Homemade Macaroni Salad

Classic homemade macaroni salad is a crowd-pleaser at every cookout, potluck, picnic and any family gathering.

There seems to be potato salad people and macaroni salad people. I’m the macaroni type myself, and the wife is a potato person. Go to any gathering this summer and they will be both. Anybody can buy the macaroni salad but take up a few notches and show up with your version. And as an added bonus, you will know what’s in it.

I looked around a lot. I read a lot of recipes but just ended up just combining several. I don’t think you can go wrong making macaroni salad. Cook some pasta, make a mayonnaise based sauce and put in what you like. It is that simple.

Rating:

A nice lower to medium 4. I won’t be doing it often since it makes too much for two.

Notes: This is a basic recipe. Add or subtract what you want.

My main problem was trying to make it “cooking for two” friendly. I finally decided that it just wasn’t happening for me. I wanted the pepper in the recipe (my taste).  Otherwise, you can cut this recipe in half and make it more cooking for two. I decided I was mainly going to use it for gatherings and holiday cooking, so I’m ok with the eight servings.

Cook 2 cups pasta according to package directions.

In a large bowl mix 1 cup mayonnaise (regular or low-fat), three tablespoons milk, two tablespoon vinegar, one tablespoon mustard, 1-2 teaspoon sugar to taste, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper.

Finely chop one small or 1/2 medium red onion, two stalks celery and one pepper (red or green)

Mix pasta with the dressing, veggies and 1 cup of shredded mild cheddar cheese.

Refrigerate for a few hours to blend flavors

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4.43 from 14 votes

Homemade Macaroni Salad

Classic homemade macaroni salad is a crowd-pleaser at every cookout, potluck, picnic and any family gathering.

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time10 mins

Total Time20 mins

Author: DrDan

Servings/Adjustment: 8

Ingredients

• 2 cups pasta
• 1 cup mayonnaise - regular or low-fat
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 2 tablespoon vinegar
• 1 tablespoon mustard
• 1-2 teaspoon sugar - to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 red onion - small or 1/2 medium
• 2 stalks celery
• 1 pepper - red or green
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

• Cook 2 cups pasta according to package directions.
• In a large bowl mix 1 cup mayonnaise (regular or low-fat), three tablespoons milk, two tablespoon vinegar, one tablespoon mustard, 1-2 teaspoon sugar to taste, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
• Finely chop one small or 1/2 medium red onion, two stalks celery and one pepper (red or green).
• Mix pasta with the dressing, veggies and 1 cup of shredded mild cheddar cheese.
• Refrigerate for a few hours to blend flavors.

Nutrition Facts

Homemade Macaroni Salad

Amount Per Serving

Calories 470 Calories from Fat 189

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 21g 32%

Saturated Fat 8g 40%

Polyunsaturated Fat 6g

Monounsaturated Fat 3g

Cholesterol 8mg 3%

Sodium 653mg 27%

Potassium 1561mg 45%

Total Carbohydrates 61g 20%

Dietary Fiber 15g 60%

Sugars 24g

Protein 17g 34%

Vitamin A 68%

Vitamin C 1147%

Calcium 9%

Iron 17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Nutrition is for one serving. Number of servings is stated above and is my estimate of normal serving size for this recipe.

All nutritional information are estimates and may vary from your actual results. This is home cooking, and there are many variables. To taste ingredients such as salt will be my estimate of the average used.

If you like this recipe or find it useful, the pleasure of a nice 4 or 5 rating would be greatly appreciated.