Description
This Sweet Macaroni Salad is a creamy and flavorful side dish perfect for picnics, barbecues, or potlucks. Featuring tender elbow macaroni tossed in a tangy-sweet dressing made from mayonnaise, sour cream, white vinegar, Dijon mustard, and sugar, this salad is loaded with crunchy celery, sweet red bell pepper, onion, and peas. Chilled to meld the vibrant flavors, it’s a refreshing and satisfying salad garnished optionally with chopped hard-boiled egg for added texture and protein.
Ingredients
Scale
Macaroni
- 2 cups elbow macaroni (uncooked)
Dressing
- 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
Vegetables
- 1/2 cup diced celery
- 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
- 1/4 cup diced red onion
- 1/2 cup frozen peas (thawed)
Optional Garnish
- 1 hard-boiled egg, chopped
Instructions
- Cook the macaroni: Cook the elbow macaroni according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain thoroughly and rinse under cold water to cool the pasta and stop the cooking process. Set aside to drain well.
- Prepare the dressing: In a large mixing bowl, combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, white vinegar, Dijon mustard, sugar, salt, and ground black pepper. Whisk or stir the ingredients together until the mixture is smooth and evenly blended.
- Add the vegetables: Fold in the diced celery, red bell pepper, red onion, and thawed peas gently into the dressing mixture to combine without bruising the vegetables.
- Combine with pasta: Add the cooled and drained macaroni to the bowl with the dressing and vegetable mixture. Stir carefully to ensure the pasta is evenly coated and all ingredients are well incorporated.
- Chill: Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate the macaroni salad for at least 1 hour. This chilling step helps the flavors meld together beautifully.
- Serve: Give the salad a gentle stir before serving. Optionally, garnish with chopped hard-boiled egg for added richness and texture. Serve the salad cold as a delicious accompaniment or light meal.
Notes
- For best flavor, prepare the salad a few hours ahead or the day before serving.
- Make sure to rinse the macaroni well after cooking to remove excess starch and prevent clumping.
- This salad can be customized by adding diced apple or pineapple for extra sweetness.
- Keep the salad chilled until serving to maintain freshness and texture.
- You can omit the hard-boiled egg for a vegetarian option.
