Simple Summer Macaroni Salad Recipe

by Sugar on May 25, 2010 · 18 comments

Summer Macaroni Salad Receipe Print

This salad is one that I make all the time in the summer and everyone loves it.  Even my kids and their friends ask me to make this because they love it so much. If you need a side dish to complete a meal or bring to a BBQ, make this and I guarantee everyone will want the recipe.

This is a modified recipe of a macaroni salad my Mom always made for me.  When I was a kid, she often made this into a complete meal by adding a can of tuna.

Ingredients

1 pound elbow macaroni (I recommend Barilla)

1-1/2 cups mayonnaise

3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

1 tablespoon of sugar

Salt and pepper, to taste

1/2 onion, chopped

2 stalks celery, chopped

1/2 green bell pepper, chopped

1/2 red bell pepper, chopped

2 carrots, chopped

A handful of fresh parsley, chopped and some left over for garnish

Directions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.  Add macaroni and cook, about 7 minutes.  Don’t overcook.  This is best served al dente (a little firm).  Rinse under cold water and drain.

In a large bowl, mix together the macaroni, mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar and a good sprinkle of salt and pepper. Stir in the onion, celery, green pepper, red pepper, carrot, and parsley. Refrigerate for a few hours or overnight.  Before serving, taste the salad and add more salt and pepper if needed.  Top with a garnish of fresh parsley.

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Michelle Parrinello says:

Do I need to add the vingear??

Sugar says:

You can leave it out if you don’t like it but it does balance the flavor. You can add a little milk or olive oil in its place so it won’t be too thick. Enjoy!

Donna says:

No hard boiled eggs?????

Sugar says:

Donna, my son doesn’t eat eggs but they are a great add in. Oh and my mom used to add tuna to this salad too and I love it that way. Get as creative as you like. Enjoy!

Andrea Stockford says:

Sounds very good, I like to add some cooked bacon, or cubed ham, and 1/2 in cubed marbled cheese. Some sliced black olives are good also, and red onions are pretty. Just a tweak or two lol

Sugar says:

YUM! YUM! YUM! That all sounds great Andrea. :)

Tonya says:

What could I substitute for the sugar? My husband is diabetic and I would really like to make this. It looks amazing.

Sugar says:

Tonya you can just leave it out and it will still be yummy.

Enjoy!

Yo says:

Thanks for the recipe. I don’t understand why everything in the US needs sugar added to it. Leave it out.

Sugar says:

Hi yes you can leave it out. Since tomatoes are very acidic a little bit does cut the acid. Thanks for the feedback.

Mis says:

Where are the tomatoes in the recipe ?

Sugar says:

I don’t use tomatoes in this recipe. You can if you like them. :)

Erin says:

Mmm looks really good! I like the use of peppers.

Sugar says:

Erin, This one is so simple and everyone will love it. Have a great weekend.

Steph says:

This was a great recipe but you better not be shy about cutting. There was a lot vegetables that needed to be cut. Everyone loved it. I doubled the recipe which was a little overkill but gave us some excellent leftovers. It was delicious and the kids loved it the most out of all the side dishes that were served. I am definitely making this one again.
-Steph

Sugar says:

Steph it sounds like you had one monster macaroni salad. If chopping is a problem you can always use a hand chopper or a food processor. They come in all sizes and prices but cut out most of the chopping time. I usually throw all my veggies in at once and have it chopped in a minute. If you don’t have one of these appliances you should pick one up. No cook should be without one. Trust me when I tell you it will be one of your favorite kitchen gadgets.

Cheri says:

I made this for my family picnic and they loved it! So healthy and it looked just like the picture! Will be sure to make it again….

Sugar says:

I’m so glad to hear that Cheri. I have to add the beet salad recipe I sent you. That is another one people love.