Description
A creamy and flavorful macaroni salad recipe that is perfect for picnics, barbecues, or as a side dish. This salad features tender macaroni mixed with a tangy dressing and various crunchy and savory additions.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Macaroni:
- 4 cups elbow macaroni
Dressing:
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 Tbsp. red wine or distilled vinegar
- 3 tsp. sugar, plus more or less to taste
- 1/4 tsp. salt, plus more to taste
- Plenty of black pepper
- 1/4 cup milk, plus more if needed
- Splash of pickle juice, plus more to taste
Additions:
- 3 whole roasted red peppers, diced, plus more to taste
- 1/2 cup black olives, finely chopped
- 6 sweet/spicy pickle slices, diced (about 1/2 cup diced)
- 3 green onions, sliced (white and dark green)
Instructions
- Cook the Macaroni: Boil the macaroni in lightly salted water until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water. Set aside.
- Prepare the Dressing: In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, salt, pepper, milk, and pickle juice. Adjust seasonings to taste. Set aside.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix the cooled macaroni with three-fourths of the dressing. Add more dressing as desired. Add roasted red peppers, olives, pickles, and green onions. Adjust ingredients to preference.
Notes
- The salad dressing may seem thin initially but will thicken as it chills.
- Adjust the seasonings and ingredients to suit your taste.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 285 kcal
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 380mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 37g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 6mg
