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    Home » Recipes » Recipe

    Classic Macaroni Salad

    Published: Jul 13, 2018 · Modified: Jan 6, 2020 by Fox Valley Foodie · This post may contain affiliate links

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    Classic Macaroni Salad recipe #pastasalad #sidedish #potluck #picnic #cookout

    Look no further than this classic macaroni salad recipe for that quintessential Americana flavor you grew up with!

    Summer is swimsuit season, so I have been dieting obsessively in-between meals and snacks. I hate bragging, but I am totally rocking the dad bod this year. All the ladies at the beach look at me and think, "Man, I could really rest my head on his soft stomach." Sorry ladies, this guy's taken. Side dishes like this classic macaroni salad keep my heart happy and my physique in peak dad bod condition.

    Classic Macaroni Salad

    What is Macaroni Salad

    Macaroni salad is a classic summertime side dish served frequently at picnics and BBQs. This creamy pasta salad is mayo based with a subtle tanginess added from mustard and vinegar which is offset by the sweetness of sugar. Macaroni salad traditionally contains the added crunch of fresh produce mixed in with the tender elbow macaroni and dressing.

    Macaroni Salad Ingredients

    Even a classic macaroni salad recipe has flexibility on the acceptable ingredient add-ins. For me personally, I believe the best macaroni salad will have chopped onion, celery, and peas, as well as a hint of sweet pickle relish. However, bell peppers, shredded carrots, and cheddar cheese are among the wide variety of additions people sometimes include in their recipe. I've seen dill included as well, though I would rather make my Dill Pickle Pasta Salad if I was going that route. The point is, feel free to customize it to your own tastes.

    How to Make Macaroni Salad

    How to Make Macaroni Salad

    Macaroni salad is exceptionally easy to make. Simply boil the elbow macaroni in a pot of salted water and prepare the remaining ingredients while it cooks.  All of the ingredients get combined together in a large bowl, however, I always rinse the rinse the cooked pasta under cold water prior to mixing it with the other ingredients to prevent heating up the pasta salad. Also, make sure the pasta is well drained or your pasta salad can get runny. If it does turn out runnier than you prefer, simply add more mayo.

    How Long Can You Keep Macaroni Salad

    Macaroni salad should last in the fridge for up to a week if using fresh ingredients, however, it is best consumed within a couple days. Always keep it in a sealed container in the refrigerator to prevent your macaroni salad from soaking up off-flavors.

    How Long Can Macaroni Salad Be Left Out

    When serving macaroni salad at a picnic or potluck don't let it sit at room temperature longer than 4 hours. Since it is dairy-based you risk food poisoning if it sits for a prolonged period of time. Using an iced serving bowl and help prolong the servability by keeping the temperature below 40 degrees. 

    Classic Macaroni Salad recipe

    What to Serve with Macaroni Salad

    If you are planning a picnic, cookout, or potluck you may want to consider additional complimentary side dishes such as coleslaw, red potato salad, and homemade baked beans. If you are looking for something a little more adventurous, check out this Blue Cheese Potato Salad with bacon!

    Classic Macaroni Salad recipe

    Classic Macaroni Salad

    Look no further than this classic macaroni salad recipe for that quintessential Americana flavor you grew up with!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes
    Servings: 16
    Calories: 269kcal
    Author: Fox Valley Foodie

    Ingredients

    • 16 oz Elbow Macaroni
    • 1 ½ cup Mayonnaise
    • ¼ cup Distilled White Vinegar
    • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
    • 1 medium Onion (chopped)
    • 3 stalks Celery (chopped)
    • 1 cups Peas
    • 2 tablespoons Sweet Pickle Relish
    • 2 tablespoons Sugar
    • 1 ½ teaspoons Salt (plus more for pasta)
    • ¾ teaspoon Black Pepper

    Instructions

    • Cook pasta in a pot of salted boiling water according to package directions.
    • While pasta is cooking prepare the remaining ingredients and mix in a large bowl.
    • When pasta is tender remove from pot and rinse under cold water until cooled.
    • Combine cooled pasta with remaining ingredients and mix thoroughly. 
    • Serve immediately or store in refrigerator in an air-tight container.

    Notes

    IF YOU LIKED THIS RECIPE you should check out my Pepperoni Pizza Pasta Salad recipe too!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 269kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 396mg | Potassium: 121mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 140IU | Vitamin C: 4.4mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 0.6mg
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    If you enjoyed reading my Classic Macaroni Salad recipe then you should probably like me on Facebook and follow me on Pinterest too. That’s what I would do at least, because if you don’t get to know me but you still use my recipe it is kind of like taking candy from a stranger, and your mom taught you not to do that. Don’t disobey your mom, subscribe to Fox Valley Foodie today.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Alice

      July 24, 2018 at 8:40 am

      5 stars
      This tastes like summer growing up!

      Reply
    2. Sandra Perdeiel

      July 13, 2018 at 10:15 pm

      Don't you do Yum any more?

      Reply
      • Fox Valley Foodie

        July 14, 2018 at 7:55 am

        Something weird is going on with my Yummly account, it doesn't seem to be sending my Yums to my website's page anymore and I am working on getting that fixed.

        Reply

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