Description
A bright, crunchy, and undeniably creamy mac salad that bridges the gap between comfort food and fresh salad. This easy side dish is perfect for summer gatherings, picnics, and potlucks, coming together in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound elbow macaroni
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2 stalks celery, finely diced
- 1 small red onion, finely diced
- 3 to 4 green onions, sliced
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Freshly cracked black pepper to taste
- Kosher salt to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add elbow macaroni and cook according to package directions until al dente (about 7-9 minutes).
- Drain the pasta in a colander and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool the pasta.
- While pasta cooks, dice the celery and red onion into small, uniform pieces. Slice the green onions thinly. If desired, soak red onion in ice water for 10 minutes to mellow the flavor.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, yellow mustard, white vinegar, sugar, paprika, and black pepper until smooth.
- Add the cooled pasta, diced celery, red onion, and green onions to the dressing. Gently toss until evenly coated.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour to allow flavors to meld.
- Stir well before serving cold.
Notes
Do not freeze this salad as the mayonnaise and vegetables will not hold up well to freezing. The salad can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. If the salad becomes too thick after chilling, add a splash of milk or extra vinegar to thin it out. For a lighter version, substitute half the mayonnaise with Greek yogurt.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 3.5
- Carbohydrates: 32
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 6
Keywords: mac salad, pasta salad, creamy macaroni salad, summer side dish, picnic food, easy side dish, cold pasta salad