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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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