With its vibrant colors, delightful textures, and burst of flavors, macaroni salad is a staple in many picnics, potlucks, and summer gatherings. This delectable dish is elevated to new heights when combined with crispy bacon, sweet peas, and a creamy Dijon dressing. This ultimate macaroni salad recipe will guide you through every step of the process, ensuring you create a flavorful and unforgettable dish that will be the star of your next gathering.
Here are our top 4 tried and tested recipes!
CREAMY MACARONI SALAD
I have looked all over for a great macaroni salad; this one is it! It's easy and is a huge hit at every function I take it to. The sauce for this is a great creamy sauce. I like my salads to have a lot of creamy dressing, so I always make an extra half batch of the wet mix and add it as necessary to get the salad more wet because the pasta soaks up the sauce.
Provided by Mandy Franke
Categories Salad 100+ Pasta Salad Recipes Macaroni Salad Recipes
Time 35m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Mix salt, dry mustard, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, white pepper, and black pepper in a small bowl.
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, 8 minutes. Drain and rinse macaroni under cold water until cooled.
- Whisk mayonnaise, sour cream, and evaporated milk in a large salad bowl until dressing is smooth and creamy; stir in seasoning mix until well blended. Mix macaroni, onion, green, red, and yellow bell pepper, celery, and carrots into the dressing until thoroughly coated.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 341 calories, Carbohydrate 24 g, Cholesterol 18 mg, Fat 25.3 g, Fiber 1.4 g, Protein 5.1 g, SaturatedFat 5.1 g, Sodium 377.4 mg, Sugar 3.1 g
BACON MACARONI SALAD
This pleasing pasta salad is like eating a BLT in a bowl. Filled with crispy bacon, chopped tomato, celery and green onion, the sensational salad is coated with a tangy mayonnaise and vinegar dressing. It's a real crowd-pleaser! -Norene Wright, Manilla, Indiana
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Lunch
Time 20m
Yield 8 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain and rinse in cold water. Transfer to a large bowl; stir in tomato, celery and green onions., In a small bowl, whisk mayonnaise, vinegar, salt and pepper. Pour over macaroni mixture and toss to coat. Refrigerate, covered, at least 2 hours. Just before serving, stir in bacon.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 402 calories, Fat 33g fat (6g saturated fat), Cholesterol 23mg cholesterol, Sodium 622mg sodium, Carbohydrate 16g carbohydrate (2g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 10g protein.
BACON AND MACARONI SALAD
Another perfect picnic or grilling addition!
Provided by readycooker
Categories Salad 100+ Pasta Salad Recipes Macaroni Salad Recipes
Time 35m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain, crumble and set aside. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni pasta, and cook until al dente, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water.
- Whisk the mayonnaise, sour cream, mustard, sugar, vinegar, salt, and pepper in a large bowl until the sugar has dissolved. Add the bacon, pasta, tomato, cucumber, egg, and celery. Gently fold until the salad is evenly covered with the dressing. Sprinkle with the sliced olives to serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 422.3 calories, Carbohydrate 36.2 g, Cholesterol 95.6 mg, Fat 25.2 g, Fiber 2 g, Protein 12.8 g, SaturatedFat 5.9 g, Sodium 723.2 mg, Sugar 7.1 g
MACARONI SALAD WITH BACON, PEAS, AND CREAMY DIJON DRESSING
Make and share this Macaroni Salad With Bacon, Peas, and Creamy Dijon Dressing recipe from Food.com.
Provided by SarahBeth
Categories < 60 Mins
Time 45m
Yield 8 cups of salad, 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- To prepare dressing, combine first 9 ingredients in a food processor, and process until smooth. Cover and chill.
- To prepare salad, cook pasta according to package directions.
- Add peas during the last 3 minutes of cooking time. Drain; rinse with cold water. Drain.
- Combine pea/ pasta mixture, bell pepper, and next 4 ingredients in a large bowl. Toss pasta mixture with half of dressing. Cover and chill until ready to serve. Toss salad with remaining dressing, and sprinkle with crumbled bacon; serve immediately.
Tips:
- For the best macaroni salad, use high-quality mayonnaise. You can also make your own mayonnaise if you prefer.
- Use a variety of vegetables in your macaroni salad. This will add flavor, color, and texture.
- Cook the macaroni al dente. This means that it should be tender but still have a slight bite to it.
- Allow the macaroni salad to chill for at least 30 minutes before serving. This will allow the flavors to meld together.
- Garnish the macaroni salad with fresh herbs or bacon bits before serving.
Conclusion:
Macaroni salad is a classic summer dish that is perfect for picnics, potlucks, and barbecues. It is easy to make and can be customized to your liking. With so many different variations, there is sure to be a macaroni salad recipe that everyone will enjoy. So next time you are looking for a simple and delicious side dish, give macaroni salad a try!
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