Kick off your Memorial Day weekend BBQ with our classic macaroni salad! SO easy and guaranteed to be a hit!! This creamy, tangy side dish is the perfect companion to grilled burgers and hotdogs, bringing a burst of flavor to every bite. Loaded with crunchy veggies and a zesty dressing, it’s a crowd-pleaser that’s quick and easy to whip up. Make sure to chill it for at least 3 hours! Perfect for a summer BBQ, let me know what you think!! Original recipe from Sam Merritt.
This is the veggie chopper I use and this is a perfect chilling serving bowl!
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Ingredients:
- 8 oz dry macaroni noodles
- ½ cup finely diced sweet gherkins usually 4-6 sweet gherkins for me
- ¾ cup finely diced red bell pepper about ½ pepper
- ⅓ cup thinly sliced celery about 1-2 stalks
- ⅓ cup finely diced red onion (45g)
- 2 large hard-boiled eggs, finely diced
Macaroni Salad Dressing:
- ¾ cup mayonnaise I use olive oil mayo
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons sweet pickle juice
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar*
- 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper optional
Instructions:
- Prepare macaroni noodles according to package instructions. Drain and rinse immediately with cold water, then drizzle with a teaspoon of olive oil and gently stir so the noodles don’t stick together as they sit.
- In a large bowl, combine macaroni noodles, sweet pickles, red pepper, celery, red onion, and eggs. Stir until well-combined. Set aside and prepare your dressing.
For the Dressing:
- To prepare your macaroni salad dressing, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, red wine vinegar, sweet pickle juice, sugar, dijon mustard, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and crushed red pepper (if using) in a medium-sized bowl. Whisk until ingredients are well-combined.
- Pour dressing over your macaroni salad ingredients and toss until well-combined.
- For best flavor, cover bowl and allow macaroni salad to chill for at least one hour. Stir once more before serving and enjoy!
Notes:
*If you don’t have red wine vinegar on hand, white wine or apple cider vinegar would also work well.
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