Small Macaroni Salad Recipe
If you’re searching for a creamy, crowd-pleasing dish that’s quick to whip together, look no further than Small Macaroni Salad. This recipe perfectly balances tender pasta, crunchy veggies, and tangy, creamy dressing, making it a nostalgic side you’ll want to serve with everything from summer picnics to cozy family dinners. Simple ingredients and easy prep come together for a small batch that’s just the right size, ensuring you get big flavor without a mountain of leftovers.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Every ingredient in this delightful Small Macaroni Salad plays a starring role. With just a handful of kitchen staples, you can create amazing flavor, texture, and that classic creamy salad everyone craves. Here’s what you’ll need and why it matters:
- 1 cup elbow macaroni: These small noodles are the perfect shape for soaking up the tangy dressing and providing satisfying bite in every forkful.
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise: This forms the creamy base of the salad, binding everything together and adding a lush, rich flavor.
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard: A touch of sharpness from the mustard brightens the flavors and gives the dressing a subtle zip.
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar: Vinegar adds a gentle tang that wakes up the whole dish, making each bite more addictive.
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar: Just a hint of sweetness balances out the acidity and brings all the flavors into harmony.
- 1/4 teaspoon salt: Essential for enhancing all the salad’s subtle notes and making the flavors pop.
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper: Adds a touch of gentle spice and warmth in the background.
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped celery: Crisp celery delivers refreshing crunch that’s absolutely classic in any great macaroni salad.
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped red onion: Onion adds bite, vibrant color, and a little bit of sharpness.
- 1 tablespoon chopped sweet pickle relish: This sweet tangy ingredient is the secret to irresistible flavor depth.
- 1 hard-boiled egg (chopped, optional): Eggs add richness, protein, and a lovely contrast in texture—add if you love the extra creaminess!
How to Make Small Macaroni Salad
Step 1: Cook the Macaroni
Fill a small pot with salted water and bring it to a rolling boil. Once bubbling, add your elbow macaroni and cook following the package instructions until the pasta is al dente, about 7 to 8 minutes. Don’t forget to stir a couple of times so the noodles stay separated—no one likes a clump! Drain the pasta well, then immediately rinse under cold water to stop the cooking and cool the noodles completely.
Step 2: Mix the Dressing
In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, yellow mustard, apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, and black pepper. This is the backbone of your Small Macaroni Salad: creamy, tangy, and subtly sweet. Give it a good whisk so everything blends into a satiny, dreamy dressing.
Step 3: Combine the Veggies and Macaroni
Add the cooled macaroni to your bowl of dressing, followed by the finely chopped celery, red onion, sweet pickle relish, and chopped hard-boiled egg if you’re using it. Stir gently (so you don’t break up the pasta) until everything is well mixed and evenly coated in that luscious dressing.
Step 4: Taste and Adjust
Now’s the fun part—taste your Small Macaroni Salad and adjust seasoning if needed. Maybe a sprinkle more salt or a tiny dash of pepper? Trust your taste buds. Sometimes a touch more mayo makes it extra decadent if that’s your thing!
Step 5: Chill and Serve
Cover your salad and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving. This little nap lets the flavors meld and intensify, making for that classic, crave-worthy macaroni salad vibe. Give it one final stir right before serving to freshen it up.
How to Serve Small Macaroni Salad
Garnishes
For a touch of color and freshness, scatter some extra chopped celery leaves, a pinch of paprika, or a sprinkle of sliced green onion over your Small Macaroni Salad just before serving. Not only do these easy garnishes make the salad pop visually, but they add that little bit of something special with every bite.
Side Dishes
This salad plays so nicely alongside grilled burgers, hot dogs, fried chicken, or barbecue—basically, any picnic or cookout fare. It’s equally tasty next to a simple sandwich or as part of a cozy lunch spread with soup and crackers.
Creative Ways to Present
Turn your Small Macaroni Salad into an eye-catching star by serving it in individual jars for a picnic, spooning it onto lettuce cups for a fun twist, or layering it in mini trifle cups for extra wow factor at your next potluck. The small batch size makes creative plating super simple!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Pop any leftover Small Macaroni Salad into an airtight container, and it’ll keep beautifully in the fridge for up to 3 days. If it dries out a bit, just stir in an extra spoonful of mayonnaise to bring back the creaminess before serving again.
Freezing
Sadly, creamy salads like this one don’t freeze well—the dressing can split and the pasta texture changes. For best results, whip it up fresh, or make it a day ahead and keep chilled in the fridge until you’re ready to serve!
Reheating
There’s no need to reheat Small Macaroni Salad; it’s meant to be enjoyed cold straight from the fridge. In fact, it tastes even better after resting a while, so all the flavors soak in and meld together.
FAQs
Can I make Small Macaroni Salad ahead of time?
Absolutely! In fact, preparing it several hours or even a day in advance lets the flavors really develop. Just give it a quick stir before serving, and if needed, add a splash of extra mayo for creaminess.
Is it okay to leave out the hard-boiled egg?
Yes, the egg is totally optional. If you prefer your Small Macaroni Salad without egg, just leave it out—you’ll still have all the flavor and texture you need.
Can I use a different kind of pasta?
While elbow macaroni is the traditional—and frankly, the most fun—shape for this salad, you can substitute other small pasta shapes like ditalini or small shells in a pinch. Just aim for a shape that holds the creamy dressing well.
How can I make this recipe vegan?
For a vegan version, swap the regular mayonnaise for your favorite vegan mayo, and skip the hard-boiled egg. The salad will still be creamy and delicious, keeping that classic Small Macaroni Salad feel.
What if I want to double or triple the recipe?
Go for it! This Small Macaroni Salad is super easy to scale up for family gatherings, picnics, or potlucks—just multiply each ingredient by the number of batches you need. It’s always a hit!
Final Thoughts
This Small Macaroni Salad is one of those recipes you’ll turn to again and again whenever you need a simple, tasty side with universal appeal. Whether it’s for an easy weeknight dinner or your next backyard bash, give this creamy, flavorful favorite a try—you’ll love every bite!
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Small Macaroni Salad Recipe
- Total Time: 18 minutes (plus chilling)
- Yield: 2–3 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This Small Macaroni Salad recipe is a classic side dish perfect for picnics or gatherings. Creamy and flavorful, it’s a simple recipe that comes together quickly.
Ingredients
Macaroni Salad:
- 1 cup elbow macaroni
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped celery
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped red onion
- 1 tablespoon chopped sweet pickle relish
- 1 hard-boiled egg (chopped, optional)
Instructions
- Cook Macaroni: Bring a small pot of salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook until al dente, about 7–8 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water.
- Prepare Dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper.
- Combine Ingredients: Add cooled macaroni, celery, red onion, relish, and chopped egg. Stir to combine.
- Chill and Serve: Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Notes
- You can double the recipe for more servings.
- For a creamier salad, add an extra tablespoon of mayonnaise.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3/4 cup
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
