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5.0 from 6 votes

The Best Macaroni Salad Recipe

The best creamy macaroni salad recipe made with pasta, vegetables, and a creamy homemade sweet and tangy dressing. An easy, traditional macaroni salad recipe!

Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Course: Side Dish , Salad
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. Pasta *
  • 3/4 cup sweet pickle relish
  • 3/4 to 1 cup Red, Orange, and Yellow Peppers (diced)
  • 1 to 2 talks celery (diced)
  • 1 carrot (diced)
  • 1/4 cup red onion (finely diced)
Macaroni Salad Dressing:
  • 1 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar (or white vinegar)
  • 2 Tablespoons sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon Deli or Dijon Mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 to 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Heat a large pot of water over high heat until boiling. Add a generous amount of salt to season the pasta while it cooks. Once the water is boiling, cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Drain.
  2. Meanwhile, chop the vegetables. Dice the peppers, celery, carrots, and onion into finely diced pieces.
  3. Once the pasta is drained, add to a large bowl. Toss the diced vegetables into the pasta.
Macaroni Salad Dressing:
  1. In a medium bowl, stir together mayonnaise, sour cream, red wine vinegar, sugar, mustard, red chili flakes, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
  2. Toss pasta and vegetables with dressing and stir well to coat. Taste for seasonings and add more salt and pepper, if needed. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.