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Amazing Macaroni Pasta Salad Recipe Everyone Loves

Amazing Macaroni Pasta Salad

A classic American macaroni salad made with tender elbow pasta, crunchy vegetables, and a creamy, sweet-tangy mustard dressing. Chill it several hours before serving for the best flavor and texture.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 4 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta
  • 4 cups Uncooked elbow macaroni
Dressing
  • 1 cup Mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup Distilled white vinegar
  • 2/3 cup Granulated sugar
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons Prepared yellow mustard
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon Ground black pepper
Vegetables
  • 1 medium Medium onion, finely chopped
  • 2 stalks Celery stalks, finely chopped
  • 1 medium Green bell pepper, finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup Carrot, finely chopped

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the elbow macaroni according to the package directions, generally 8–10 minutes, until tender but not mushy.
  2. Drain the macaroni thoroughly, then rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool the pasta quickly.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, distilled white vinegar, granulated sugar, yellow mustard, salt, and ground black pepper until smooth.
  4. Add the chopped onion, celery, green bell pepper, carrot, and cooled macaroni to the bowl. Stir thoroughly until the dressing coats every piece of pasta and vegetable.
  5. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 3–4 hours. Stir again before serving and adjust the salt or pepper if needed.

Notes

Rinse and drain the pasta well so it does not become soft or gummy. The macaroni absorbs some dressing while chilling; if the salad seems dry before serving, mix in a small amount of mayonnaise or a teaspoon or two of vinegar.