5.0 from 108 votes
Macaroni Salad
This simple Macaroni Salad recipe is creamy, fresh, and only takes 25 minutes to prep! It has celery, bell pepper, shredded carrots, and bell pepper in a flavorful dressing. It's going to be the highlight at your next BBQ!
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
25 mins
Servings: 6
Calories: 289 kcal
Course:
Side Dish , Main Course
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound elbow macaroni , or ditalini
- 1/4 cup red onion , finely diced
- 1 rib celery , finely diced
- 1/2 red bell pepper , finely diced
- ¼ cup carrots , finely shredded , loosely measured, then squeezed out
Dressing:
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sour cream , or plain Greek yogurt
- 2 Tablespoons milk
- 2 Tablespoons cider vinegar
- 1/2 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1/2 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook macaroni according to package directions, until al dente. Rinse with cold water and drain. This stops the cooking process and rinses away extra starch so the noodles will not stick together.
- Cool the noodles completely before adding the dressing.
- In a large mixing bowl, toss together cooked and cooled noodles onion, celery, bell pepper, and carrots.
- In a small mixing bowl whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, milk, cider vinegar, sugar, dijon mustard, salt, and pepper.
- Pour half of the sauce over pasta and toss until everything is well coated. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and chill for at least one hour before serving. Stir in additional sauce before serving. Add a splash of milk, for a thinner sauce, if desired.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Variations:
- Storage Instructions: Keep leftover macaroni salad in the fridge for 3-5 days.
- Make Ahead Instructions: Keep the bowl of salad ingredients and dressing in separate containers in the fridge for 3-5 days.
- Freezing Instructions: Freeze homemade macaroni salad without the dressing in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw completely overnight in the fridge before adding the dressing.
- Add-Ins: Feel free to toss in diced cheese, peas, hard boiled eggs, diced ham, pickles, bacon, tuna, and chicken.
- Without Mayonnaise: Swap out the mayonnaise for an olive-oil based dressing, like this Italian dressing.
- Filipino Style Macaroni Salad: Toss in pineapple, raisins, cheese, and chicken.
- Hawaiian Macaroni Salad: Instead of sour cream or Greek yogurt, use milk. Add green onion and skip the bell pepper. Add chopped pineapple and ham if desired.
Nutrition Information
Calories
289kcal
(14%)
Carbohydrates
32g
(11%)
Protein
6g
(12%)
Fat
15g
(23%)
Saturated Fat
2g
(10%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
9g
Monounsaturated Fat
3g
Trans Fat
0.03g
Cholesterol
9mg
(3%)
Sodium
343mg
(14%)
Potassium
179mg
(5%)
Fiber
2g
(8%)
Sugar
4g
(8%)
Vitamin A
1253IU
(25%)
Vitamin C
14mg
(16%)
Calcium
33mg
(3%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 6Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 289
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 289kcal | 14% |
| Carbohydrates | 32g | 11% |
| Protein | 6g | 12% |
| Fat | 15g | 23% |
| Saturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 9g | 53% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Trans Fat | 0.03g | 2% |
| Cholesterol | 9mg | 3% |
| Sodium | 343mg | 14% |
| Potassium | 179mg | 4% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 4g | 8% |
| Vitamin A | 1253IU | 25% |
| Vitamin C | 14mg | 16% |
| Calcium | 33mg | 3% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.