This macaroni salad recipe is a classic, tasty, and incredibly easy dish made with staple ingredients like celery, red pepper, and onion, all dressed in a simple creamy mayo-based dressing that is sure to be a hit at any cookout or potluck. Check out the easy video that shows step-by-step how to make this delightful dish!
A Rainy Week and a Taste of Summer
We’ve had a week full of non-stop rain here, and Zach’s first two softball games of the season have been rained out, making me feel like I’m forgetting what the sun looks like (I promise, I’m only slightly dramatic!). I’m really over the gloomy weather and ready for summertime sunshine and cookout vibes, especially with Memorial Day weekend just around the corner, so I’m excited to share my all-time favorite macaroni salad recipe, regardless of the grey skies outside.
Macaroni Salad: A Summertime Staple
Macaroni salad is a must-have for parties, potlucks, and cookouts, and no gathering is complete without a giant chilled bowl of it. Today, I’ll show you how I make my favorite version, complete with a perfectly creamy, slightly sweet dressing.
Ingredients for Macaroni Salad
While different macaroni salads can have various ingredients, my go-to staples include elbow macaroni, sweet pickles, red pepper, celery, red onion, and either hard-boiled eggs or shredded cheddar cheese, all brought together with a homemade mayo-based dressing. Feel free to add your favorite ingredients or make substitutions, but I highly recommend trying this combination at least once for the best experience.
The Dressing That Makes It Special
The dressing is what truly sets this macaroni salad apart from other potluck recipes you might have tried, providing just the right amount of creaminess so that the noodles are perfectly coated, neither dry nor overly drenched. It also has a slight sweetness from the addition of sweet pickle juice and a pinch of sugar.
Storing Macaroni Salad
You can keep macaroni salad for up to five days when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, making it a great option for preparing in advance. I recommend chilling it for at least an hour before serving, especially for picnics and potlucks, but remember to avoid leaving it out at room temperature or in the heat, as the dressing won’t hold up well.
Perfect Pairings
This macaroni salad pairs wonderfully with my favorite BBQ pulled chicken and a plate full of deviled eggs, so if you’re already boiling eggs, you might as well make enough for both dishes! I loved hearing your tips for peeling fresh eggs when I shared my deviled egg recipe, and I encourage you to keep sharing your favorite egg-peeling methods in the comments!
Print
- Total Time: 22 minutes
- Yield: 6 cups
Description
This macaroni salad recipe is a classic, tasty, and incredibly easy dish made with staple ingredients like celery, red pepper, and onion, all dressed in a simple creamy mayo-based dressing that is sure to be a hit at any cookout or potluck. Check out the easy video that shows step-by-step how to make this delightful dish!
Ingredients
- Macaroni Noodles: Start with 8 oz (227g) of macaroni noodles.
- Sweet Gherkins: Add 1/2 cup (80g) of finely diced sweet gherkins, which is usually about 4-6 gherkins.
- Red Bell Pepper: Include 3/4 cup (100g) of finely diced red bell pepper, approximately half of a pepper.
- Celery: Use 1/3 cup (55g) of thinly sliced celery, which is around 1-2 stalks.
- Red Onion: Incorporate 1/3 cup (45g) of finely diced red onion.
- Hard Boiled Eggs: Dice 2 large hard-boiled eggs and add them to the mix.
Macaroni Salad Dressing
- Mayonnaise: For the dressing, mix in 3/4 cup (175g) of mayonnaise; olive oil mayo works well.
- Sour Cream: Add 1/4 cup (70g) of sour cream.
- Sweet Pickle Juice: Stir in 2 tablespoons of sweet pickle juice.
- Red Wine Vinegar: Include 1 tablespoon of red wine vinegar for acidity.
- Granulated Sugar: Add 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar to balance the flavors.
- Dijon Mustard: Incorporate 2 teaspoons of Dijon mustard for a little kick.
- Salt and Pepper: Season with 1/4 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of ground black pepper.
- Garlic Powder: Add a subtle flavor with 1/8 teaspoon of garlic powder.
- Crushed Red Pepper: If you like a bit of heat, you can include 1/8 teaspoon of crushed red pepper as an optional ingredient.
Instructions
-
Cook the Macaroni: Prepare the macaroni noodles according to the package instructions, then drain and rinse them immediately with cold water. Drizzle a teaspoon of olive oil over the noodles and gently stir to prevent them from sticking together as they sit.
-
Combine the Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix the macaroni noodles with sweet pickles, red pepper, celery, red onion, and hard-boiled eggs, stirring gently until everything is well combined. After this,Set this mixture aside while you prepare the dressing.
-
Make the Dressing: In a medium-sized bowl, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, red wine vinegar, sweet pickle juice, sugar, Dijon mustard, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and crushed red pepper if you like a little heat. Whisk these ingredients together until they are smooth and well mixed.
-
Assemble the Salad: Pour the dressing over the macaroni salad ingredients and toss everything together until the noodles and vegetables are evenly coated with the dressing.
-
Chill and Serve: For the best flavor, cover the bowl and let the macaroni salad chill in the refrigerator for at least one hour. Before serving, give it a gentle stir to mix everything again, and then enjoy your delicious macaroni salad!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Cup
- Calories: 288 kcal