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Picnic Macaroni Salad

Elbow macaroni in a creamy, tangy dressing with crunchy celery, bell pepper and a little sweet pickle. A cookout classic kids reach for.

⏱ 1 hr 25 min (15 min prep, 10 min cooking, 1 hr waiting) 🍽 Serves 10 Β· about β…” cup make aheadkid friendlybudgetleftovers vegetariandairy free

In our collection Fourth of July and summer cookouts: menu and shopping list β†’

πŸ“… Add to my plan

ContainsEggs, Wheat. Check the labels on what you buy; brands differ.

Ingredients

Make 10 servings
  • 1 lb Elbow macaroni
  • 1 tbsp Kosher salt, for the pasta water (most drains away)
  • 1 cup Mayonnaise
  • 2 tbsp Apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tbsp Granulated sugar
  • 1 tbsp Yellow mustard
  • 1 tsp Kosher salt
  • Β½ tsp Ground black pepper
  • 2 stalk Celery, finely chopped
  • 1 Red bell pepper, finely chopped
  • Β½ Red onion, finely chopped
  • ΒΌ cup Sweet pickle relish

Make it yourself

Make the mayonnaise yourself β†’

In the planner, Make it on the shopping list swaps the store item for these ingredients and puts the work on your prep day.

Nutrition

Nutrition coming: the USDA numbers for these ingredients are being added.

Steps

You’ll need: large pot, colander, large bowl.

  1. Cook the macaroni in boiling salted water 1 minute past the package time, so it stays tender when cold. Drain, rinse with cold water until cool, and drain well.
  2. Whisk the mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, mustard, salt and pepper in a large bowl.
  3. Add the macaroni, celery, pepper, onion and relish and stir well. The pasta drinks up dressing as it sits, so it will thicken.
  4. Refrigerate at least 1 hour. Stir in a splash of milk or a spoonful of mayonnaise before serving if it seems dry. Keep it cold until serving: 40Β°F or below in the refrigerator or a cooler with plenty of ice. Put it away within 2 hours of setting it out, or within 1 hour if it’s above 90Β°F outside (USDA).
Make aheadMake it up to a day ahead. Keeps 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator.
β†Ί LeftoversKeep refrigerated; eat within 3 to 4 days.
πŸ§’ With kidsKids can chop the celery with a kid-safe knife, measure the dressing and stir.
Gluten-free swapUse gluten-free elbow pasta, cooked just to the package time.
No egg swapUse an egg-free mayonnaise.

Goes well with

πŸ— Grilled Barbecue Chicken🌭 Grilled Hot Dogs with All the ToppingsπŸ” Classic Cheeseburgers

Good to know

Table salt vs. kosher salt vs. sea salt

An original Teddy Rook Book recipe, written for our Fourth of July and summer cookout collection; safety steps follow USDA. Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central and changes with brands and portions.