The Best Macaroni Salad Recipe
A classic and creamy macaroni salad featuring perfectly cooked elbow macaroni mixed with a flavorful blend of mayonnaise, celery, carrot, hard-boiled egg, pickles, and subtle seasonings. This refreshing side dish is ideal for picnics, barbecues, or as a delicious accompaniment to your favorite meals.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 23 minutes (including chilling time)
- Yield: Approximately 6 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 2 cups elbow macaroni, uncooked
- 3 quarts water
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt (for boiling water)
Salad Dressing and Mix-ins
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup finely chopped celery
- ⅓ cup finely chopped carrot
- 1 hard-boiled egg, chopped
- ¼ cup finely minced onion (dehydrated onion used)
- 2 tablespoons sweet relish
- ¾ teaspoon dry ground mustard
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 dash paprika
Instructions
- Boil Water: In a large pot, bring 3 quarts of water to a rolling boil and add 1 ½ teaspoons of salt to season the water.
- Cook Macaroni: Gradually add the dry elbow macaroni to the boiling water to prevent clumping. Return the water to a boil and cook uncovered for 6-8 minutes until the macaroni is tender yet firm (al dente).
- Drain and Cool: Drain the cooked macaroni well and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool the pasta. Drain thoroughly again to remove excess water.
- Combine Ingredients: In a medium bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, finely chopped celery, carrot, chopped hard-boiled egg, minced onion, sweet relish, dry ground mustard, salt, black pepper, and a dash of paprika until well blended.
- Mix Salad: Transfer the cooled macaroni to a large bowl and toss thoroughly with the prepared dressing and vegetable mixture to evenly coat all the pasta.
- Chill: Cover the macaroni salad and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving to let the flavors meld and to serve chilled.
Notes
- For best results, do not overcook the macaroni; it should remain slightly firm to hold texture in the salad.
- Chilling the salad for a few hours or overnight enhances the flavor development.
- You can substitute sweet relish with chopped pickles if preferred for a tangier taste.
- Use dehydrated onion or finely minced fresh onion according to your taste.
- Optional: Add a splash of vinegar or lemon juice for extra zing if desired.
Keywords: macaroni salad, classic macaroni salad, easy pasta salad, mayonnaise pasta salad, picnic side dish
Find it online: https://thefoodrecipe.com/the-best-macaroni-salad-recipe/
