The Best Macaroni Salad
User Reviews
4.9
The Best Macaroni Salad
Description
Cooked elbow macaroni is rinsed with cold water to stop cooking and cooled. It is then tossed with diced vegetables including red onion, celery, red bell pepper, and thawed peas, plus chunks of cheddar cheese. The dressing for the salad features mayonnaise flavored with apple cider vinegar for acidity, fresh dill for herbaceous notes, granulated sugar for mild sweetness, sweet pickle relish for texture and tang, Dijon mustard for depth, and salt and pepper to taste.
This mixture is combined thoroughly coating the pasta and vegetables with the creamy dressing. The salad is covered and chilled for at least an hour to let the flavors develop. The final dish has a creamy, tangy, and slightly sweet flavor balanced by crunchy fresh vegetables and smooth cooked pasta, making it suitable as a side dish for picnics or barbecues.
Ingredients
- 1 pound elbow macaroni
- 4 ounces cheddar cheese cubed or shredded
- 1/2 medium red onion minced
- 4 ribs celery diced
- 1 medium red bell pepper diced
- 1 cup peas thawed, frozen
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup dill minced fresh
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons pickle relish sweet
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook elbow noodles according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water until pasta is cooled. Drain well.
- In a large mixing bowl, toss together cooked noodles with cheese, onion, celery, bell pepper, and peas.
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, cider vinegar, dill, sugar, relish, dijon mustard, salt, and pepper.
- Pour sauce over pasta and toss until everything is well coated. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and chill at least 1 hour before serving.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 8servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 408 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 408kcal | 20% |
| Carbohydrates | 52g | 17% |
| Protein | 12g | 24% |
| Fat | 16g | 25% |
| Saturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Cholesterol | 20mg | 7% |
| Sodium | 541mg | 23% |
| Potassium | 294mg | 6% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 8g | 16% |
| Vitamin A | 1005IU | 20% |
| Vitamin C | 28.6mg | 32% |
| Calcium | 131mg | 13% |
| Iron | 1.4mg | 8% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.9
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