Macaroni Salad

Creamy, crunchy, tangy, and sweet, this macaroni salad is perfection. Tender noodles, crisp vegetables, and creamy mayo dressing unite to create a mouth-watering dish that’s alive with flavor, texture, and color.

Course Main Course, Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine American

Diet Vegetarian

Keyword macaroni, pasta salad

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 10

Chilling Time 2

Servings

Calories 556kcal

Author Robin Miller

Ingredients

For the Salad

16 ounces elbow macaroni or other small-shaped pasta, such as ditalini, mini penne, small shells, and wagon wheels
2 teaspoons olive oil
3/4 cup diced sweet gherkins about 4-6 pickles
1 red bell pepper seeded and diced
2 stalks celery thinly sliced
1/2 cup diced red onion
3 hard-boiled eggs* diced

For the Dressing

3/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons sweet gherkin pickle juice
1 tablespoon red or white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon granulated sugar or honey
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

Cook the macaroni according to the package instructions. Drain and immediately rinse under cold water. Transfer the noodles to a large, rimmed baking sheet or baking dish, drizzle with the olive oil and stir to coat. Cool completely, stirring occasionally.
Meanwhile, to make the dressing, in a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, pickle juice, vinegar, sugar, mustard, garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper.
Transfer the pasta to a large bowl. Add the pickles, bell pepper, celery, onion, and eggs and toss gently to combine. Add the dressing and stir to coat. Cover with plastic and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Stir and season to taste with salt and black pepper before serving.

*For perfectly cooked hard-boiled eggs: Bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Gently lower the eggs into the water and return to a boil. Boil for 1 minute. Reduce the temperature to medium and simmer for 10 minutes. Transfer the eggs to an ice water bath to cool. Peel and use as directed.

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