Macaroni Salad with Bacon Peas and Creamy Dijon Dressing

Creamy, tangy, and irresistibly savory, this Macaroni Salad with Bacon, Peas, and Creamy Dijon Dressing is the ultimate crowd-pleasing side dish for any gathering. Tender al dente macaroni is tossed with crisp smoky bacon, sweet bursts of peas, crunchy celery, and zesty red onion, all enveloped in a luscious dressing made from mayonnaise, sour cream, and Dijon mustard with a hint of apple cider vinegar for balance. Perfectly chilled, this salad is ideal for potlucks, picnics, or barbecues and comes together in just 30 minutes. Garnish with fresh parsley for a pop of color and added freshness that elevates this classic comfort dish to a gourmet level.

Nutriscore Rating: 57/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:15 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 2 cups Macaroni pasta
• 6 slices Bacon
• 1 cup Frozen peas
• 1 cup Mayonnaise
• 0.5 cup Sour cream
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon Apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon Sugar
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper
• 1 stalk Celery
• 0.25 cup Red onion
• 1 tablespoon Parsley (optional, for garnish)

Directions

Step 1

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the macaroni pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside.

Step 2

In a skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon slices until they are crispy. Transfer them to a paper towel-lined plate to drain and cool. Once cool, crumble the bacon into small pieces.

Step 3

Place the frozen peas in a colander and run warm water over them for 1-2 minutes to thaw. Pat them dry with a paper towel and set aside.

Step 4

Finely chop the celery stalk and dice the red onion into small pieces. Set both aside.

Step 5

In a large mixing bowl, prepare the creamy Dijon dressing by whisking together the mayonnaise, sour cream, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, and black pepper until smooth.

Step 6

Add the cooked macaroni, crumbled bacon, thawed peas, chopped celery, and diced red onion to the bowl with the dressing. Gently toss until everything is evenly coated with the dressing.

Step 7

Taste and adjust the seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.

Step 8

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill the salad in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld together.

Step 9

Before serving, garnish the macaroni salad with fresh parsley, if desired. Serve cold and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(871.8g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	3152.6

Total Fat 222.2g	0%
Saturated Fat 37.5g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.9g
Cholesterol 340.3mg	0%
Sodium 4515.1mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 238.3g	0%
Dietary Fiber 15.7g	0%
Total Sugars 28.7g
Protein 55.4g	0%

Vitamin D 7.7IU	0%
Calcium 256.4mg	0%
Iron 6.1mg	0%
Potassium 1193.2mg	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: 63.0%

Protein: 7.0%

Carbs: 30.0%