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Homestyle Macaroni Salad
This quick and easy homestyle macaroni salad is the perfect side dish for your Spring picnics and Summer barbecues!
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
18 mins
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 250 kcal
Course:
Side Dish
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 2 cups elbow macaroni (or approx 1/2 of a 16 oz box)
- 1 cup chopped red or green bell pepper
- 1 cup finely diced celery (4 stalks/ribs)
- ½ cup finely diced white or yellow onion
- 2-3 TBSP chopped green onion to garnish
- ⅛ tsp paprika
FOR THE DRESSING:
- ½ cup plain nonfat or lowfat greek yogurt
- ½ cup homemade or store-bought mayo
- 2 TBSP white vinegar
- 1 TBSP Dijon mustard
- 1 TBSP yellow mustard
- 1/4-1/2 tsp of dried parsley
- 1/4-1/2 tsp of salt
- ¼ tsp of garlic powder (plus extra to taste)
- any additional salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the noodles per package directions and drain in a colander.
- To make the dressing, whisk together above ingredients. Pour half the dressing over the salad and chill to allow flavors to meld. When you're ready to serve, pour the remainder of the dressing over the salad and dig in!
- Stir in your chopped veggies and pour over approx half the dressing, mixing well.
- Steal a taste and feel free to adjust seasoning as needed.
- Extra garlic is common in this house as is lots of extra bell pepper and green onion - add whatever extra veggies/spices you'd like!
- Pop the entire bowl in the fridge, covered (along with a separate container of the remaining dressing) and allow to cool.
- Add the remainder of the sauce just before serving for maximum creaminess (otherwise those hungry noodles will absorb it all!)
- Dig in that very same day or up to four days later. This is a great potluck/party side dish that can be made in advance or whipped up and served fresh as a last minute addition! With pasta salads, anything goes!
Cup of Yum
Notes
- macaroni measurements: a typical 16oz box of dry elbow macaroni will deliver around eight 1/2 cup servings once cooked. If you use half the box (8oz =1 + 3/4 cups of macaroni]) you'll wind up with 4 servings. This will help if you're trying to calculate how much you need for an intimate group. If you're feeding a crowd, by all means make the whole box and skip measuring entirely. Just make sure you whisk together some extra dressing and add extra veggies.
- For the peppers, you can use all one color or grab bag of multi-colored sweet mini peppers and get your rainbow on! I did this for the batch pictured in the photos.
- Nutrition Facts below are estimated using an online recipe nutrition calculator. Adjust as needed and enjoy!
Nutrition Information
Calories
250kcal
(13%)
Carbohydrates
30g
(10%)
Protein
7g
(14%)
Fat
11g
(17%)
Saturated Fat
2g
(10%)
Cholesterol
7mg
(2%)
Sodium
223mg
(9%)
Potassium
186mg
(5%)
Fiber
2g
(8%)
Sugar
3g
(6%)
Vitamin A
682IU
(14%)
Vitamin C
25mg
(28%)
Calcium
32mg
(3%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 8servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 250
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 250kcal | 13% |
| Carbohydrates | 30g | 10% |
| Protein | 7g | 14% |
| Fat | 11g | 17% |
| Saturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Cholesterol | 7mg | 2% |
| Sodium | 223mg | 9% |
| Potassium | 186mg | 4% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 3g | 6% |
| Vitamin A | 682IU | 14% |
| Vitamin C | 25mg | 28% |
| Calcium | 32mg | 3% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.