Esther's Macaroni Salad

Brighten up your next picnic or potluck with Esther’s Macaroni Salad, a timeless classic loaded with fresh, vibrant flavors and creamy goodness. This quick and easy side dish combines perfectly tender elbow macaroni with diced celery, crisp red bell pepper, shredded carrot, and savory red onion. Tossed in a tangy-sweet dressing made of mayonnaise, white vinegar, sugar, and a touch of mustard, it’s the ideal balance of zesty and satisfying. Hard-boiled eggs add richness, while a sprinkle of optional parsley brings a fresh finish. Ready in just 30 minutes (plus chilling time for those bold flavors to meld beautifully), this make-ahead macaroni salad is the ultimate crowd-pleaser for barbecues, picnics, or everyday family dinners. Serve it chilled and savor every spoonful of this deliciously creamy, customizable comfort food!

Nutriscore Rating: 64/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 2 cups elbow macaroni
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons white vinegar
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 pieces celery stalks, diced
• 1 small red bell pepper, diced
• 1 large carrot, shredded
• 0.25 cup red onion, finely diced
• 3 large hard-boiled eggs, chopped
• 2 tablespoons parsley, chopped (optional)

Directions

Step 1

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the elbow macaroni and cook according to package instructions until al dente (about 8–10 minutes). Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process, then set aside.

Step 2

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, white vinegar, sugar, yellow mustard, salt, and black pepper to create the dressing.

Step 3

Add the cooked macaroni to the bowl with the dressing and stir until well combined.

Step 4

Fold in the diced celery, red bell pepper, shredded carrot, red onion, and chopped hard-boiled eggs. Mix until evenly distributed.

Step 5

Cover the bowl and refrigerate the macaroni salad for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld. For best results, chill overnight.

Step 6

Before serving, taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt or black pepper, if needed. Sprinkle with chopped parsley for garnish, if desired.

Step 7

Serve cold as a side dish, and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1004.1g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2920.6

Total Fat 193.1g	0%
Saturated Fat 20.7g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat g
Cholesterol 793.3mg	0%
Sodium 3309.6mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 243.0g	0%
Dietary Fiber 15.4g	0%
Total Sugars 36.5g
Protein 51.3g	0%

Vitamin D 132IU	0%
Calcium 196.4mg	0%
Iron 11.2mg	0%
Potassium 1188.5mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 59.6%

Protein: 7.0%

Carbs: 33.3%