creamy macaroni salad — the traditional picnic/BBQ style with elbow pasta, eggs, celery, and a mayo-based dressing.
Here’s the full, homemade version:
🥗 Classic Creamy Macaroni Salad
⏱ Prep Time: 20 minutes
❄ Chill Time: 1–2 hours
🍽 Serves: 6–8
🛒 Ingredients
For the Salad:
-
3 cups elbow macaroni (about 12 oz)
-
3 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
-
1 cup celery, finely diced
-
½ cup red onion, finely diced (or sweet onion)
-
½ cup sweet pickle relish (or finely chopped pickles)
-
½ cup shredded carrots (optional)
-
½ cup diced bell pepper (optional)
For the Dressing:
-
1 cup mayonnaise
-
2 tbsp yellow mustard
-
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
-
1–2 tbsp sugar (to taste)
-
½ tsp salt (adjust to taste)
-
½ tsp black pepper
-
¼ tsp paprika (plus more for garnish)
🔪 Instructions
1️⃣ Cook the Pasta
-
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
-
Cook macaroni until just tender (al dente).
-
Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking.
-
Let drain completely.
2️⃣ Make the Dressing
-
In a large bowl, whisk together:
-
Mayonnaise
-
Mustard
-
Vinegar
-
Sugar
-
Salt & pepper
-
Paprika
-
-
Adjust sweetness or tang to preference.
3️⃣ Combine
-
Add cooled macaroni to the dressing.
-
Fold in eggs, celery, onion, relish, and any optional veggies.
-
Stir gently until evenly coated.
4️⃣ Chill
-
Cover and refrigerate at least 1–2 hours before serving.
-
Stir before serving and adjust seasoning if needed.
💡 Tips for the Best Flavor
-
Slightly overcook pasta by 30 seconds for softer, classic texture.
-
Add 1–2 tbsp pickle juice for extra tang.
-
If it thickens in fridge, stir in 1–2 tbsp milk to loosen.
-
Tastes even better the next day!
🌟 Optional Add-Ins
-
Diced ham
-
Crispy bacon bits
-
Green peas
-
Shredded cheddar cheese
-
A dash of hot sauce for kick
If you’d like, I can also give you:
-
Southern-style macaroni salad
-
Amish-style sweet macaroni salad
-
Lighter/healthy version
-
Hawaiian-style version
Just tell me which one 😊