American Macaroni salads are famous summer picnic and potluck food. Count on it. Macaroni salad is sitting right next to apple pie on American picnic tables everywhere. A summer potluck staple.
Bring this classic American Macaroni Salad recipe from Allfood.Recipes to your next picnic, it’s perfect for an outdoor barbecue spread.
I love that it goes together so quick. This yummy salad is on every mother’s list of family favorite summer grill sides too. Enjoy!
Super creamy and delicious Classic American Macaroni Salad is the perfect side dish for cookouts and picnics! Made with fresh peppers, onions, celery and pickle in a sweet creamy sauce.
Macaroni salad is by far one of my favorite side dishes to serve to large crowds. It’s also one of my son James’ favorite meals. My recipe is super easy to make and is always a crowd pleaser.( my secret? it’s my grandmother’s recipe) This salad is also great to bring to potlucks, baby showers, work parties, barbecues and more.
James adores macaroni salad!!. Just like the ones my Grandma used to make.
All my years as a child, every summer at our family potlucks, Grandma Cash would bring Macaroni salad. Always teeny, tiny elbow macaroni noodles drowned in her yummy mayonnaise dressing with a bit of onion and celery for crunch and flavor.
Once introduced to Grandma’s classic macaroni salad James told me to get the recipe. I remember asking her how she made it. She gave me a rather bewildered glance. “You don’t know how to make macaroni salad?”
I knew right then I flunked basic womanhood, in her opinion. Or my Home Economics teacher failed (we used to have those). Or maybe my mom.
Somehow, I had fallen through the cracks of basic American female education.
I looked helplessly back and didn’t reply. She rattled off the recipe in a rather vague way and went off to talk to someone. Of course my pen and paper weren’t handy.
So it went. The mysterious, perfect recipe for her Macaroni salad eluded me.
Our family loves noodles in just about any form. Our Pea Salad with Bacon, Amish Macaroni Salad, Tortellini Salad are all good.
All Fantastic! But never quite the same as grandma’s old american favorite. But I’m not Grandma.
I want color and powerful flavor and Rice Vinegar. And I’m making this recipe with all that. Think of this as fusion cooking. Me and Grandma fused in this salad bowl.
I adapted this Macaroni salad to James’s Taste too. He loves it. But he wanted twice as much dressing.
TIPS:
- This is a good salad to make the night before and chill so the flavors merge well. The dressing will soak into the pasta some so keep that in mind.
- Boil the elbow Macaroni in a large pot of salted water to Al Dente. About 10 minutes. Do NOT overcook.
- Drain and rinse. Now pour into a large bowl. ( if you use the tiny salad noodles use less cooking time, about half)
- Chop the drained black olives, roasted peppers and green onions fine while the noodles cook.
- I did NOT assume you wanted a double portion of dressing. But if you, like James, want a macaroni salad you slurp off a spoon, rather than balance on a fork; double the dressing. 🙂
- Extra dressing is great for this salad leftover too. The noodles do absorb some of the sauce on the second day.
SIDE DISHES LIKE CREAMY MACARONI SALAD:
Hawaiian Macaroni Salad – Creamy and delicious Hawaiian macaroni salad is an excellent side dish to serve with grilled huli huli chicken, pork and more!
Loaded Baked Potato Salad – Classic American Potato Salad is the perfect side dish for your upcoming summer BBQ’s! Made with hard boiled eggs, this classic potato salad is creamy and delicious!
Rainbow Rotini Broccoli Salad – The perfect summer pasta salad loaded with bacon, corn, tomato, hard boiled egg, tomatoes, and kale in a delicious ranch dressing.
Fresh Grape Bacon Broccoli Salad – Protein packed, simple and healthy egg salad recipe. Serve egg salad on its own, on crackers or as an egg salad sandwich.
Ingredients
- 2 cups dry elbow macaroni cooked, rinsed, and drained
- 1/3 cup diced celery
- 1/4 cup minced white onion soaked in cold water for 5 minutes, drained
- 1/2 cup diced vine-ripened tomato optional
- 3 large hard-cooked eggs chopped
- 1/2 cup prepared mayonnaise you can add more if needed
- 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard optional
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons Rice Vinegar
- 3 tablespoons Greek yogurt
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon curry
- kosher salt to taste
Instructions
- In a large bowl combine the macaroni, celery, onion, eggs and tomato, if using.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, mustard, sugar, vinegar, paprika, curry, Greek yogurt and salt.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Enjoy!
- Store covered in the refrigerator, for up to 3 days.
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