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    Home » Salads

    Creamy Macaroni Salad

    Published: Sep 23, 2019 · Modified: Nov 23, 2021 by Lee-Ann · 1 Comment

    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    This creamy macaroni salad recipe has fresh veggies combined with elbow pasta, then add a dressing of mayonnaise and sour cream with some mustard, garlic & vinegar for zing. So good!

    Creamy Macaroni Salad is just the dish you need for the upcoming holiday season. Quick and easy to make, perfect for a barbecue or potluck.

    creamy pasta salad in a white bowl

    My recipe may differ from others you may have read because it doesn't call for any added sugar. I'm not a big fan of adding sugar to my savoury dishes, I leave it out wherever I can.

    Table of Contents

    • Ingredients you will need to make creamy macaroni salad
    • How to make creamy macaroni salad
    • My top tips for making this creamy macaroni salad recipe
    • 📖 Recipe
    • Creamy Macaroni Salad

    Ingredients you will need to make creamy macaroni salad

    • Elbow pasta / macaroni - (cooked & cooled)
    • Shallots / scallions / green onions - (finely sliced)
    • Red capsicum / bell pepper - (finely diced)
    • Carrot - (grated)
    • Red / spanish onion - (finely chopped, see my "top tips" below)
    • Mayonnaise
    • Sour cream - I used low fat
    • Dijon mustard
    • Garlic powder
    • White wine vinegar
    • Fine salt

    See recipe card for quantities and detailed instructions.

    image showing ingredients needed to make creamy macaroni salad

    How to make creamy macaroni salad

    • Combine mayonnaise, sour cream, dijon mustard, garlic powder, vinegar & salt in a small bowl - see Image 1.
    • Mix well to combine, then set aside - this will be our creamy dressing for the macaroni salad - see Image 2.
    process shot showing how to make creamy macaroni salad
    Image 1.
    process shot showing how to make creamy macaroni salad
    Image 2.
    • In another bowl, combine the shallots, red capsicum, carrot, and red onion along with cooked and drained pasta - see Image 3.
    • Mix to combine - see Image 4.
    Image 3.
    Image 4.
    • Add creamy dressing to pasta mixture - see Image 5.
    • Mix everything to combine, then taste test for salt and serve - see Image 6.

    My top tips for making this creamy macaroni salad recipe

    • I like to rinse the slices of red onion under cold running water then dry them with kitchen towel before I finish chopping them, this takes some of the bite out of the raw onion - totally optional.
    • If red onion isn't your thing you could substitute finely chopped celery.
    • I suggest assembling this salad just before serving, because as it sits the pasta will start to soak up the dressing. You can still make it ahead of time, just add the creamy dressing just before serving.

    Other recipes you make like

    Caprese pesto pasta salad - the traditional taste of caprese salad, with an extra flavour boost from basil pesto and prosciutto.

    Pumpkin avocado feta salad - a tasty combination of sweet pumpkin, creamy avocado, sharp lemony feta & topped with crunchy pine nuts.

    Carrot and orange salad - Carrot Orange Salad - a fresh orange salad recipe with sweet dates and fresh herbs, plus a video showing how to segment oranges.

    Cucumber tomato avocado salad - a crunchy side with tomatoes, cucumber, avocado & cilantro (coriander) with a sour cream dressing & a hint of chilli.

    Cream Cheese Pasta - quick and easy comfort food using cream cheese and starchy pasta water to create a lusciously creamy, cheesy pasta sauce.

    📖 Recipe

    creamy pasta salad in a white bowl

    Creamy Macaroni Salad

    Creamy Macaroni Salad - fresh veggies combined with elbow pasta, then add a dressing of mayonnaise and sour cream with some mustard and garlic.
    Print Pin Rate
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    Total Time: 20 minutes
    Serving: 6 as a side
    Calories: 298kcal
    Author: Lee-Ann Grace

    Ingredients

    • 250 g elbow pasta / macaroni ½ lb
    • ½ cup shallots / green onions / scallions approx 4 - finely sliced
    • 1 cup finely diced red capsicum / bell pepper
    • 1 cup grated carrot (see my notes)
    • ¼ cup finely chopped red onion / spanish onion (see my notes)
    • ½ cup mayonnaise
    • ½ cup sour cream I use low fat
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • 3 teaspoon dijon mustard
    • 2 teaspoon white wine vinegar
    • ½ teaspoon fine salt or more to taste

    Instructions

    • Cook pasta (250g / ½lb) according to packet directions, then drain and set aside to cool.
    • Combine mayonnaise (½ cup), sour cream (½ cup), dijon mustard (3 tsp), garlic powder (½ tsp), vinegar (2 tsp) & salt (½ tsp) in a small bowl and mix well to combine then set aside.
    • In another bowl, combine the shallots (½ cup), red capsicum (1 cup), carrot (1 cup), and red onion (¼ cup) along with the cooled pasta and mix.
    • Add creamy dressing to pasta mixture, then give everything a good mix to combine. Add more salt if needed, and serve.

    Notes

    • I have grated the carrot using a standard box grater.
    • I like to rinse the slices of red onion under cold running water then dry them with kitchen towel before I finish chopping them, this takes some of the bite out of the raw onion - totally optional.
    • If red onion isn't your thing you could substitute finely chopped celery.
    • I suggest assembling this salad just before serving, because as it sits the pasta will start to soak up the dressing. You can still make it ahead of time, just add the creamy dressing just before serving.
    *Please note that the amount of calories per serve is provided as a guide only, as ingredients and cooking methods can vary greatly*

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Scot Brase

      January 05, 2022 at 7:20 am

      5 stars
      This will be so excellent within it. A lot of much better than more a lot of other things. I can’t wait for me to eat a lot of this pasta salad! Scot Brase

      Reply

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