Ingredients
3/4 lb. elbow pasta, cooked
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1/2 c. black olives, sliced
1 medium carrot, shredded
Freshly chopped parsley, for garnish
1 c. mayonnaise
2 tbsp. red wine vinegar
1 tsp. granulated sugar
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Preparation
Step 1In a large bowl, combine elbows, celery, bell pepper, olives, and carrots. Step 2Make dressing: In a medium bowl, combine mayonnaise, vinegar, and sugar. Season with salt and pepper and stir until combined.Step 3Pour dressing over pasta mixture and toss. Garnish with parsley before serving.
Macaroni salad is a great dish to prep ahead of time. To keep the macaroni from absorbing all of the dressing we recommend not tossing everything together until about an hour or so before. The drier your pasta is, the less it will absorb so make sure your macaroni is drained very well first. If you want to cook the macaroni more than an hour before toss it with a little olive oil after draining. If it starts sticking together you can run it under warm water to break it up! What type of pasta can I use? Honestly, any type of short pasta shape works great with macaroni salad. Penne and fusilli are among our favorites, but use up the type of pasta you have on hand to make it extra simple! How can I keep my pasta salad from getting watery? Overcooked pasta is the main culprit in a soggy pasta salad. Keep a close eye on it as it cooks. Tossing the dressing with wet pasta can also lead to water-logged pasta salad. Be sure to drain the noodles well before tossing. How should I flavor pasta salad? Pasta will absorb whatever flavor you add to it so the sky’s the limit in terms of flavor combos. The most important thing to remember is salt! Seasoning the pasta water and the pasta itself with a pinch of kosher salt after it’s cooked will guarantee flavor in each bite Can I add different vegetables? You bet! Macaroni salad works well with almost anything you want to add in. We love adding broccoli, pimento peppers, tuna, hard-boiled eggs, and bacon! What should I serve with macaroni salad? Here comes the fun part! Macaroni salad goes great with any grilled. We always serve it alongside our classic burger and grilled pork chops!How long does pasta salad last in the fridge? Pasta salad will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days in an air-tight container. We don’t recommend freezing this because it has mayonnaise. Freezing and thawing will change the texture of the pasta salad. Have you tried this yet? Let us know what you think in the comments below!
