Description
Craving something cool, creamy, and utterly crowd-pleasing? Let me introduce you to my go-to side dish—Easy Macaroni Salad. This dish is a staple at every potluck, backyard BBQ, or holiday table in my life, and once you try it, it’ll likely become yours too. Loaded with crunchy veggies, chunks of cheddar cheese, and that tangy-creamy dressing we all love, this is comfort food in a bowl.
Ingredients
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Elbow macaroni
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Cheddar cheese – cubed or shredded
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Red onion
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Celery
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Red bell pepper
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Frozen peas
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Mayonnaise
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Apple cider vinegar
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Fresh dill
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Dijon mustard
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Granulated sugar
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Salt and black pepper
Instructions
Boil macaroni in salted water until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water.
Chop all veggies and cube cheese.
Whisk mayo, vinegar, dill, sugar, mustard, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
Toss pasta, veggies, and cheese with dressing until well coated.
Refrigerate at least 30 minutes before serving. Garnish with herbs.
Notes
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Cook Pasta Al Dente
Make sure the macaroni is cooked just until al dente. Overcooking will make the salad mushy once the dressing is added. -
Rinse with Cold Water Immediately
After draining the pasta, rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process and remove extra starch. This prevents it from sticking together.
- Prep Time: 20min
- Cook Time: 10min
- Category: side dish
- Method: Mixing, Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 325kcal
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 380mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 15mg