The best macaroni salad recipes are loaded with fresh vegetables and herbs, and they are lighter than the classic macaroni salad and are the perfect option for the summertime. If you want to make your macaroni salad more upscale, try combining bacon and green onions with the first four ingredients. This is a great way to jazz up your pasta salad and add extra flavor. Here are some of the best macaroni dressing recipes.
Old Fashioned Macaroni Salad: This classic recipe is great to serve at a party or a barbecue. It’s the perfect side dish for burgers, hot dogs, and grilled meat. It also goes great with watermelon and corn on the cob. You can even add more veggies and herbs if you’d like. The recipe for Old Fashioned Macaroni Salad can be found here.
Top Five Macaroni Salad Recipes
- Macaroni salad
- Sweet Macaroni Salad
- Classic Macaroni Salad
- Amish Macaroni Salad Recipe
- Creamy Macaroni Pasta Salad
Macaroni salads are easy to make and don’t require complicated equipment. They are often prepared with an essential list of ingredients and are quick and easy to prepare. The main ingredient in this salad is elbow pasta, and it is common to add sliced bell peppers and garlic. Whether looking for a classic version or something more creative, macaroni salads are an easy way to make a tasty and healthy side dish.
1. Macaroni salad
Cooked macaroni pasta, red bell peppers (or capsicum), shredded carrot, red onions, dill pickles, crisp celery, and chives are tossed in the ultimate dressing made with mayonnaise, sour cream, vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, salt, pepper, and a sprinkle of sugar to offset the acidity.
Our Macaroni Salad is a terrific summer meal to bring to gatherings or parties, Bbqs lunches or dinners, or serve as a side dish. This summertime must-make salad can be saved in the refrigerator as a quick base for meats like tuna or salmon or as a side for larger meals, similar to a Perfect Egg Salad. The mayo/sour cream dressing is delicious and brings the flavors to life.
2. Sweet Macaroni Salad
One of the best things about this delicious sweet macaroni salad dish is its improvement with time. It takes around two hours to prepare, chill, and serve, but it’s also delicious the next day. It’s a terrific recipe to prepare ahead of time if you’re going to a party or function.
This an excellent recipe for sweet macaroni salad. Since the flavor is so good, it isn’t easy to put down the fork once you’ve dug in. I’m thrilled to be able to share this family’s favorite dish with you, and I hope you enjoy it as much as my family does.
3. Classic Macaroni Salad
One of those things I didn’t always appreciate was a fantastic macaroni salad. Pasta salads and potato salads were usually the last things on my mind as I moved on to the next option, but now I adore both. This macaroni salad recipe is great for cookouts and picnics, and it’s a delicious side dish to serve over grilled or slow-cooked meat any time of year. It combines fresh, colorful ingredients, a tasty light crunch, and a wonderfully refreshing flavor.
This macaroni salad recipe is great for cookouts and picnics, and it’s a delicious side dish to serve over grilled or slow-cooked meat any time of year. The dressing is also delightfully creamy without becoming overpowering. I’ve made it a little healthier (but if preferred, you can go the all-mayo route instead). Everything here, when mixed, makes a flavorful blend that is both harmonic and fulfilling. It’s likely to become a new favorite for you as well.
4. Amish Macaroni Salad Recipe
This macaroni salad’s light and creamy dressing are constructed from a strong Miracle Whip salad dressing foundation. Some say you can’t substitute mayonnaise for Miracle Whip, but I’ve done it, and my family hasn’t noticed. In a pinch, you CAN use it interchangeably, but if you can, try to get your hands on Miracle Whip to get a taste of the real thing. Pickle relish is also included in the dressing….sweet pickle relish is the key here, and it’s what first drew me to Amish Macaroni Salad.
You wouldn’t think much could go wrong with macaroni salad, but following these guidelines will ensure salad perfection every time.
- Make sure the pasta isn’t overcooked. Cook until the macaroni is al dente or firm to the biting so that the macaroni absorbs the dressing. If you overcook the elbow macaroni, it will get mushy in your salad.
- Allow the macaroni to cool slightly before combining it with the remaining ingredients. The veggies will wilt and lose their crispness due to the hot pasta, releasing water into the salad and leaving it watery.
- Do not attempt to combine everything in one bowl. To ensure that each bite is flawless, thoroughly mix the dressing ingredients before adding them to the salad and tossing to coat.
5. Creamy Macaroni Pasta Salad
The best Macaroni Salads are made ahead of time and served cold. It’s a great dish to serve with grilled chicken, barbecued chicken, and roasted vegetables. You can prepare the macaroni salad 24 hours ahead of time and do it chilled. If you’re going to eat the leftovers the next day, it’s best to relax first. A little preparation goes a long way this summer.
Keep These Suggestions In Mind When Cooking A Cold, Creamy Pasta Salad:
- Make sure the pasta isn’t overcooked. Use the pasta’s packaging guidelines as a reference, but test it a minute or two before it’s supposed to be done. Drain the spaghetti and proceed to the next step.
- Toss the cooked pasta with the salad dressing after rinsing it under cool water. If you’ve ever created a sticky pasta salad, it could be due to not washing the pasta before mixing it with the dressing. Starches are used to coat the cooked pasta. By removing the carbs, the salad will become less sticky and clumpy.
- Toss the salad with a variety of bright vegetables and textures. It’s just more convenient this way.
- Use a salad dressing that is bright and tasty. Because our sauce has a creamy basis, we like to add acid from vinegar and mustard to brighten it up. You can also add a little honey if you prefer sweeter salads.
How Long Can Macaroni Salad Be Stored?
Refrigerate for up to 4 days if kept covered. Please remove it from the fridge at least 20 minutes before serving to allow the chill to dissipate.
When it’s closer to room temperature or just slightly cooled, it’s excellent—Refrigerate macaroni salad in sealed containers to extend its shelf life and ensure its safety and quality. Macaroni salad will be kept in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days if appropriately refrigerated.
Why Is Macaroni Salad So Bad For You?
Macaroni salad is heavy in fat, with roughly 7 grams per cup. Also, full-fat mayonnaise, commonly used in macaroni salad, is high in saturated fat, raising your risk of heart disease.
Dressings are to blame once again; a cup of macaroni salad can easily exceed 600 calories and 40 grams of fat. Furthermore, traditional macaroni salad sauces are frequently heavy in added sugars, and a cup of cooked pasta contains 200 calories.
Conclusion
Besides the simple vegetables, the best macaroni salad recipes are packed with flavor and are great for side dishes. It’s best to use the freshest ingredients and use them as soon as possible. You can make it home and store it for up to 4 days. Then, take it out of the refrigerator at least 20 minutes before serving. The best macaroni salad recipes will last up to a week in the fridge and can be frozen for up to a month.