Things I Can't Say

Tips and Tales from an Introverted Mom

  • Home
  • About
  • Best Of
  • Recipes
  • PR & Advertising
  • Contact

May 31, 2016 by: Shell

Just Creamy Enough Macaroni Salad

 

Since we’re entering summer and picnic season, I’m resharing my favorite macaroni salad recipe. 

Summer means that when it comes meals, something nice and cool sounds much better than something steaming hot. I don’t want to have to turn on the oven if I can help it. Our grill gets a lot of use, too.

One of my favorite things to eat in summer is macaroni salad. It’s great as a lunch on its own or as a side for when we grill out. I can make it ahead of time and we can pick off of it all week.

While I like a creamy macaroni salad, it grosses me out if it’s too creamy, if the pasta is so coated in mayo that it feels slimy. But this recipe I’m sharing with you today is the perfect amount of creamy: yummy, but not overwhelming. You can also change the veggies/cheeses to whatever suits you.

20140618-234814-85694458.jpg

Just Creamy Enough Macaroni Salad

Ingredients

  • 16oz  macaroni
  • 1 1/2 cup mayo
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 2 tablespoons mustard
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 cup frozen peas (thawed)
  • 3 carrots (shredded)
  • 1/4 cup dill pickles (chopped or relish, optional)
  • 1 cup of cheddar cheese (cubed)
  • Can include chopped hard boiled eggs, diced peppers, diced celery, cucumber, etc. to customize to your family’s taste

Directions

  • Cook macaroni according to package directions. Drain and rinse in cold water. Allow to fully drain and cool.
  • Toss macaroni with peas, carrots, pickles, cheese, and whatever other veggies/meats you’d like to add in a large bowl.
  • Mix mayo, sour cream, mustard, apple cider vinegar, salt, and sugar in a medium bowl.
  • Pour dressing over pasta mixture and stir to coat.
  • Cover with plastic wrap or lid and allow to sit in the fridge overnight(or at least for a few hours).

What is your go-to summer side dish?

Follow me on Pinterest for more recipes and don’t forget to use the button below to pin this macaroni salad!

Just Creamy Enough Macaroni Salad
Recipe Type: side dish
Cuisine: American
Author: Shell
Ingredients
  • 16oz macaroni
  • 1 1/2 cup mayo
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 2 tablespoons mustard
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 cup frozen peas (thawed)
  • 3 carrots (shredded)
  • 1/4 cup dill pickles (chopped or relish, optional)
  • 1 cup of cheddar cheese (cubed)
  • Can include chopped hard boiled eggs, diced peppers, diced celery, cucumber, etc. to customize to your family’s taste
Instructions
  1. Cook macaroni according to package directions. Drain and rinse in cold water. Allow to fully drain and cool.
  2. Toss macaroni with peas, carrots, pickles, cheese, and whatever other veggies/meats you’d like to add in a large bowl.
  3. Mix mayo, sour cream, mustard, apple cider vinegar, salt, and sugar in a medium bowl.
  4. Pour dressing over pasta mixture and stir to coat.
  5. Cover with plastic wrap or lid and allow to sit in the fridge overnight(or at least for a few hours)
3.5.3208

 

Things They Can’t Say
Understanding Migraine Pain

Comments

  1. Tracie says

    June 19, 2014 at 8:37 am

    Mmmm! This looks good. And with Katarina having most of her teeth pulled this summer, I’m on the lookout for every new recipe containing easy to chew food I can find! Thanks for sharing. 

  2. Robin (Masshole Mommy) says

    June 19, 2014 at 8:38 am

    That sounds awesome.  Macaroni salad is a must have at every summer cookout around here.

  3. Kimberly Murphy says

    June 19, 2014 at 8:48 am

    Yum! That sounds delicious. My go-to summer side dish is Broccoli Salad; I think I’ll make it this weekend for whatever we throw on the grill to celebrate the First (official) Day of Summer!

  4. Kay Adeola says

    June 19, 2014 at 9:49 am

    That sounds really good,I will have to give this a go will be nice for lunch outside in the sun.

  5. Jenn says

    June 19, 2014 at 11:12 am

    This sounds like just the right blend of creamy and tangy. Can’t wait to try!

  6. Haley Webb says

    June 19, 2014 at 12:12 pm

    This sounds delicious! I will have to add this to my recipe list! Stopping by from Mama Kat’s !

  7. Chrystal @ YUM eating says

    June 19, 2014 at 1:31 pm

    YUM! I love a good macaroni salad. Would love to have you come link your recipe on our link party – The Yuck Stops Here —> http://yumeating.com/yuck-stops-12-stoptheyuck/

  8. Felicia says

    June 19, 2014 at 3:21 pm

    This brings back so many wonderful memories.  My mom used to make the best macaroni salad.  I’ll have to give this one a try too.

  9. Melissa says

    June 19, 2014 at 3:30 pm

    This looks delicious! I must make it for our next BBQ!

  10. Angie | Big Bear's Wife says

    June 19, 2014 at 3:31 pm

    I love cold food in the summer too, it’s just too hot some days for that oven! Lovely salad! 

  11. Lori says

    June 19, 2014 at 4:13 pm

    Yum! This looks delicious.  It’s perfect for summer time.

