The BEST Macaroni Salad

This macaroni salad is a family recipe I learned from my mom that’s been made for many generations and it is ABSOLUTELY delicious! It’s the most requested side whenever we attend a party or host! Made with bright fresh simple ingredients like tomatoes, celery, onion, and bell pepper and elbow noodles. It’s a true crowd pleaser!

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Macaroni Salad

Melissa Jo

My family has been making this macaroni salad for MANY generations. I learned to make it from my mother and it's funny how the simplest ingredients make the BEST macaroni salad. You might as well bookmark this recipe now. It is a keeper.

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Ingredients

  

• 1 lb. of elbow noodles
• 1 red bell pepper diced
• 3 stalks of celery diced
• 1 sweet onion diced
• 1 tomato diced try to remove as many seeds as possible
• Italian flat leaf parsley chopped
• 1 tbsp. of sugar
• 1½ cups of mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup of red wine vinegar
• salt, pepper, paprika to taste

Instructions

 

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  Boil elbows to package directions
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  dice up all of the vegetables nice and small
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  add all of the listed ingredients to a large bowl
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  mix everything thoroughly then add the boiled elbows
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  mix everything and TASTE (if you need a little more of this or that add it)
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  chill at lest 3 hours (I chill overnight)
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  To serve: Mix it up again and add paprika and parsley for garnish

Video

Notes

• Taste Test: as with most recipes you MUST make it your own. Taste as you go! These ratios are what make the perfect macaroni salad to me, but a great rule of thumb is to add a little less of the condiments and seasoning. Then taste! You can always add more if needed.

• Chill: You have to let this macaroni salad chill figuratively and literally. LOL After you mix everything together chill AT LEAST 3 hours. I always make the night before I am going to serve and chill for about 18-24 hours. This allows all of the flavors to blend together AND the dressing to thicken.

• Dressing: The dressing you make will seem a little loose. But rest assured that once you chill (at least 3 hours) it will thicken perfectly into a creamy dressing.

• Serving: When you take it out of the refrigerator to serve; mix thoroughly then add little more mayo if needed.

 

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