Classic Creamy Macaroni Salad: The Ultimate Potluck Side Dish
This recipe delivers the classic, creamy macaroni salad you need for any gathering. It features tender pasta, crunchy vegetables, hard-boiled eggs, and a tangy, homemade mayonnaise dressing that tastes better the next day.
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 10 min
- Total Time: 50 min
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: No-Bake
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound elbow macaroni
- 4 large eggs, hard-boiled and chopped
- 1 cup celery, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup sweet pickle relish
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup yellow mustard
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the elbow macaroni according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta well and rinse immediately with cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside to drain completely.
- While the pasta cooks, prepare the dressing ingredients. In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, yellow mustard, apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, and black pepper until smooth. This is your simple homemade macaroni dressing.
- In a separate bowl, combine the chopped hard-boiled eggs, celery, red onion, sweet pickle relish, and fresh parsley.
- Add the cooled, drained macaroni to the bowl with the vegetables and eggs.
- Pour the prepared dressing over the pasta mixture. Gently fold everything together until the pasta and vegetables are evenly coated.
- Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight, to allow the flavors to meld. This make ahead macaroni salad tastes best chilled.
- Before serving at your BBQ or potluck, give the salad a final gentle stir. Add a splash more vinegar or mustard if you prefer a tangier flavor.
Notes
- For the creamiest texture, make sure your pasta is completely cool before mixing it with the dressing.
- This salad tastes significantly better on the second day, making it a perfect make ahead side dish for summer gatherings.
- If you want a Southern style macaroni salad, increase the sugar slightly for a sweeter sauce.
- This recipe is a fantastic base; feel free to add shredded carrots or diced bell peppers for extra color.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 10
- Sodium: 550
- Fat: 28
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Unsaturated Fat: 23
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 42
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 10
- Cholesterol: 110