Best 7 Super Creamy Macaroni Salad Recipes

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Are you craving a classic side dish that is both indulgent and easy to make? If so, then look no further than our super creamy macaroni salad. This satisfying salad combines cooked macaroni, a creamy dressing, and a variety of fresh and flavorful ingredients. Whether you're hosting a backyard barbecue, potluck, or simply looking for a delicious and convenient meal, our super creamy macaroni salad is sure to be a hit.

Let's cook with our recipes!

MACARONI SALAD



Macaroni Salad image

Macaroni Salad is quick to throw together and so DELICIOUS! A versatile, fool-proof pasta salad with an incredible creamy dressing perfect to take to gatherings, Bbq's, lunches and dinners. Or serve as a popular side dish!

Provided by Karina

Categories     Salad

Time 25m

Number Of Ingredients 16

8 oz (250g) dry macaroni pasta
1/2 medium red bell pepper (capsicum), (seeded and finely chopped)
1/2 medium red onion, (finely diced)
1 small carrot, (peeled and shredded)
2 dill pickles, (finely chopped)
1/4 cup chopped celery
1 cup mayonnaise, ((S&W, Best Foods, Hellmann's, Japanese or any whole egg mayo))
1/4 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons white vinegar, ((adjust to taste))
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, (chopped)
1 tablespoon fresh chives
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Steps:

  • Bring large pot of salted water to the boil over high heat. Add the pasta and boil until al dente (just fork-tender), or follow packet directions.
  • While pasta is boiling, prepare/chop SALAD ingredients and add them to a large serving bowl.
  • Mix DRESSING ingredients together in a small bowl.
  • Once pasta is cooked, drain and rinse under cool running water. Drain well and add to the rest of the SALAD ingredients in the large serving bowl.
  • Pour over DRESSING and toss well to evenly combine. Adjust salt, pepper and vinegar to taste.
  • Set aside for at least 15 minutes to let the ingredients warm close to room temperature and settle into each other before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 403 kcal, Carbohydrate 34 g, Protein 6 g, Fat 27 g, SaturatedFat 4 g, Fiber 2 g, Sugar 4 g, ServingSize 1 serving

PERFECT CREAMY MACARONI PASTA SALAD



Perfect Creamy Macaroni Pasta Salad image

The key to the best creamy pasta salad is to rinse the cooked pasta under cold water before tossing with the dressing. Skipping this step means the dressing will turn sticky. We also "de-flame" the onion, which tames raw onion flavor so that the onion does not take over the salad. A quick bath in cold water does the trick.

Provided by Adam and Joanne Gallagher

Categories     Side Dish

Time 20m

Yield Makes about 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

8 ounces dry elbow macaroni or small pasta shape
1/4 medium red onion, finely chopped, about 1/4 cup
1 medium bell pepper, seeds removed and chopped
2 celery stalks, finely chopped, about 1/3 cup
3 radishes, trimmed and finely chopped, about 1/3 cup
1 to 2 medium dill pickles, finely chopped, optional
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup mayonnaise, try our homemade mayonnaise
1 1/2 tablespoons yellow mustard, substitute Dijon or whole grain mustard
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt, plus more to taste
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper, plus more to taste
1 to 2 tablespoons honey, optional for sweet version

Steps:

  • Cook pasta according to the package directions. Drain and rinse well under cold water to remove starch from the outside of the pasta.
  • Meanwhile, add the chopped onions to a small bowl and cover with cold water. Set aside for 5 minutes and then drain. This tones down the raw flavor of the onion so that it won't overpower the salad.
  • In the bottom of a large salad bowl, make the dressing. Whisk the sour cream, mayonnaise, mustard, cider vinegar, salt, and pepper. For a sweeter macaroni salad, add honey to taste. I typically add half of a tablespoon but try one to two tablespoons if you enjoy sweeter macaroni salads.
  • Add the rinsed macaroni, drained onions, bell pepper, celery, radish, and the pickle to the bowl with dressing. Mix well. Taste, then adjust with additional salt and pepper.

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1/6 of the recipe, Calories 252, Fat 10.4g, SaturatedFat 2.9g, Cholesterol 10.6g, Sodium 317.2mg, Carbohydrate 32.2g, Fiber 2.1g, Sugar 2.4g, Protein 6.9g

CREAMY MACARONI SALAD



Creamy Macaroni Salad image

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

1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon dry mustard powder
¾ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon onion powder
¼ teaspoon ground white pepper
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
3 cups elbow macaroni
1 ½ cups mayonnaise
½ cup sour cream
1 (5 ounce) can evaporated milk
½ cup finely chopped onion
3 tablespoons finely chopped green bell pepper
3 tablespoons finely chopped red bell pepper
2 tablespoons finely chopped yellow bell pepper
½ cup finely chopped celery
½ cup finely chopped carrots

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

CREAMY MACARONI SALAD



Creamy Macaroni Salad image

This is my own macaroni salad. I did not get it from my mother or my grandmother and I did not get it out of a book or off the internet. It is not Amish, Cajun, Mexican or any other description of the various macaroni salads that are posted on the internet. It is my own made up salad. It is designed after my own recipe #20155 that I have posted on Recipezaar (with 121 high reviews, thank you very much to those that have tried it). The dressing is mostly the same, but there are a few other ingredients in this salad that is not in my potato salad. I hope some of you will enjoy it as much as you did the other.

