Description
Meredith’s Creamy Macaroni Salad is a vibrant and tangy side dish featuring tender macaroni, fresh vegetables, and a flavorful, creamy dressing infused with parmesan cheese and dill. Perfect for picnics, barbecues, or a refreshing addition to any meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad
- 1 (16 oz) box macaroni, cooked and drained
- 2 large cucumbers, diced
- 1 small white onion, finely diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 3 stalks celery, chopped
Dressing
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup mayo
- 3 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1/3 cup white vinegar
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoon dried dill
- 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the pasta and vegetables: Cook the macaroni according to package instructions until al dente, then drain and rinse under cold water to cool. Dice the cucumbers, finely dice the onion, dice the green bell pepper, and chop the celery. Combine all these ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
- Make the dressing: In a smaller bowl, whisk together the sour cream, mayonnaise, dijon mustard, white vinegar, grated parmesan cheese, granulated sugar, dried dill, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper until smooth and well combined.
- Combine salad and dressing: Spoon the prepared dressing over the macaroni and vegetables, then gently toss everything together until the salad is evenly coated with the creamy dressing.
- Chill and serve: For best flavor, refrigerate the macaroni salad for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld. Serve cold as a delicious side dish.
Notes
- For a tangier flavor, increase the amount of white vinegar slightly.
- Use light mayonnaise and sour cream to reduce calories without compromising creaminess.
- Dill can be substituted with fresh dill if available; use 1/4 cup chopped fresh dill instead of dried.
- Add chopped hard-boiled eggs or cooked bacon for extra protein and texture.
- Adjust the red pepper flakes to your spice tolerance, or omit for a milder salad.
- To make gluten-free, ensure the macaroni used is gluten-free pasta.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
