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Classic Macaroni Salad

A creamy, flavorful macaroni salad loaded with crunchy vegetables and hard-boiled eggs, perfect for summer picnics and casual dinners.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 320

Ingredients
  

Pasta and Dressing
  • 2 cups elbow macaroni (uncooked) Cooked al dente.
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon mustard (yellow or Dijon)
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
Vegetables and Eggs
  • 1/2 cup celery (finely chopped)
  • 1/2 cup red bell pepper (diced)
  • 1/4 cup onion (diced)
  • 2 pieces hard-boiled eggs (chopped)
  • to taste salt and pepper

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Boil a pot of salted water and cook the elbow macaroni according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside to cool.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, mustard, and apple cider vinegar until smooth.
  3. Add the cooled macaroni to the bowl with the dressing, and gently fold in the chopped celery, red bell pepper, onion, and hard-boiled eggs.
  4. Season with salt and pepper to taste, stirring until everything is well-coated.
  5. Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least one hour to let the flavors meld.

Notes

Make sure to cook pasta al dente as it absorbs dressing while chilling. Allow chilling time for better flavor development. Customize with extras like olives or corn, but avoid mixing incompatible ingredients.