Provided by Karen From Colorado

Categories     Vegetable

Time 45m

Yield 20 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 lb large elbow macaroni, cooked to desired tenderness
1/2 cup thinly sliced celery
1/4 cup finely diced sweet onion
1 small red sweet bell pepper, finely diced
1/4-1/2 cup sliced pimento stuffed olive
1 1/2 cups mayonnaise (I like half and half) or 1 1/2 cups salad dressing (I like half and half)
2 teaspoons prepared yellow mustard
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup sweet pickle relish
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon celery seed
1/2 lb bacon, prepared as in Homemade Fresh Bacon Bits

Steps:

  • Mix cooled macaroni, celery, onions, bell pepper and green olives together in a large bowl.
  • In a separate bowl mix together the mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, pickle relish, sugar, salt, pepper and celery seed, stirring well.
  • Stir dressing into the macaroni mixture.
  • Stir in the crumbled bacon.
  • Serve chilled.
  • For another variation, omit the green olives, add sliced black olives and a container of grape tomatoes.
  • For a meal type salad, add diced cooked chicken or tuna fish.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 215, Fat 11.5, SaturatedFat 2.6, Cholesterol 12.3, Sodium 312.6, Carbohydrate 23.5, Fiber 1, Sugar 3.3, Protein 4.6

EASY MACARONI SALAD



Easy Macaroni Salad image

This hearty pasta salad is sure to please appetites of all ages-and it serves a lot of folks! -LaVerna Mjones, Moorhead, Minnesota

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch     Side Dishes

Time 15m

Yield 34 (1-cup) servings.

Number Of Ingredients 9

2 pounds uncooked elbow macaroni
12 hard-boiled large eggs, chopped
2-1/2 pounds fully cooked ham, cubed
1 package (16 ounces) frozen peas, thawed
3 cups sliced celery
1 large green pepper, chopped
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 jar (4 ounces) diced pimientos, drained
4 cups mayonnaise

Steps:

  • Cook macaroni according to package directions. Rinse in cold water; drain and cool completely. , Place in a large bowl; stir in remaining ingredients. Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 380 calories, Fat 26g fat (4g saturated fat), Cholesterol 102mg cholesterol, Sodium 615mg sodium, Carbohydrate 23g carbohydrate (2g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 13g protein.

SUPER EASY MACARONI SALAD



Super Easy Macaroni Salad image

This is great for someone with little time and money. I couldn't find anything this simple when I was looking so I thought I would add it. You can add or substitute many different things. My sister puts chopped sweet pickles. My grandma would put cucumber and canned crab meat and shrimp instead of ham.

Provided by Funandsweet623

Categories     Ham

Time 25m

Yield 8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 5

2 cups macaroni (I use whatever is in my cupboard)
1/2 cup cubed cheese (I prefer cheddar or co-jack)
1/2 cup cubed ham
1/2 cup Miracle Whip (can sub mayo your choice)
1 tablespoon mustard

Steps:

  • Cook,drain and rinse macaroni and put in fridge while you dice up cheese and ham.
  • Mix together cold macaroni, cheese, and ham in a bowl.
  • In a separate bowl mix miracle whip and mustard. (If it is too tangy my mom would put a little sugar in it about a tsp.).
  • Mix it all together and chill or serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 122, Fat 2.2, SaturatedFat 1.2, Cholesterol 4.5, Sodium 90.5, Carbohydrate 20.3, Fiber 0.9, Sugar 0.5, Protein 4.9

THE BEST CREAMY PASTA SALAD RECIPE



The Best Creamy Pasta Salad Recipe image

The absolute BEST Creamy Pasta Salad made with broccoli, cucumbers, olives, cheese, red onion, red pepper, and broccoli then tossed in a sweet and tangy dressing. This is the perfect pasta salad for parties and potlucks!

Provided by Elyse

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 (16 ounce) package Ditalini pasta (or whatever pasta you have on hand)
1 cup broccoli florets (chopped)
1/2 red onion (minced)
1 red bell pepper (minced)
1 cucumber (diced)
1 (3.8 ounce) can sliced olives (drained)
1 cup block Colby Jack cheese (cubed)
1 cup Mayonnaise
2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt

Steps:

  • Cook pasta according to package directions for al dente. Rinse well with cold water until pasta is cold.
  • Place cooked and cooled pasta in a large mixing or serving bowl.
  • Mix in broccoli florets, red onion, red bell pepper, cucumber, sliced olives and cheese.
  • Whisk together all dressing ingredients and pour over pasta and other ingredients.
  • Gently fold in dressing until all ingredients are evenly coated.
  • Cover with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving.

Tips:

  • To make the macaroni salad extra creamy, use a combination of mayonnaise, sour cream, and Greek yogurt.
  • Add a variety of mix-ins to your macaroni salad, such as diced celery, shredded carrots, chopped hard-boiled eggs, or crumbled bacon.
  • For a tangy twist, add a splash of pickle juice or vinegar to the dressing.
  • If you're making macaroni salad ahead of time, let it chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
  • Garnish the macaroni salad with fresh parsley, chives, or dill before serving.

Conclusion:

With its creamy dressing, tender macaroni, and colorful mix-ins, macaroni salad is a classic side dish that's perfect for any occasion. Whether you're serving it at a backyard barbecue, potluck, or holiday gathering, this delicious and versatile dish is sure to be a hit. So next time you're looking for a crowd-pleasing side dish, give macaroni salad a try!

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