This Easy Macaroni Salad Recipe is my go to dish to bring to potlucks, BBQ’s, parties and more. It is loaded with lots of delicious veggies, cheese and more!
Why I Love this Recipe
How to Serve this Salad:
What ingredients are in macaroni salad?
Traditional Southern macaroni salad has mayonnaise, cheese, vinegar and a few veggies. You can easily add or omit the ingredients you do not like.
A very simple version is just tomato and cheese with the mayo or Italian dressing. Cheddar cheese cubed is what is traditionally in this salad.
You can mix it up with pepper jack or other cheeses though for something different. Classic Macaroni Salad uses elbow macaroni but you can use what you prefer or have on hand.
What do you put in your pasta salad?
This recipe calls for onion, green pepper, green peas and more. However, feel free to make it your own. This simple salad is just as tasty with only a few ingredients or load it up with veggies like carrots, pickles, sweet pickle relish, if you prefer.
Hard boiled eggs are also good in the salad and add protein. I also like green pepper or red bell pepper. Sweet pickle is also in many traditional Southern style pasta salads.
Whatever you choose, it is the perfect Summer side dish. You can also use mustard sugar and black pepper instead of the vinegar.
How long can you eat macaroni salad?
Pasta salad recipe with mayo will keep in the fridge for 3-5 days.
However, if the salad has been left out for more than 2 hours, discard it. This is due to the mayonnaise in the macaroni salad.
Ingredients:
- elbow macaroni noodles
- cheddar cheese
- red onion
- celery stalks
- red bell pepper
- frozen peas
- mayo
- apple cider vinegar
- fresh dill
- sugar
- Dijon mustard
- salt and pepper
What Type of Mayonnaise to Use?
How to make Macaroni Salad Recipe:
- Step 1 – Boil macaroni according to package instructions. You want the pasta to still be firm so cook until al dente. Immediately rinse under cold water and drain so it isn’t sticky and prevents it from over cooking. Drain well.
- Step 2 – In a large bowl, toss together cooked pasta with the cubed cheese, onion, celery, bell pepper, and peas.
- Step 3 – In a small mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, dill, sugar, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper.
- Step 4 – Pour the mixture over the pasta and toss until everything is well coated.
- Step 5 – Cover bowl with plastic wrap and chill at least 30 minutes to 1 hour before serving.
- Step 6 – Top with fresh dill or fresh parsley. Enjoy!
How to store Pasta Salad.
Simple Macaroni Salad Additions:
- You can also substitute some of the mayo with sour cream. It will make it the sauce more tangy so just keep that in mind. You might want to try half mayo and half sour cream.
- Stir in some cherry tomatoes cut in half.
- Top with shredded parmesan cheese.
Expert Tips for this Recipe:
- Make sure that you do not over cook the pasta. Over cooked pasta will make this macaroni salad mushy. Watch the pasta closely when cooking, cook to al dente and rinse with cold water immediately to stop the cooking process.
- Ensure that you refrigerate this salad before. Chilling the salad gives it time for the flavors to meld together.
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