Southern Macaroni Salad
User Reviews
5
Southern Macaroni Salad
Description
This Southern Macaroni Salad blends cooked, cooled elbow macaroni with a dressing made from mayonnaise, white vinegar, sugar, yellow mustard, and sweet pickle relish, imparting a creamy and mildly sweet and tangy taste. The addition of fresh minced garlic adds a subtle savory note beneath the main flavors.
The salad incorporates diced sweet onion, celery, chopped red bell pepper, and chopped hard-boiled eggs to balance creaminess with crunch and richness. Fresh parsley provides a herbal brightness throughout the dish.
This macaroni salad is typically served chilled as a side, pairing well with grilled meats or as part of picnic fare. Variations include adding proteins like cooked diced chicken or ham, or substituting other short pasta shapes for elbow macaroni.
Adjustments to relish or fresh pickles offer flavor personalization, and the garlic can be omitted or swapped for garlic powder to suit taste preferences. Adding diced cheeses like cheddar or mozzarella is another optional variation to enrich the salad.
Ingredients
- 6 ounces elbow macaroni pasta about 1 ½ cups uncooked or 3 cups cooked, uncooked
- 1 cup mayonnaise (we prefer Duke's brand)
- 2 tablespoons white vinegar
- 2 tablespoons white sugar
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon pickle relish sweet
- ½ teaspoon garlic minced, pressed, or grated fresh
- 1 onion diced, sweet
- 2 cups celery chopped
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- 3 egg chopped, hard boiled
- ¼ cup parsley chopped, fresh
Instructions
- Cook macaroni in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package directions for al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water.
- While the pasta cooks, chop the onion, celery, bell pepper, eggs, and parsley. In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, mustard, pickle relish, and garlic until smooth.
- In a large bowl, combine cool pasta, onion, celery, bell pepper, eggs, and parsley. Toss with dressing and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Notes
- Short pasta shapes like mini shells, ditalini, or rotini can be used instead of elbow macaroni.
- Consider adding cooked diced chicken, ham, shrimp, or tuna for a protein boost.
- Sweet peas can add a burst of sweetness if desired.
- The hard-boiled eggs are optional and can be omitted if preferred.
- Use different types of pickle relish or chopped pickles to vary the flavor.
- Garlic can be omitted or substituted with garlic powder depending on taste.
- Diced cheddar or mozzarella cheese can be added for extra richness.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 8cups
Amount Per Serving
Calories 1572 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1/2 cup | |
| Calories | 157.2kcal | 8% |
| Carbohydrates | 10.6g | 4% |
| Protein | 3.5g | 7% |
| Fat | 11.3g | 17% |
| Saturated Fat | 1.8g | 9% |
| Cholesterol | 38.7mg | 13% |
| Sodium | 111.8mg | 5% |
| Fiber | 1.3g | 5% |
| Sugar | 2.2g | 4% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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