This creamy Elbow Macaroni Salad is a nostalgic side dish that’s perfect for cookouts, potlucks, or a simple dinner at home. It’s tossed in a sweet and tangy dressing with finely chopped celery, red onion, dill relish, and a touch of sour cream for extra creaminess. This simple pasta salad is comforting and packed with flavor.
Why You Will Love This Classic Elbow Macaroni Salad
- Perfect for BBQs and Cookouts: This elbow macaroni salad pairs perfectly with grilled meats, hot dogs, or burgers, making it a summer cookout staple.
- Sweet and Tangy Classic Flavor: The combination of Miracle Whip, sour cream, and dill relish brings that signature tangy sweetness you expect in a nostalgic macaroni salad.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: This pasta salad tastes even better after it chills for a few hours, making it ideal for prepping ahead for parties or busy weeknights.
- Creamy Texture with a Crunch: The tiny diced celery and red onion give a satisfying crunch in every bite, without overpowering the creamy dressing.
- Easy to Customize: Whether you like it a little sweeter, tangier, or even with extra veggies or protein, this classic macaroni salad is easy to tweak to your taste.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Elbow macaroni – Use small shells, ditalini, or rotini, if preferred.
- Miracle Whip – Substitute with regular mayo for a richer, less tangy flavor.
- Sour cream – Use plain Greek yogurt or omit.
- Celery – Can use cucumber or green bell pepper for crunch.
- Red onion – Swap with shallots, green onions, or sweet yellow onion.
- Hardboiled egg – Optional, or replace with chopped pickles for a vegetarian twist.
- Dill relish – Sweet relish or finely chopped pickles are good substitutes.
- Fresh parsley – Use dried parsley (reduce amount), fresh dill, or chives.
How to Serve and Store Elbow Macaroni Salad
Serving Suggestions
- Serve chilled straight from the fridge.
- Perfect alongside grilled or air fryer chicken, ribs, burgers, hot dogs, or BBQ sandwiches.
- Spoon into small cups for easy individual servings at cookouts or potlucks.
- Add it to a lunchbox as a cold side option with a sandwich or wrap.
How to Store Leftovers
- Store this elbow macaroni salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Stir before serving—add a spoonful of Miracle Whip or sour cream if it seems dry.
- Not recommended for freezing, as the texture of the pasta and dressing may change.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I make this elbow macaroni salad in advance? Yes! In fact, it tastes even better after a few hours in the fridge. It allows the flavors to meld together.
- What if I don’t have Miracle Whip? You can substitute with mayonnaise, but the salad will be less tangy. Add a touch of vinegar or a pinch of sugar to mimic the flavor of Miracle Whip.
- Can I add other ingredients? Absolutely. Try adding peas, shredded carrots, chopped pickles, or even diced ham for extra texture and flavor.
- Do I need to rinse the pasta? No need to rinse, but patting it dry on paper towels helps keep the dressing from getting watery.
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Elbow Macaroni Salad
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 to 6 servings 1x
Description
This creamy, classic Elbow Macaroni Salad is a nostalgic side dish that’s perfect for cookouts, potlucks, or a simple dinner at home.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces elbow macaroni
- 3/4 cup Miracle Whip
- 1 tablespoon sour cream
- 1 celery stalk, tiny diced
- 2 tablespoons red onion, tiny diced
- 1 hardboiled egg, tiny diced
- 1 heaping teaspoon dill relish
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley, plus more for garnish
Instructions
- Tiny dice the celery and red onion. Place them on paper towels to soak up excess moisture.
- Dice the hard boiled egg.
- Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add elbow macaroni and cook until al dente.
- Drain the pasta, then spread it out on paper towels to cool and release excess water.
- In a mixing bowl, combine Miracle Whip, sour cream, diced celery, red onion, hardboiled egg, dill relish, black pepper, and fresh parsley. Mix well.
- Once the pasta has cooled, gently fold it into the dressing mixture.
- If the mixture seems dry, stir in a little more Miracle Whip or sour cream to taste.
- Taste and adjust salt, if needed.
- Garnish with extra fresh parsley, then chill in the fridge until ready to serve.
Notes
- This recipe is for a small batch that will easily serve four people as a side dish. Double the recipe to serve more people.
- Salt your pasta water generously for the best flavor.
- Tiny dice the celery, onion, and egg for a smoother texture in each bite.
- Pat vegetables dry with paper towels to prevent watering down the dressing.
- Cool pasta before mixing to avoid melting the dressing.
- Add more Miracle Whip or sour cream if the mixture feels too dry after combining.
- Chill before serving for at least an hour to allow the flavors to meld.
- Taste before salting — Miracle Whip and relish add plenty of seasoning.
- Garnish with extra parsley just before serving for a fresh, vibrant look.
- Make ahead up to one day for convenience and even better flavor.
- Customize it with peas, shredded carrot, or chopped pickles, if desired.
- Prep Time: 12 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Side Dish, Dinner
- Method: Easy
- Cuisine: American
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