Description
Creamy, tangy, and loaded with crunchy vegetables, this classic macaroni salad is the perfect side dish for potlucks, barbecues, and family gatherings.
Ingredients
- 8 oz dry macaroni noodles
- 1/2 cup finely diced sweet gherkins
- 3/4 cup finely diced red bell pepper
- 1/3 cup thinly sliced celery
- 1/3 cup finely diced red onion
- 2 large hard boiled eggs, finely diced
- Macaroni Salad Dressing
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 2 Tablespoons sweet pickle juice
- 1 Tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper, optional
Instructions
1. Prepare macaroni noodles according to package instructions.
2. Drain and rinse immediately with cold water, then drizzle with a teaspoon of olive oil and gently stir so the noodles don’t stick together.
3. In a large bowl, combine macaroni noodles, sweet gherkins, red bell pepper, celery, red onion, and eggs. Stir until well combined.
4. In a medium bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, sweet pickle juice, red wine vinegar, sugar, dijon mustard, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and crushed red pepper if using.
5. Pour dressing over the macaroni mixture and toss until evenly coated.
6. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour for best flavor.
7. Stir once more before serving and enjoy.
Notes
If you don’t have red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar can be substituted.
Rinsing the pasta with cold water helps stop the cooking process and keeps the salad cool and fresh.
This recipe can easily be doubled to serve a crowd.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 408
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 463mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 19g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 79mg