Perfect Creamy Macaroni Salad: 1 Glorious Bite
This is our classic, creamy macaroni salad, perfect for your next picnic or barbecue. It brings back memories with every cool, flavorful bite.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 25 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Chilled
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound elbow macaroni
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sweet pickle relish
- 1/4 cup finely chopped celery
- 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
- 1/4 cup chopped sweet red bell pepper
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the macaroni according to package directions until tender. Drain well and rinse with cold water to stop cooking. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, pickle relish, celery, red onion, red bell pepper, mustard, white vinegar, salt, and pepper. Mix until everything is well combined.
- Add the cooled, drained macaroni to the dressing mixture. Gently fold everything together until the macaroni is fully coated.
- Cover the bowl and chill the macaroni salad in the refrigerator for at least two hours before serving. This allows the flavors to blend.
- Taste before serving and adjust salt or pepper if needed. Serve cold.
Notes
- Rinsing the cooked pasta thoroughly with cold water is key to stopping the cooking process and keeping the salad from becoming mushy.
- For an extra layer of flavor, add one hard-boiled egg, chopped, to the mix.
- Make this salad a day ahead; the flavors deepen overnight.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 15mg