Macaroni salad
Macaroni salad is a classic side dish that’s creamy, flavorful, and packed with fresh, crunchy veggies. It’s quick to make, easy to customize, and perfect for picnics, BBQs, or weekday meals. With a simple homemade dressing and a little chill time, it turns into a crowd-pleasing favorite every time!
Servings 8 People
Ingredients
- 4 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
- 1/2 cup chopped sweet bell pepper
- 1/4 cup chopped white or red onion
- 1/2 cup chopped celery
- 1/4 cup shredded carrot
- Green onion optional
- 1 tbsp olive oil
For the Sauce:
- 1 1/4 cups mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp mustard
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup white vinegar
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- In a pot, bring water to a boil. Add the elbow macaroni and cook until soft, or follow the instructions on the package.
- Once cooked, drain the macaroni, then stir in 1 tablespoon of olive oil to prevent sticking. Set aside to cool.
- While the pasta is cooling, finely chop the vegetables: celery, sweet bell pepper, onion, and shred the carrot. Feel free to adjust the vegetables based on your taste—add more or leave some out.
- Once the pasta has cooled, add it to a large bowl along with the chopped vegetables. Set aside.
- In a separate bowl, prepare the sauce by mixing together the mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper. Whisk until smooth and creamy. If the sauce is too thick, you can add a tablespoon of water to thin it out slightly.
- Pour the sauce over the macaroni and vegetables, then mix everything together until well combined.
- Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. You can also make it a day ahead—macaroni salad tastes even better the next day!
- Enjoy it on its own or serve it as a side dish.
Notes
- Make sure to cool the pasta completely before mixing to keep the dressing smooth and creamy.
- You can adjust the sweetness and tanginess of the sauce by tweaking the sugar and vinegar to your liking.
- If you’re making it for a crowd, feel free to double the recipe—it’s always a hit!
- For extra crunch, try adding diced pickles or a small handful of sweet corn.
- The color and texture of this salad make it perfect for gatherings—feel free to customize the veggies based on what you have on hand.
- Don’t skip the chilling time—it helps the flavors develop and gives the salad the perfect texture.
- This salad is naturally egg-free (if your mayo is), but always check the labels if you’re serving someone with allergies.