Classic Macaroni Salad
Yields: 8 servings
This classic macaroni salad is creamy and packed with veggies! It’s an easy recipe for any potluck or party!
Ingredients
- 8 ounces uncooked elbow macaroni
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 green or yellow bell pepper, chopped
- 1 small yellow onion, or red onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup sweet pickles, or dill pickles, chopped
- 1/4 cup flat-leaf parsley, chopped (optional)
- 2 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and chopped (optional)
For the Dressing
- 3/4 cup (168 g) mayonnaise, vegan if desired (see Notes!)
- 1/4 cup (57 g) sour cream, or plain Greek yogurt (see Notes!)
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) white wine vinegar, or apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon (15 g) yellow mustard, you can use Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the elbow macaroni according to the package instructions, until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water. Set aside and let cool completely.
- Add the cooked macaroni, bell peppers, onions, and pickles to a large bowl and mix together.
- To make the dressing, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, vinegar, mustard, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
- Pour the dressing over the ingredients, add the parsley and chopped eggs, if using, and toss gently to coat.
- Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving.
Notes
Storage Instructions: This macaroni salad will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Make-Ahead Instructions: You can make this macaroni the night before. It will gain in flavor.
Mayonnaise: You can also opt for a lighter mayonnaise with less fat.
Sour cream: Instead of sour cream you can also use plain Greek yogurt. Full-fat works best, but low-fat or nonfat will work too. You can skip the sour cream or Greek yogurt and replace with mayonnaise.
Vegan Option: Use vegan mayonnaise as well as a vegan sour cream or Greek yogurt option.
If your salad dries out a bit, especially after refrigerating for a longer period of time, just add up to 2 tablespoons of sweet or dill pickle juice to thinnen it out a bit.
Did You Make This Recipe?
I'd love to know how it turned out! Please leave a comment below. Or snap a photo and tag @teatimeontheporch on Instagram so I can see it!