:
- Food & Beverage
- Tags:
- FoodItalian Food
- Where:
- United States
- Date change rule:
- Every July 7
- Holiday emoji:
- 🍝
National Macaroni Day, observed every July 7, is a delicious tribute to the humble yet versatile elbow-shaped pasta. Celebrate macaroni’s enduring popularity as a staple in countless dishes, from creamy mac and cheese to vibrant pasta salads. Gather your ingredients, try a new recipe, and share your favorite macaroni creations with friends and family.
Want to sponsor National Macaroni Day? Learn how
Expected National Macaroni Day Deals
While we wait for official 2027 promotions to drop, history shows that National Macaroni Day often inspires delicious deals. Expect fast-casual restaurants like Panera Bread and Noodles & Company to offer discounts on their popular macaroni and cheese dishes. Grocery stores such as Kroger and Walmart may feature sales on various macaroni products and related ingredients. Brands like Kraft Heinz and Annie’s Homegrown could run online promotions or special bundles for their boxed mac and cheese. Keep an eye on local Italian restaurants and delis for unique pasta specials. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as July 7 approaches.
Platform Guide for National Macaroni Day
TikTok
Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #NationalMacaroniDay. Film a creative macaroni recipe or a taste test of different mac and cheese brands.
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #NationalMacaroniDay. Share visually appealing photos of your macaroni creations, from gourmet dishes to comfort food classics.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #NationalMacaroniDay. Share your family’s favorite macaroni recipes or host a virtual cooking party.
National Macaroni Day Hero
Thomas Jefferson
History of National Macaroni Day
The origins of pasta, and macaroni, are not very clear. Records indicate pasta might have originated in China, instead of in Italy as is commonly believed.
The word ‘macaroni’ itself has had varied meanings to different people over time. The International Pasta Organisation traced the word to the Greeks who had established the colony of Neopolis (modern-day Naples). They had appropriated a local dish made from barley-flour pasta and water called ‘makaria.’ Cookbooks in the 14th or 15th century contained the initial mentions of macaroni-like dishes and how to make them, but these noodles were much longer than the short elbow macaroni we now use. Recipes in later centuries catered to the tastes and palettes of the regions they came from, and all were slightly different variations of the macaroni we know today.
As more of the world came into contact with various cultures, different types of pasta were introduced to the colonies. People began to fall in love with this doughy noodle. The American Ambassador to France, Thomas Jefferson, first tasted pasta in Naples, Italy. He even brought back a pasta-making machine to the U.S., and this inspired him to design a machine of his own, one with instructions for making pasta. The American love affair with pasta continued to boom throughout the 19th century.
National Macaroni Day timeline
The Greeks establish a colony in Naples and appropriate a local dish called ‘makaria,’ which might have been the inspiration for the word 'macaroni'.
Some food historians believe pasta originated in this period, in China.
Author and epicure Maestro Martino publishes a landmark cookbook, “Libro de Arte Coquinaria,” which contains several pasta dishes, some paired with cheese.
Thomas Jefferson brings a 'macaroni' maker to the U.S. after he visits Europe as the ambassador to France.
Author and food historian Paul Imhof believes the world's first commercial production of macaroni as we know it today — short, hollow, and elbow-shaped — was not in Italy but in Switzerland.
The predecessor to today's National Pasta Association — the National Association of Macaroni and Noodle Manufacturers of America — is formed.
How Businesses Can Celebrate National Macaroni Day
Local businesses can honor National Macaroni Day by featuring special macaroni dishes on their menus, such as gourmet mac and cheese variations or unique pasta salads. Restaurants could offer a ‘kids eat free’ macaroni promotion or a ‘build-your-own-mac’ bar. Grocery stores might highlight sales on macaroni pasta, cheese, and other ingredients for homemade dishes. Consider hosting a macaroni-themed cooking class or a tasting event to engage the community.
National Macaroni Day FAQs
When is National Macaroni Day?
National Macaroni Day 2026 falls on a Tuesday, July 7. This mid-week observance provides a perfect opportunity to enjoy your favorite macaroni dishes and explore new recipes.
What is macaroni?
Macaroni is a type of dry pasta traditionally made from durum wheat. It is typically cut into short, hollow shapes, most commonly the curved elbow macaroni, and is a staple in many cuisines worldwide.
How popular is macaroni in the U.S.?
Macaroni is exceptionally popular in the U.S., often cited as one of the most consumed pasta shapes. Its versatility and role in iconic dishes like macaroni and cheese contribute to its widespread presence in American households and restaurants.
What are the most popular dishes made with macaroni?
The most popular dish made with macaroni is undoubtedly macaroni and cheese, a beloved comfort food. Macaroni salad, often a staple at picnics and barbecues, is another highly favored preparation.
How To Celebrate National Macaroni Day
Experiment in the kitchen
This versatile ingredient can be used in everything from soups and casseroles to hot dishes and salads. So why not go wild experimenting with different ways to play with macaroni recipes. You can make a macaroni-crusted lasagna, a macaroni pizza with the base being baked mac and cheese, or even macaroni and cream dessert. Whether you are a vegetarian or a meat-lover, there is a fun macaroni recipe for everyone to try out.
Experiment outside the kitchen
Macaroni is not just for eating. There are ways to play with it too! For those with kids (or those who are kids at heart), make fun new art and craft projects with macaroni. You can dye the pasta in different colors and string them into jewelry or glue them onto boxes for a DIY decoration project. Let the kids go wild creating their own fabulous works of art!
Organize a macaroni cook-off
Challenge friends and family to a friendly macaroni-themed cook-off. The best macaroni dish wins. You can take this one step further and create categories for the most inventive recipes.
5 Fun Facts About Macaroni
Macaroni for breakfast
This pasta is traditionally eaten for breakfast in Hong Kong and is cooked with mushrooms, peas, ham, eggs, and chicken stock.
Macaroni is perfect for cheese
Purists swear by macaroni (and shell pasta) as the best pasta to pair with cheese because it has a bigger surface area for the cheese to hold on to compared to long pasta.
Macaroni as an insult
In the 1700s, fashionable men who wore expensive Italian clothes were called 'macaronies,' which is another word for 'dandies'.
The macaroni penguin
The distinctive yellow feathered crest on the macaroni penguin’s head that resembles the hats worn by fashionable men from the 1700s inspired this bird's name.
City rats love macaroni and cheese
A study by the Animal Behavior Society showed city-dwelling rats prefer macaroni and cheese above anything else.
Why We Love National Macaroni Day
It is a taste of childhood
This humble pasta has played a major role in our lives, appearing as comfort food, warming meals when we were sick, and as our kindergarten art. All pasta is mouthwatering, but there is something special about this elbow-shaped one that takes us straight back to our childhood and those fond memories.
It makes mealtimes easier
Making store-bought macaroni (and other pasta) is extremely easy. Many macaroni-based dishes can be cooked ahead and stored, making mealtimes much less stressful. Macaroni can also be used to stretch the quantity of food to feed more people.
It is oh so delicious
This pasta goes with a lot of different cuisines and ingredients with absolutely no problem and makes it taste even better. On its own, macaroni looks unassuming, but the right flavors turn a simple dish into a powerhouse. We love how this pasta makes us feel like master chefs with very little effort.
Social Media Tips for National Macaroni Day
Individuals
Creators
Brands