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Close-up of creamy macaroni salad with diced red onion, green bell pepper, and red pepper in a white serving bowl.

Macaroni Salad

Ella
No more dry or bland bites—just perfect pasta coated in a rich, flavorful dressing that holds up even after chilling.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Southern American
Servings 8 servings
Calories 397 kcal

Ingredients
  

Pasta Base

  • 3 cups elbow macaroni, uncooked
  • 1 rib celery, finely chopped about one third cup
  • 0.5 green bell pepper, finely chopped about one third cup
  • 0.5 medium red onion, finely diced about one cup

Creamy Dressing

  • 1 cup mayonnaise Duke’s or Hellmann’s works best
  • 1 tbsp yellow mustard
  • 3 tbsp white vinegar or sweet pickle juice for milder flavor
  • 2 tsp white sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 0.5 tsp black pepper
  • 0.5 tsp granulated garlic
  • 0.5 tsp onion powder

Instructions
 

  • Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the elbow macaroni and cook until just past al dente. Drain and immediately rinse with cold water until completely cool to stop the cooking and remove excess starch.
  • Step 2: In a medium bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, sugar, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder until smooth. Stir in the diced onion, celery, and bell pepper.
  • Step 3: Place the cooled pasta in a large bowl. Add half of the dressing and toss to coat. Cover both the bowl of pasta and remaining dressing, and chill in the refrigerator for at least two hours.
  • Step 4: Just before serving, add the remaining dressing to the chilled pasta and toss well. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed. Serve chilled.

Notes

For extra flavor, stir in chopped hard boiled eggs, sweet pickle relish, or shredded cheddar cheese. If the salad dries out in the fridge, stir in a little mayo or pickle juice before serving.
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Calories: 397 kcal
 Carbohydrates: 42g
 Protein: 7g
 Fat: 22g
 Saturated Fat: 3g
 Polyunsaturated Fat: 13g
 Monounsaturated Fat: 5g
 Trans Fat: 0.1g
 Cholesterol: 12mg
 Sodium: 494mg
 Potassium: 155mg
 Fiber: 2g
 Sugar: 3g
 Vitamin A: 50 IU
 Vitamin C: 7mg
 Calcium: 19mg
 Iron: 1mg
Keyword creamy macaroni salad, macaroni salad, Southern pasta salad