Macaroni salad is a versatile dish that can be served as a side or main course, and it's perfect for potlucks and picnics. This classic salad is made with cooked macaroni, mayonnaise, and a variety of other ingredients, such as celery, onion, and hard-boiled eggs. It can also be customized with different types of cheese, protein, and vegetables. In this article, we'll provide three delicious macaroni salad recipes that are sure to please everyone. The first recipe is a classic macaroni salad made with mayonnaise, celery, onion, and hard-boiled eggs. The second recipe is a more modern take on macaroni salad, with a creamy dressing made with Greek yogurt and Dijon mustard. The third recipe is a hearty macaroni salad made with bacon, cheese, and vegetables. All three recipes are easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste.
Here are our top 8 tried and tested recipes!
THE BEST MACARONI SALAD EVER
Steps:
- Cook the macaroni in lightly salted water according to the package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool. Set aside.
- Mix together the mayo, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper. Splash in enough milk to make it pourable. Splash in pickle juice for extra flavor. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. Set aside.
- Place the cooled macaroni in a large bowl and pour in 3/4 of the dressing. Toss and add more dressing if you'd like. (The dressing will seem a little thin, but it will thicken up as the salad chills.)
- Stir in the roasted red peppers (or pimentos), olives, pickles, and green onions. Add more of any ingredient if you'd like more stuff going on! At the end, splash in a little more pickle juice and stir.
- Chill for at least 2 hours before serving. Sprinkle with sliced green onions to serve!
CLASSIC MACARONI SALAD
This classic macaroni salad recipe is a refreshingly light take on an all-time favorite. It's perfect for a fast weeknight dinner or festive weekend barbecue. -Dorothy Bayes, Sardis, Ohio
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Lunch Side Dishes
Time 30m
Yield 8 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain and rinse with cold water. Cool completely. , For dressing, in a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, pickle relish, sugar substitute, mustard, salt and pepper. In a large bowl, combine the macaroni, celery, carrot and onion. Add dressing and toss gently to coat. , Refrigerate until serving. Garnish with egg and paprika.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 115 calories, Fat 2g fat (0 saturated fat), Cholesterol 27mg cholesterol, Sodium 362mg sodium, Carbohydrate 21g carbohydrate (6g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 4g protein. Diabetic Exchanges
CLASSIC MACARONI SALAD
This is a salad that everyone seems to love. I always get lots of compliments on this recipe and it is just a pleasing taste that seems to suit everyone.
Provided by Graden
Categories Salad Pasta Salad Vegetarian Pasta Salad Recipes
Time 4h30m
Yield 10
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni, and cook until tender, about 8 minutes. Rinse under cold water and drain.
- In a large bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, mustard, salt and pepper. Stir in the onion, celery, green pepper, carrot, pimentos and macaroni. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving, but preferably overnight.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 390 calories, Carbohydrate 49.3 g, Cholesterol 8.4 mg, Fat 18.7 g, Fiber 2.8 g, Protein 6.8 g, SaturatedFat 2.8 g, Sodium 528.6 mg, Sugar 15.5 g
AMERICAN MACARONI SALAD
Bring this classic American Macaroni Salad recipe from Food Network Kitchen to your next picnic � it's perfect for an outdoor barbecue spread.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories side-dish
Time 30m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- In a large bowl, combine the macaroni, celery, onion, parsley and tomato, if using. In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, mustard, sugar, vinegar, sour cream and salt. Pour the dressing over the salad and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve. Store covered in the refrigerator, for up to 3 days.
MAGNIFICENT MACARONI SALAD
Slightly sweet, classic macaroni salad recipe!
Provided by Christine Anne Limon
Categories Salad 100+ Pasta Salad Recipes Macaroni Salad Recipes
Time 50m
Yield 5
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until cooked through but firm to the bite, 8 minutes; drain.
- Rinse macaroni in cold water until cool; drain.
- Stir mayonnaise, onion, parsley, mustard, rice vinegar, sugar, celery seed, and salt together in a bowl; add macaroni and eggs and stir to coat.
