Best Macaroni Salad
A creamy, tangy, and refreshing macaroni salad perfect for picnics, barbecues, or potlucks. Packed with crisp vegetables and a flavorful dressing.
Prep
: 10
Total
: 25 minutes
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound elbow macaroni
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 0.25 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
- 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup finely diced celery
- 0.5 cup finely diced red onion
- 0.5 cup finely diced red bell pepper
- 0.25 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 0.25 cup sweet pickle relish optional
Instructions
Preparation Steps
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook macaroni according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool completely.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, sugar, salt, pepper, and garlic powder until smooth.
- Add the cooled macaroni, celery, red onion, red bell pepper, parsley, and pickle relish (if using) to the dressing. Stir until everything is well coated.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or preferably overnight, to allow the flavors to meld.
- Before serving, stir the salad and adjust seasoning with additional salt or vinegar if needed.
Notes
For best results, let the salad chill overnight to enhance flavor. You can also add hard-boiled eggs or shredded carrots for extra texture.