This is the best creamy Macaroni Salad you will ever try! Made with classic vegetables like celery, red pepper, and onion, it's loaded with crunchy textures and great flavors. This recipe will be guaranteed to steal the show at your next potluck or cookout.
Looking for more easy side dishes? Try my easy coleslaw recipe next!
About This Recipe
There always seems to be a debate about whether macaroni salad or potato salad is better. But to me, there is no debate- macaroni salad is the clear winner! The texture is lighter and smoother, there are more crunchy vegetables, and it just tastes way better. Potato salad is just a tad too starchy and sticky for me.
Growing up, my family used to get this rotisserie chicken combo at Superstore. It would come with 1 rotisserie chicken, 1 baguette, a container of gravy, and 2 sides. We always got a container of Ziggy's brand macaroni salad as one of the side dishes. I think that's when my macaroni salad addiction began.
It's still one of my favorite side dishes to order whenever I see it on a menu. Just last week, my friends and I went to a fried chicken spot with unlimited macaroni salad- I was the only one taking advantage of the FREE macaroni.
Key Ingredients
Macaroni: This is one of the rare times when overcooked pasta is better than al dente pasta. I recommend cooking the macaroni for 2 minutes longer than the suggested cooking time on the box.
Dressing: Mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, sugar, sweet relish, salt, black pepper, and Dijon mustard.
Add-ins: Red bell pepper, celery, red onions, and hard-boiled eggs.
Instructions
STEP 1: Cook the macaroni according to the package instructions ( I recommend going 2 minutes over for a softer texture). Rinse under cold water until cool and then drain thoroughly in a colander (I actually span my macaroni dry in a salad spinner).
STEP 2: Combine the dressing ingredients in a small bowl.
STEP 3: To a large bowl, add the cooked macaroni, dressing, red bell pepper, onions, celery, and eggs. Toss until thoroughly combined.
STEP 4: Serve immediately, or refrigerate for 1 hour to allow the macaroni to soften further. Enjoy!
Macaroni Salad
Ingredients
- 8 ounce dried macaroni
Mayonnaise dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 2 ½ tablespoons apple cider vinegar (or white vinegar)
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons sweet relish
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Add-ins
- ¾ cup diced red bell pepper (½ small)
- ⅓ cup celery (1-2 ribs)
- ⅓ cup diced red onion (½ small)
- 2 large hard-boiled eggs (finely diced)
Instructions
- Cook the macaroni according to the package directions. Drain then rinse immediately with cold water. Set aside in a colander so the macaroni can drain well.
- In a small bowl, combine all the dressing ingredients.
- In a large bowl, add the cooled macaroni, the dressing, red pepper, celery, onion, and eggs. Mix well then add more salt and pepper as needed.
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