Whip up this crowd-pleasing classic! Our Best Macaroni Salad Recipe is a creamy, flavorful blend of elbow noodles, crunchy veggies, cheddar cheese, and a tangy homemade dressing. It's the perfect side dish for any occasion - ready in just 20 minutes!
Start by filling up a sizeable pot with water, toss in some salt, and get it bubbling away on high heat. Next, you'll want to add your elbow noodles into the pot, following the package's cooking instructions to the letter. Once cooked, drain them and then give them a good rinse under cold water to halt the cooking process. Make sure they're thoroughly drained.
Now comes the fun part - in a large bowl, combine the cooled noodles, the cheddar cheese, the minced onion, diced celery, minced bell pepper, and the thawed peas. Give it all a good stir to ensure everything's nicely mixed.
In a separate, smaller bowl, let's make the dressing. Mix together the mayonnaise, cider vinegar, chopped dill, sugar, sweet pickle relish, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. Whisk it all until you've got a smooth, well-blended dressing.
Then, drizzle the dressing over the pasta mixture and toss until every nook and cranny of the pasta and veggies is coated with this heavenly sauce. Once done, cover the bowl with some cling film and pop it in the fridge to chill. Give it at least an hour before serving, to let all those wonderful flavors blend together beautifully. Enjoy!
Notes
Cook the Pasta: Follow package instructions but aim for al dente - firm yet tender. Overcooked or mushy noodles will absorb too much dressing leading to a soggy salad.Drain Immediately: Once done, drain the hot water immediately using a colander.Rinse with Cold Water: Run plenty of cold water over drained pasta until completely cooled. You may need to toss gently with tongs or spoon while doing this so all parts cool evenly.Dry Before Mixing: To ensure your dressing adheres well and doesn't get diluted by residual water on the surface of noodles, pat dry using paper towels or let air-dry before mixing into your salad ingredients.Making sure each noodle is perfectly prepared ensures every bite of your homemade macaroni salad is flavorful and refreshing - just as it should be. So remember these tips next time you're making this classic side dish for family gatherings or summer BBQs.