Description
Southern Macaroni Salad is a creamy and tangy Southern side dish packed with tender pasta, crunchy vegetables, and rich flavor that works perfectly for cookouts, picnics, and family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups elbow macaroni
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 1 cup celery, finely diced
- 1 cup green bell pepper, finely diced
- 1 cup red bell pepper, finely diced
- 1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1/3 cup sweet pickle relish
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped (optional)
- 1 teaspoon paprika (optional)
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley or dill, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the elbow macaroni until al dente.
- Drain the pasta, rinse under cold water, and cool completely.
- Finely dice the celery, bell peppers, and red onion.
- In a mixing bowl, combine mayonnaise, yellow mustard, and sweet pickle relish until smooth.
- Add salt and black pepper, then stir in the cooled macaroni and vegetables.
- Mix until evenly coated, cover, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.
- Garnish with paprika and fresh herbs if desired.
Notes
- Chill the salad before serving for the best flavor.
- If the salad becomes dry after refrigeration, stir in extra mayonnaise before serving.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Southern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 13
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Unsaturated Fat: 7
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 30
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 5
- Cholesterol: 20