Kick up the heat: Stir spicy brown or Dijon mustard into the salad. Add a sprinkle of cayenne pepper to the dressing. Instead of regular paprika, use hot Hungarian paprika.
Use yogurt or sour cream: Add tang to the dressing by replacing half of the mayonnaise with plain Greek yogurt or sour cream.
How long does macaroni salad last?
Leftover macaroni salad will have the best texture and flavor when enjoyed within three to five days. Store the salad in a sealed container or tightly covered bowl in the refrigerator.
Can you make macaroni salad ahead of time?
Yes! This is a delicious make-ahead potluck dish—you can fully cook and assemble our easy macaroni salad in advance. Store the prepared salad in the fridge in a tightly covered bowl or container, and stir well before serving.
For a fresher-tasting salad, prepare the ingredients in advance, then wait to mix them until the day of the picnic or potluck. Dice the veggies and keep them refrigerated in a sealed container up to one week ahead of time. The pasta can be cooked, cooled and refrigerated for up to five days. The same goes for the hard-boiled egg, whether peeled or in the shell.
Macaroni Salad Tips
Should you rinse macaroni in cold water?
Yes, this is an important step for cold pasta salads for a couple of reasons. First, rinsing macaroni in cold water stops the cooking process, so the noodles keep their al dente firmness and don’t become mushy. When rinsed in cold water, the macaroni cools down to the perfect temperature to add the mayonnaise-based sauce. Rinsing also helps remove excess starch from the macaroni so that the dressing smoothly coats the pasta without the texture turning sticky.
How can you avoid dry macaroni salad?
When made ahead of time or when leftovers are stored, it’s natural for the pasta to absorb some of the moisture. This can make the macaroni salad seem dry. To fix it, just stir a little extra mayonnaise into the salad before serving. You can also add a splash of dill or sweet pickle juice to moisten the salad and add flavor.
What can you serve with macaroni salad?
This salad is a classic side dish for everything from burgers to hot dogs to grilled sausages. Macaroni salad is also an easy dish to make as a contribution to potlucks and community suppers, or for an old-fashioned luncheon party.
For summer dinners at home, serve macaroni salad alongside fried chicken or sloppy joes. This cold side is tasty with cold cuts and sandwiches, too.
Watch How to Make Classic Macaroni Salad Recipe
Ingredients
2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
1 cup fat-free mayonnaise
2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
2 teaspoons sugar
3/4 teaspoon ground mustard
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/3 cup chopped carrot
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 hard-boiled large egg, chopped
Dash paprika
Directions
1
Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain and rinse with cold water. Cool completely.
2
For dressing, in a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, pickle relish, sugar, mustard, salt and pepper. In a large bowl, combine the macaroni, celery, carrot and onion. Add dressing and toss gently to coat.
3
Refrigerate until serving. Garnish with egg and paprika.
Nutrition Facts
3/4 cup: 115 calories, 2g fat (0 saturated fat), 27mg cholesterol, 362mg sodium, 21g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 2g fiber), 4g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 starch.
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