Old Fashioned Macaroni Salad

Old fashioned macaroni salad is the perfect make-ahead side dish for summer potlucks, barbecues, showers, or parties. Tailor the salad ingredients to what you have on hand or what is in season.

This salad is one of my ‘go-to’ holiday picnic recipes. It’s easy, cool, creamy, and tasty. I like to serve it alongside Pickled Deviled Eggs, Burnt Ends (aka meat candy), a festive Balsamic Fruit Salad, Brown Sugar And Bourbon Baked Beans, Vinegar Based Cole Slaw, and Peanut Butter Pie With Chocolate Ganache.

OLD FASHIONED MACARONI SALAD

Most of us grew up with a family recipe for macaroni salad. I have fond memories of my mom making huge containers of this salad for family picnics at the local amusement park. She packed it in containers and then packed the containers in a cooler with lots of ice. It was definitely a labor of love, and we loved her for it!

Another great perk to this recipe is how easily customizable it is. Change up the vegetables that you use. Add different herbs and spices. Also, you can add protein, such as canned tuna or grilled chicken, to make it a complete meal.

INGREDIENTS FOR THIS RECIPE

• Pasta – I used macaroni, but you can use any pasta you like. Cavatappi, Ditalini, or Shells all work beautifully.
• Kosher salt – it is imperative that you add flavor to the pasta. The cooking water should taste like the sea. You also need a bit for the dressing.
• Olive oil – this will keep the pasta from sticking together while it cools.
• Vegetables – this recipe uses celery, peas, tomato, carrot, and onion, but use whatever you enjoy or have on hand.
• Cheese – small cubes of cheese, preferably provolone, are delicious. You can use shredded cheese or crumbled cheese, like feta.
• Mayonnaise
• Sour cream
• Vinegar – I used white wine vinegar, but apple cider, balsamic, white, tarragon, or champagne vinegars all work beautifully.
• Black pepper and celery seed – all for flavor.

STEPS FOR MAKING THIS RECIPE

1. Cook the pasta
2. Drain the pasta
3. Toss the cooked pasta with olive oil and allow the pasta to cool
4. Whisk together the dressing
5. Toss the pasta, cheese, and vegetables together with the sauce
6. Serve

Don’t you love how easy this recipe is? Yep, me too!

VARIATIONS ON OLD FASHIONED MACARONI SALAD

• Go Tex-Mex by adding jalapenos, taco meat, cheddar cheese, and chili powder, lime juice, and cumin to the dressing.
• Sweet macaroni salad would be delicious by adding diced pineapple, diced ham, and pineapple juice, and extra sugar to the dressing.
• Try a seafood macaroni salad by tossing in cooked shrimp, canned tuna, crab flakes, and a bit of Old Bay Seasoning, lemon juice, and lemon zest to the dressing.
• Make the kids happy with a cheeseburger pasta salad – toss in diced hamburger patties, shredded cheddar cheese, pickle relish, tomatoes, shredded lettuce, onions, and add ketchup to the dressing to make it more like a burger sauce.

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