Description
This Sweet Macaroni Salad is a classic and creamy dish perfect for potlucks, BBQs, and family gatherings. With a tangy-sweet dressing, crisp vegetables, and tender pasta, it’s a refreshing side dish everyone will love!
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups elbow macaroni (uncooked)
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup diced celery
- 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
- 1/4 cup diced red onion
- 1/2 cup frozen peas (thawed)
- 1 hard-boiled egg, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the macaroni: Cook the elbow macaroni according to the package instructions. Drain and rinse with cold water to cool the pasta down. Set aside.
- Prepare the dressing: In a large bowl, combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, white vinegar, Dijon mustard, sugar, salt, and pepper. Stir until well combined and smooth.
- Add the vegetables: To the dressing, add the diced celery, red bell pepper, red onion, and peas. Stir gently to combine.
- Combine with pasta: Add the cooked and cooled macaroni to the bowl with the dressing and vegetables. Stir everything together until the pasta is evenly coated with the dressing.
- Chill: Cover the macaroni salad and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
- Serve: Before serving, give the salad a quick stir. Garnish with chopped hard-boiled eggs if desired. Serve cold.
Notes
- You can make this salad a day in advance to allow the flavors to develop even more.
- Feel free to adjust the sweetness by adding more or less sugar, depending on your taste.
- For a twist, you can add chopped pickles, carrots, or olives.
- For a dairy-free version, use a plant-based mayo and sour cream substitute.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Boiling, Chilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (1/6th of the recipe)
- Calories: 230 kcal
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 270mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 20mg