Mom’s Best Macaroni Salad
A creamy and colorful macaroni salad that captures the essence of family gatherings and summer barbecues.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 23 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups elbow macaroni
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup celery, diced
- 1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Begin by boiling water in a large pot. Add in the elbow macaroni and cook until al dente (about 7-8 minutes). Rinse under cold water after draining.
- Prepare the veggies: Chop the celery, red bell pepper, and red onion.
- Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, and sugar until creamy.
- Combine ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the drained macaroni, diced veggies, and dressing. Stir gently until well-coated.
- Season: Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Chill: Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.
Notes
Letting the salad chill enhances the flavors even more. Adjust sweetness with sugar to taste.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 10mg
Keywords: macaroni salad, summer recipes, family gatherings