Mom's Overnight Macaroni Salad

Make your next potluck, picnic, or family gathering unforgettable with Mom’s Overnight Macaroni Salad—a creamy, flavorful side dish that’s as easy to prepare as it is delicious! This crowd-pleasing recipe combines tender elbow macaroni with a luscious dressing made from mayonnaise, sour cream, and a hint of tangy yellow mustard and apple cider vinegar. Crunchy bites of celery and red bell pepper pair perfectly with the bold flavors of red onion, shredded cheddar cheese, and hearty chunks of hard-boiled eggs. The secret to its unbeatable taste? Letting it chill overnight for maximum flavor infusion! Garnish with a sprinkle of paprika for a vibrant finishing touch. Perfectly balanced, easy to make ahead, and packed with texture and taste, this classic macaroni salad is a must-have for any occasion.

Nutriscore Rating: 59/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 2 cups elbow macaroni
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 0.5 cup sour cream
• 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
• 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 cup celery, finely chopped
• 0.5 cup red bell pepper, finely chopped
• 0.25 cup red onion, finely diced
• 0.5 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 2 large hard-boiled eggs, chopped
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
• 0.25 teaspoon paprika (optional for garnish)

Directions

Step 1

Cook the elbow macaroni according to the package instructions, then drain and rinse under cold water. Make sure the pasta is completely cool before using.

Step 2

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, yellow mustard, apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, and black pepper until smooth and well combined.

Step 3

Add the cooked and cooled macaroni to the bowl. Gently fold to coat the pasta in the dressing.

Step 4

Stir in the celery, red bell pepper, red onion, shredded cheddar cheese, and chopped hard-boiled eggs until evenly distributed.

Step 5

Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate the salad overnight to allow the flavors to meld.

Step 6

Before serving, give the salad a gentle stir and adjust the seasoning with additional salt or pepper if needed.

Step 7

Optional: Sprinkle paprika on top as a garnish before serving for an extra pop of color.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1035.9g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	3254.2

Total Fat 229.2g	0%
Saturated Fat 46.5g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0g
Cholesterol 725.3mg	0%
Sodium 3764.1mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 241.7g	0%
Dietary Fiber 12.8g	0%
Total Sugars 38.2g
Protein 62.3g	0%

Vitamin D 88IU	0%
Calcium 698.7mg	0%
Iron 9.8mg	0%
Potassium 817.1mg	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: 62.9%

Protein: 7.6%

Carbs: 29.5%