Super Easy Macaroni Salad

Brighten up your next gathering with this Super Easy Macaroni Salad, a crowd-pleasing dish perfect for potlucks, BBQs, and picnics. This recipe combines tender elbow macaroni with a creamy, tangy dressing made from mayonnaise, sour cream, mustard, apple cider vinegar, and a hint of sugar for balanced flavor. Crisp celery, colorful red bell pepper, and finely chopped red onion provide a satisfying crunch, while optional fresh parsley adds a pop of herbaceous freshness. With just 10 minutes of prep time and minimal effort, this chilled macaroni salad is incredibly simple to make yet full of irresistible flavor. Serve it as a side for grilled favorites or enjoy it on its own—it’s the ultimate quick and easy comfort food! Perfect for anyone searching for "easy macaroni salad recipes" or "quick summer sides," this dish is sure to become your new go-to recipe.

Nutriscore Rating: 66/100

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:8 mins

Total Time:18 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 2 cups elbow macaroni
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 0.5 cup sour cream
• 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon pepper
• 1 cup celery, chopped
• 0.5 cup red bell pepper, diced
• 0.25 cup red onion, finely 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 the package instructions (usually about 8 minutes) until tender. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool completely.

Step 2

While the macaroni cools, prepare the dressing by combining mayonnaise, sour cream, yellow mustard, apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper in a large mixing bowl. Whisk until smooth and well incorporated.

Step 3

Once the macaroni has cooled, add it to the bowl with the dressing.

Step 4

Add the chopped celery, diced red bell pepper, finely chopped red onion, and parsley (if using). Toss everything together until the macaroni and vegetables are evenly coated with the dressing.

Step 5

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

Step 6

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the macaroni salad for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld.

Step 7

Serve chilled and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(735.3g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2584.6

Total Fat 177.8g	0%
Saturated Fat 16.0g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.0g
Cholesterol 235.3mg	0%
Sodium 1041.8mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 214.5g	0%
Dietary Fiber 11.8g	0%
Total Sugars 13.5g
Protein 31.7g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 110.6mg	0%
Iron 8.3mg	0%
Potassium 670.5mg	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: 61.9%

Protein: 4.9%

Carbs: 33.2%