- Chill in refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 782.8 calories, Carbohydrate 53.4 g, Cholesterol 152.3 mg, Fat 57.4 g, Fiber 3.3 g, Protein 14 g, SaturatedFat 9.1 g, Sodium 718.8 mg, Sugar 3.3 g
CHEF JOHN'S CLASSIC MACARONI SALAD
Whether it's sitting next to some smoky ribs or just a humble hot dog, this deli-style macaroni salad will always be a crowd favorite, as long as you pay attention to a few key details.
Provided by Chef John
Categories Salad 100+ Pasta Salad Recipes Macaroni Salad Recipes
Time 4h33m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Whisk 1 cup mayonnaise, vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper together in a bowl until well blended; whisk in sugar. Stir in celery, red bell pepper, carrot, onions, and jalapeno and poblano peppers. Refrigerate until macaroni is ready to dress.
- Bring a large pot of well salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain but do not rinse. Allow macaroni to drain in a colander about 5 minutes, shaking out moisture from time to time. Pour macaroni into large bowl; toss to separate and cool to room temperature. Macaroni should be sticky.
- Pour dressing over macaroni and stir until dressing is evenly distributed. Cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 4 hours or, ideally, overnight to allow dressing to absorb into the macaroni.
- Stir salad before serving. Mix 1 tablespoon mayonnaise and 1 tablespoon water into salad for fresher look.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 294.5 calories, Carbohydrate 32 g, Cholesterol 7.4 mg, Fat 16.1 g, Fiber 1.9 g, Protein 5.4 g, SaturatedFat 2.4 g, Sodium 508.1 mg, Sugar 3.2 g
MACARONI SALAD
Macaroni salad, a cookout favorite, doesn't take much to be great - just the right amount of moisture and seasoning. This version draws its inspiration from the macaroni salad at the Kennedy Fried Chicken restaurants. For the perfect balance, use a more savory brand of mayonnaise here, since the recipe gets its sweetness from a bit of sugar and shredded carrots. Make sure the macaroni salad is cold when you serve it; the only time macaroni has to be served hot is when it's covered in mounds of cheese, like this Southern Macaroni and Cheese.
Provided by Millie Peartree
Categories noodles, salads and dressings, side dish
Time 30m
Yield 8 to 10 servings (3 quarts)
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook noodles until a little past al dente, then rinse under cold water and drain. Once the noodles are cool enough to handle with your hands, transfer them to a large bowl.
- Add the celery, bell pepper, carrots and onion to the cooled noodles; toss to combine.
- Prepare the dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, vinegar, sugar, mustard, salt and pepper.
- Pour dressing over the pasta mixture and toss until everything is well coated. Taste and season with more salt and pepper, if desired. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and chill for at least 1 hour before serving.
CAPRESE MACARONI SALAD
When fresh tomatoes and basil are abundant in the summer, I like to make this wonderful Caprese macaroni salad. -Debbie Glasscock, Conway, Arkansas
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Lunch Side Dishes
Time 20m
Yield 7 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain and rinse with cold water. Cool completely., For dressing, in a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, dressing mix, sugar, mustard, salt and pepper. In a large bowl, combine tomatoes, mozzarella and macaroni. Add dressing; gently toss to coat. Refrigerate until serving. Top with basil and Parmesan before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 397 calories, Fat 31g fat (8g saturated fat), Cholesterol 29mg cholesterol, Sodium 458mg sodium, Carbohydrate 20g carbohydrate (4g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 10g protein.
Tips:
- Cook the macaroni according to the package instructions. Use a large pot of boiling water and salt it generously. This will help the macaroni retain its shape and flavor.
- Use a variety of vegetables in your macaroni salad. This will add color, texture, and flavor. Some good options include celery, carrots, onions, bell peppers, and cucumbers.
- Add protein to your macaroni salad. This will make it a more filling and satisfying meal. Some good options include cooked chicken, ham, or tuna.
- Use a flavorful dressing. This is what will really bring your macaroni salad together. You can use a simple vinaigrette, a mayonnaise-based dressing, or a yogurt-based dressing.
- Chill the macaroni salad before serving. This will help the flavors to meld and develop.
Conclusion:
Macaroni salad is a classic summer dish that is perfect for picnics, potlucks, and BBQs. It is easy to make and can be customized to your liking. With a little creativity, you can create a macaroni salad that is both delicious and visually appealing.
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