  12. Brandy says

    June 19, 2014 at 4:23 pm

    OH this sounds really good, it was more things in it than my macaroni salad has. I will give it a try! Appreciate the share, always up for new Summer salad style recipes!

  13. Jaime says

    June 19, 2014 at 4:25 pm

    I love pasta salad for a quick summer dish. It’s my go to party food, but it’s also good enough to stand alone as a meal (in my opinion at least!)

  14. madamdreamweaver says

    June 19, 2014 at 5:04 pm

    I love macaroni salad–though I go with a Italian dressing rather then a mayo. In summer, with fresh basil, I often make a pesto that I stir in with the mac salad along with the Italian dressing. That just heightens the flavor exponentially!

  15. Debbie Denny says

    June 19, 2014 at 5:59 pm

    Yummm! That does look good. I do not like mine too creamy either.

  16. Krystyn @ Really, Are You Serious? says

    June 19, 2014 at 6:56 pm

    This looks like a great summer salad. Confession? I’ve never made a macaroni salad before!

  17. Theresa says

    June 19, 2014 at 9:47 pm

    I love macaroni salad, but I have never made it myself. This recipe sounds great. Perfect to take to our annual 4th of July party at the in-laws this year!

  18. Krissy Higgins says

    June 19, 2014 at 9:51 pm

    My whole family LOVES macaroni salad, it’s at every picnic, BBQ, or family dinner night we have through the summer. This recipe looks absolutely delicious! Can’t wait to try it!

  19. Emily says

    June 19, 2014 at 9:52 pm

    I looove macaroni salad and this looks like a good one!

  20. Jenn @ The Rebel Chick says

    June 19, 2014 at 11:15 pm

    Interesting! I’ve never tried making macaroni salad with sour cream!

  21. Christie says

    June 19, 2014 at 11:30 pm

    I love that you did this post. Sometimes there’s just too much heavy in macaroni salad!

  22. Kiwi says

    June 20, 2014 at 12:31 am

    It looks so delish! Looks perfect for a 4th of July BBQ!

  23. Carly Bellard says

    June 20, 2014 at 1:56 am

    I love macaroni salads! Thank you for the recipe- I haven’t had a good pasta salad in a while!

  24. car insurance quotes wv says

    June 20, 2014 at 6:58 am

    When some one searches for hiss required thing, so he/she
    wants to be available that in detail, thus that thing iss maintained over
    here.

  25. melinda says

    June 20, 2014 at 8:03 am

    thats how i like my mac salad, not too wet. I’ll have to check yours out.

  26. Tracey says

    June 20, 2014 at 8:15 am

    This recipe looks delicious. I will have to try it out this summer.

  27. Liz Mays says

    June 20, 2014 at 8:54 am

    What a picnic perfect recipe this is, Shell! I can see this quickly becoming a favorite.

  28. StacieinAtlanta says

    June 20, 2014 at 12:40 pm

    That looks so good to me right now.  It would be a perfect lunch side on a hot Atlanta day.

  29. Krystal says

    June 20, 2014 at 1:27 pm

    This looks delicious! I need to pick up some apple cider vinegar! 

  30. Jennifer Hall says

    June 20, 2014 at 4:55 pm

    Yum! Pinning!

  31. Ashley M says

    June 20, 2014 at 5:17 pm

    This is great! I’m really choosy about how much “cream” is in my salads. I dont like it overly creamy. 

  32. Amanda - Growing Up Madison says

    June 20, 2014 at 6:56 pm

    I just love macaroni salads and the creamier the better. I can’t wait to give this one a try. 

  33. Tonia says

    June 20, 2014 at 11:00 pm

    I’m serving a delicious macaroni salad tomorrow. It’s always a hit.

  34. Virginia @thatbaldchick says

    June 20, 2014 at 11:24 pm

    My aunt has always made the macaroni salad for our family get togethers. Everyone goes nuts over it. This looks as good as hers. 😉

  35. cam | bibs and baubles says

    June 21, 2014 at 12:40 am

    Yum! That sounds delicious. I love the sour cream in the recipe. Nice and tangy. 

  36. Dawn says

    June 21, 2014 at 10:43 am

    Your macaroni salad sounds good. It’s interesting that it has sour cream. I will have to try it your way. 🙂

  37. Kat says

    June 22, 2014 at 11:35 pm

    Totally agree, if the salad is too slimey you just feel like you’ve got a mouthful of mayo in your mouth. Blech!

  38. Andrea B (@goodgirlgonered) says

    June 25, 2014 at 11:06 am

    I’m intrigued because I feel the same way about overly-creamy macaroni salad. I don’t like mayo, so it really has to be crazy light. 😉

    But maybe this would work … mayyy be.

    • Shell says

      June 25, 2014 at 11:08 am

      Try it! Overly-creamy grosses me out. And it’s even less creamy than what it first appears b/c you do need to let it sit overnight(or at least for a few hours). 

Welcome to Things I Can't Say: Tips and Tales from an Introverted Mom. I'm Shell. Boy mom, beach girl, bookworm, ball games, baker, brand ambassador, Thinking yoga, food, and travel should start with "b," too. Finding the easiest way to do some things while overthinking so many others. Read More…

Be a Part of the Sisters’ Hood

alt text SoFab Badge
Everywhere
  • Contact
  • PR & Advertising

© 2021 · Designed by: Carolyn Yalin