Simple Macaroni Salad
User Reviews
5
Simple Macaroni Salad
Description
This macaroni salad recipe starts by cooking elbow macaroni until al dente, then rinsing under cold water to halt cooking and cool the pasta. The cold pasta is combined with diced vegetables — carrots, celery, red or yellow onion, and dill pickles — providing varied crunch and acidity. A dressing made from generous real mayonnaise, white vinegar, dried basil, oregano, salt, and pepper is whisked together and mixed thoroughly into the pasta and vegetables, coating each piece evenly.
Chilling the salad allows the flavors to meld and enhances the texture contrast between the chewy pasta and crunchy veggies. The salad is well-suited to be made ahead and served cold for gatherings or as a side to sandwiches and grilled items. Adjusting mayonnaise quantity or seasoning ensures the preferred consistency and flavor strength.
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb. elbow macaroni
- 3/4 cup carrot diced
- 3/4 cup celery diced
- 1/2 cup red onion diced (or yellow onion)
- 1/3 cup dill pickle diced
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise heaping 1/2 cup, real
- 2 tablespoons white vinegar
- 3/4 teaspoon basil dried
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano dried
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring large pot of water to boil. Salt water generously and pour in pasta. Stir and cook 7-10 minutes or until al dente. Drain pasta and rinse under cold water until cold.
- Place cooled pasta into large bowl (with a lid) and top with chopped veggies.
- In a separate bowl, whisk mayonnaise, vinegar, and seasonings together until everything is well combined.
- Add mayonnaise mixture into the bowl with pasta and vegetables and stir until everything is well coated. If it doesn't seem like there's enough mayonnaise to go around, add in a splash of water or a little more mayonnaise. Taste for seasonings and adjust as desired.
- Refrigerate macaroni salad until ready to serve (the longer the better). Serve chilled.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 6servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 283 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 283kcal | 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 | 8mg | 3% |
| Sodium | 207mg | 9% |
| Potassium | 206mg | 4% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 3g | 6% |
| Vitamin A | 2760IU | 55% |
| Vitamin C | 2mg | 2% |
| Calcium | 33mg | 3% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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