Macaroni Salad Recipe
A creamy and flavorful macaroni salad featuring tender elbow macaroni mixed with crunchy celery, shredded carrot, red bell pepper, and red onion, all tossed in a tangy mayonnaise-based dressing with apple cider vinegar, sweet relish, and mustard. Perfect for picnics, barbecues, or as a side dish to your favorite meals.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 ounces elbow macaroni (approx. 2 cups dry, or any short pasta)
Vegetables
- 1 cup diced celery
- ½ cup shredded carrot
- ½ cup diced red bell pepper
- ¼ cup diced red onion (or thinly sliced green onion)
Dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (or white vinegar)
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons sweet relish
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard (or Dijon mustard)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil and cook the elbow macaroni according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta well and rinse under cold water to halt the cooking process and cool the pasta.
- Prepare the dressing: In a large mixing bowl, combine the mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, granulated sugar, sweet relish, yellow mustard, salt, and black pepper. Stir thoroughly until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Combine salad ingredients: Add the drained pasta, diced celery, shredded carrot, red bell pepper, and diced red onion to the bowl with the dressing. Toss everything together gently until the pasta and vegetables are evenly coated with the dressing. Taste the salad and adjust the seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.
- Chill before serving: Cover the macaroni salad and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld and the salad to chill thoroughly. Serve cold for the best taste and texture.
Notes
- For a healthier twist, substitute half of the mayonnaise with Greek yogurt.
- You can add diced hard-boiled eggs or cooked bacon for extra protein and flavor.
- Use gluten-free pasta if you require a gluten-free version.
- Adjust the sweetness by varying the amount of sugar or relish according to your taste preference.
- Make the salad a day ahead to enhance the flavors, just ensure it’s stored properly in the refrigerator.
Keywords: macaroni salad, pasta salad, side dish, picnic food, barbecue side, creamy salad, summer salad
Find it online: https://dinewithdylan.com/macaroni-salad-recipe/
