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Monday, July 4, 2022

Family Favorite Macaroni Salad

Family Favorite Macaroni Salad, this one is a keeper. Delicious as-is, it is also a snap to adapt with additional ingredients to make a new salad each time it is served!


Like most other families, the macaroni salad we eat has evolved through the years

I prefer a light dressing on my macaroni salad so that the individual components of the salad can shine through. Today we are offering our basic macaroni salad recipe, which is delicious already but also so easy to adapt!  Family Favorite Macaroni Salad has a tangy yet light dressing. Seasoned with a touch of Dijon and garlic in the creamy dressing. But not overpowering in any way. 

A basic macaroni salad may be the easiest recipe to adapt!

Once when I made this salad, I used small dried tortellini for the pasta, and it was delicious! And honestly, while the salad is quite good as written, if you wish you could add one or two of the following suggestions to change it up a bit. One thing that holds true for most everyone I know, is that we get tired of eating the exact same thing time and time again...and that is where a delicious yet adaptable recipe shines. You can also turn this into a main dish macaroni salad, simply by adding a bit of meat. Diced ham or roasted chicken are excellent candidates. 

Just a few suggestions for changing things up!

Feel free to use one or two of the following add-ins to adapt this salad as desired!
Such as a grated carrot, small squares of diced cheese, roasted chicken, or ham. Chilled tiny shrimp is also delicious. Steamed and chilled asparagus tips, small broccoli flowerets, or even cauliflower. The sky's is the limit really because just about everything from this list goes great as an add-in. Sometimes I will add a few deviled eggs to the top before serving, this is always a favorite with the menfolk at our table. 


Ingredients needed for this recipe:
  • whole wheat macaroni
  • frozen peas
  • onions of choice
  • hard-cooked eggs
  • celery
  • bread and butter style sweet pickles
  • tomato
  • sour pickles
  • mayonnaise
  • dijon mustard
  • garlic salt
  • sweet pickle juice
  • milk
  • salt
  • fresh ground pepper
You will also need the following:
  • medium-size mixing bowl
  • kitchen spoon
  • silicone spatula
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons
  • large stockpot with lid
  • colander
Now we are ready to begin!



Family Favorite Macaroni Salad
by the seat of my pants

1 1/2 small whole-wheat elbow macaroni 
1 c frozen peas
4 green onions, thinly sliced or 1/2 c diced onion 
or 1/2 c Quick Pickled Onions
2 - 4 hard cook eggs
2 stalks of celery (try to use the inner stalks, they are tender and sweet)
1/2 c chopped "bread and butter" style sweet pickle slices
1 tomato, diced
1/3 c dill or your favorite sour pickle
1/3 c sliced black olives if desired

3/4 c mayonnaise
2 T Dijon mustard
2 T sweet pickle juice
2 T milk
1/4 t garlic salt
salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
paprika for garnish, if desired

Cook pasta according to package directions.



Place the frozen peas in the colander you will use to drain the pasta. When the macaroni is tender, pour the macaroni over the peas, and let drain. Let the macaroni and peas cool.



Wash, dry, and dice the tomato. Dice the sweet and the sour pickles. Peel and dice the eggs. 

Add the macaroni and the peas to a large mixing bowl. Top with the diced pickles and diced hard-cooked eggs.



Add the mayonnaise, mustard, sweet pickle juice, and milk to the mixing bowl. Sprinkle with garlic salt, a touch of salt, and fresh ground pepper. Fold the ingredients together. Adjust final seasonings. 



Place into a serving bowl. Garnish with paprika or as desired. Store in the refrigerator until serving time. 

Storage options for Family Favorite Macaroni Salad. Store in the refrigerator for three or four days. Do not freeze...

UPDATE:  For your convenience, a "copy and paste" version of Family Favorite Macaroni Salad has been included below. 
You may also enjoy: 


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Printable "copy and paste" version:

Family Favorite Macaroni Salad
by the seat of my pants

1 1/2 small whole-wheat elbow macaroni 
1 c frozen peas
4 green onions, thinly sliced or 1/2 c diced onion 
or 1/2 c Quick Pickled Onions
2 - 4 hard cook eggs
2 stalks of celery (try to use the inner stalks, they are tender and sweet)
1/2 c chopped "bread and butter" style sweet pickle slices
1 tomato, diced

1/3 c dill or your favorite sour pickle
1/3 c sliced black olives if desired

3/4 c mayonnaise
2 T Dijon mustard
2 T sweet pickle juice
2 T milk
1/4 t garlic salt
salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
paprika for garnish, if desired

Cook pasta according to package directions.

Place the frozen peas in the colander you will use to drain the pasta. When the macaroni is tender, pour the macaroni over the peas, and let drain. Let the macaroni and peas cool. 

Wash, dry, and dice the tomato. Dice the sweet and the sour pickles. Peel and dice the eggs. 

Add the macaroni and the peas to a large mixing bowl. Top with the diced pickles and diced hard-cooked eggs.

Add the mayonnaise, mustard, sweet pickle juice, and milk to the mixing bowl. Sprinkle with garlic salt, a touch of salt, and fresh ground pepper. Fold the ingredients together. Adjust final seasonings. 

Place into a serving bowl. Garnish with paprika or as desired. Store in the refrigerator until serving time. 

Storage options for Family Favorite Macaroni Salad. Store in the refrigerator for three or four days. Do not freeze...

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Would you like to comment?

  1. This pasta salad looks so delicious. thanks for sharing. I can not wait to try.
    Meagan-Decorative Inspirations

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  2. I love macaroni salad! This looks to be a great one! Thank you.

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  3. This looks wonderful. I love dill pickles in macaroni salads! Pinning. (visiting from the Happy Now blog linkup)

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  4. This sounds a lot like the macaroni salad my mother in law makes each summer. It is so good! Pinned.

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  5. This is one of my favorite cold salads. Love your version. Thank you for sharing at #ohgww. See you next week. Pinned & Tweeted.

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  6. I'm 55 and have never had homemade macaroni salad! I love it though. Looking forward to trying this out. Thank you for sharing it on Farmhouse Friday! Happy weekend!

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    Replies
    1. Well now! I appreciate that this salad has inspired you to give it a try, thanks so much for stopping by! Have a great week ahead.

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  7. This sounds fantastic! Thank you for sharing.
    Visiting today from Little Things Thursday #26

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Paula, it has been a favorite for over 25 years! Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it.

      Delete
  8. I'm always looking for new ways to make classics -- adding this to my summer cookout list.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks! I am kind of a purest with macaroni salad and this one always is delicious.

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  9. I've never used two kinds of pickles or pickle juice, but it sounds like a delicious addition!! Yum! Thanks for sharing at the What's for Dinner party! I hope your week is going fantastic!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Your Family Macaroni Salad looks delicious! We have sure enjoyed featuring your awesome post this week on Full Plate Thursday, 597. Thanks so much for sharing with us and hope you come back to see us soon!
    Miz Helen

    ReplyDelete
  11. This looks yummy, and I love all the colors. Pinning. :) Visiting from Senior Salon Pit Stop.

    ReplyDelete

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