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Overhead view of creamy macaroni salad in a white ceramic bowl, filled with elbow pasta, diced carrots, celery, red bell pepper, and onion

Classic Macaroni Salad

Kelly
Here are my secrets to the best Classic Macaroni Salad - ever! Lots of colorful, crunchy veggies, a fresh, creamy dressing, and the perfect balance of sweet and tangy. Perfect for summertime barbecues and picnics!
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 10 servings
Calories 355 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb macaroni
  • ½ tablespoon vegetable oil
  • ½ red onion about ½ cup
  • ¾ cup mayonnaise (5.8oz, 165g) click here for Homemade Mayonnaise
  • 1 ¼ cups full fat yogurt 10.9oz, 310g
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon dijon mustard or regular
  • ¼ cup sweet pickle relish 2.5oz,70g
  • salt and pepper to taste I use about 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 ½ cups carrot cut in pea-sized dice
  • 1 ½ cups celery cut in pea-sized dice
  • 1 ½ cups red bell pepper cut in pea-sized dice

Instructions
 

For the macaroni:

  • Cook the macaroni in salted, boiling water until al dente.
  • Drain and rinse with cold water until macaroni is cool.
  • Toss macaroni with vegetable oil.

For the sauce:

  • Finely chop the onion, put in a small bowl, and cover with water for 10-15 minutes. Drain.
  • In a large bowl, whisk mayo, yogurt, sugar, vinegar, and mustard Add salt and pepper to taste. I use about 2 teaspoons salt.
  • Add chopped vegetables, onion, and relish to sauce and combine.
  • Add cooled macaroni to sauce and stir thoroughly to combine. Taste and adjust salt.
  • Store in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Notes

  • I use full-fat, regular yogurt, not Greek yogurt. This keeps the dressing fresh, a little tangy, and not too thick. You can adjust the ratio to your liking. A one to one ratio of mayo to yogurt would also be good.
  • If you’re craving that deli-style richness, sour cream can be used instead of yogurt.
  • Want a traditional mayo-only version? Just use 2 full cups of mayo and skip the yogurt altogether.

Nutrition

Calories: 355kcalCarbohydrates: 45gProtein: 8gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 9gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.04gCholesterol: 11mgSodium: 216mgPotassium: 314mgFiber: 3gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 4092IUVitamin C: 31mgCalcium: 65mgIron: 1mg
Keyword macroni salad, pasta
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