Description
A crowd-pleasing macaroni salad loaded with crisp chopped veggies and tossed in an amazing sweet and tangy dressing! It’s the ultimate side dish for family picnics, holiday parties, and summer cookouts.
Ingredients
- 8 oz Elbow Macaroni
- 2 Qts Water + 1 Tsp Salt
- 2 Tbs Red Onion, finely chopped
- 1 Tbs Red Bell Peppers, finely chopped
- 1 Tbs Celery, finely chopped
- 1 Tbs Carrots, finely shredded
- 2–1/2 Cups Hellman’s Mayo
- 1/4 Cup Sweet Relish
- 2 Tbs Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 Tsp Mustard
- 1/4 Cup Sugar
- 1/2 Tsp Garlic Powder
- 1/2 Tsp Salt
- 1/4 Tsp Black Pepper
- Parsley Flakes (For decoration purposes)
Instructions
- Place a large pot over high heat.
- Add cold water and salt, then stir well.
- After 10 minutes, or once the water comes to a boil, add the pasta.
- Boil for 10 minutes.
- Once the pasta is done, drain the hot water, and rinse with cold water for about 2 minutes. (Let it sit for about 10 minutes to dry a bit.)
- Peel and grate the carrot.
- Chop the onion, pepper, and celery into small pieces.
- Add in the mayo, relish, mustard, and vinegar to a big mixing bowl.
- Add in the seasonings, then fold well.
- Add in the chopped vegetables, then fold well.
- Add in the macaroni, then fold well.
- Garnish the salad with parsley flakes.
- Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate to chill.
Notes
- Make it the night before: For the absolute best results, make this salad the night before you serve it. Letting it sit in the fridge overnight gives the apple cider vinegar, sweet relish, and seasonings time to marry, turning a good dressing into a spectacular one.
- Keep the pasta al dente: Do not overcook your macaroni! Boil until it’s tender but still has a firm bite. Because the macaroni will naturally soften as it sits and absorbs the creamy dressing, starting with firm noodles keeps the salad from getting mushy.
- Don’t skip the cold rinse: The second you drain the hot water, rinse the macaroni under cold water for 30 to 40 seconds. This instantly stops the cooking process and washes away excess starch so your noodles stay separate and don’t clump together.
- Dry your ingredients thoroughly: Water is the absolute enemy of a creamy macaroni salad! Make sure your macaroni is fully drained, and your rinsed vegetables are patted dry before mixing. Any leftover moisture will thin out your mayo and make the dressing watery.
- Add the salt last: If you are watching your sodium or cooking for a crowd with different tastes, hold off on heavy salting until the end. Once the salad is fully assembled, give it a quick taste test, then gradually add salt until the flavors pop exactly how you want them.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
