

Hard Boiled Eggs: I’ve always make my macaroni salad with egg, just like Potato Salad.If you really don’t like pickles, you can leave them out. Trust me when I say they go perfectly in this salad. Sweet Pickles: Sweet pickles are a classic macaroni salad ingredient.Red Onion: A little bit of red onion is a nice contrast to the sweetness from the pickles and dressing.Chop the celery up finely because small bites of celery are best here.

You could also use a yellow or orange bell pepper.

Red Bell Pepper: A chopped red bell pepper adds color, flavor and crunch.Any short pasta will work, such as elbow macaroni. Pasta: I use ditalini pasta because that’s what my mom and grandma have always used.You’ll find that the ingredients vary slightly between different macaroni salad recipes. It’s a great make ahead side dish!Ĭomplete your summer BBQ menu with one or two of these favorite side dishes: Pasta Salad, Broccoli Salad or Fruit Salad, and you’ll have a meal worthy of any summer cookout! Macaroni Salad Ingredients Macaroni salad tastes even better on the second day, after the flavors have had time to meld together.The dressing has just a touch of sweetness, which perfectly complements the other flavors in the salad.This recipe comes together in 30 minutes, start to finish.It’s a tried and true recipe that’s easy to make, with a delicious crunch from celery and bell pepper. This macaroni salad is a slight adaptation of my grandma’s recipe. This creamy pasta salad is the perfect side dish to serve with Grilled Chicken, Grilled Pork Chops or Slow Cooker Pulled Pork. In the summer, it doesn’t get much better than dinner off of the grill and a side of homemade macaroni salad. This macaroni salad recipe is quick and easy to make with just a few simple ingredients. Swap Option: While elbow macaroni is classic for this creamy side dish, any short pasta such as corkscrews or bowties will work here.Macaroni Salad with egg, sweet pickles and a creamy dressing is a delicious side dish that’s perfect for summer BBQ’s and potlucks. Technique Tip: Letting the mixture sit in the refrigerator for a few hours is the most important step! It allows all of the flavors to meld, giving you the most flavorful macaroni salad. Make it the day before your summer soirée so it is good to go when you are ready to serve – just fold in a handful of chopped fresh parsley at the last minute. The waiting is the hardest part, but it is well worth it. Let the flavors meld for at least two hours, but overnight is even better. You’ll spend more time waiting for the pasta salad to marinate in the refrigerator than you will actually cooking through the recipe. You can even use cooked vegetables here if you are looking to use up some leftovers (go ahead and add in some finely chopped broccoli or cooked peas). Chop up some fresh vegetables like sweet bell peppers, celery and scallions and add them to the mix. In fact, any strong vinegar like white wine or white balsamic will work.
#Basic macaroni salad free#
Distilled white vinegar is ideal here because it packs a big acidic punch, but feel free to use whatever type of vinegar you have on hand.

Make the dressing by quickly whisking together mayonnaise, sour cream, vinegar, sugar and mustard. While the pasta cooks, you’ll have plenty of time to put everything else together. This recipe has everything you want in a macaroni salad – a creamy but light dressing, al dente pasta, crunchy fresh vegetables and a sprinkle of fresh herbs. A few simple ingredients (many of which you probably have on hand) come together to make a surprisingly flavorful pasta salad that is perfect to serve at room temperature or straight from the refrigerator. A classic macaroni salad is a must-have at summer picnics and potlucks alike.
