Description
This classic Amish Macaroni Salad is a creamy, tangy, and slightly sweet side dish featuring tender elbow macaroni, crunchy vegetables, and a flavorful dressing made with mayonnaise, mustard, and apple cider vinegar. Perfectly chilled and garnished with paprika, it is a crowd-pleaser ideal for potlucks, picnics, or a comforting family meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Vegetables
- 2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
- 3 hard-cooked eggs, chopped
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 celery ribs, finely chopped
- 1 small green bell pepper, seeded and finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons dill pickle relish
Dressing
- 2 cups mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 3/4 cup white sugar
- 2 1/4 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, or to taste
Garnish
- Paprika, for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the Macaroni: Cook the elbow macaroni according to the package instructions until al dente. Once cooked, drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water to cool it completely and stop the cooking process.
- Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large bowl, add the cooled macaroni, chopped hard-cooked eggs, finely chopped onion, celery, green bell pepper, and dill pickle relish. Mix everything evenly.
- Prepare the Dressing: In a separate bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, yellow mustard, white sugar, apple cider vinegar, salt, and black pepper until smooth and well incorporated.
- Mix Dressing and Salad: Pour the prepared dressing over the macaroni mixture. Toss gently but thoroughly to ensure all ingredients are coated with the dressing.
- Chill the Salad: Cover the bowl and refrigerate the macaroni salad for at least 4 hours or overnight to allow the flavors to meld and the salad to chill fully.
- Garnish and Serve: Before serving, sprinkle the top of the salad with paprika for a pop of color and a mild smoky flavor.
Notes
- The salad is best served chilled, so plan ahead to refrigerate it for several hours before serving.
- You can adjust the sugar and vinegar amounts slightly to suit your preferred sweetness and tanginess levels.
- For a lighter option, substitute half of the mayonnaise with Greek yogurt.
- Adding fresh herbs like dill or parsley can enhance the flavor profile.
- Make sure to drain and rinse the pasta thoroughly to prevent the salad from becoming too mushy.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
