Macaroni and Cheese Pea Salad
Creamy, tangy, and delightfully refreshing, this Macaroni and Cheese Pea Salad is the perfect twist on classic macaroni salad. Featuring tender elbow macaroni, sweet bursts of thawed peas, and sharp cheddar cheese cubes, this dish is enveloped in a luscious dressing made from mayonnaise, sour cream, Dijon mustard, and a splash of apple cider vinegar for a zesty kick. A touch of sugar and finely chopped green onions round out the flavors, making it a crowd-pleasing side dish that’s perfect for potlucks, picnics, or weeknight dinners. Ready in under 30 minutes and served chilled, this pasta salad proves that simple ingredients can create big flavors.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 2 cups Elbow macaroni
- 1 cup Frozen peas
- 1 cup Cheddar cheese
- 1 cup Mayonnaise
- 0.5 cup Sour cream
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon Apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Sugar
- 0.5 teaspoon Salt
- 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper
- 2 stalks Green onions
Instructions
Cook the elbow macaroni according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside to cool.
While the macaroni is cooking, remove the peas from the freezer and let them thaw. If you're short on time, you can briefly run them under warm water in a strainer to speed up the process. Drain well.
Cube the cheddar cheese into small bite-sized pieces and finely chop the green onions. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, and black pepper until smooth and creamy.
Add the cooked and cooled macaroni, thawed peas, cheddar cheese cubes, and green onions into the bowl with the dressing. Gently fold everything together until well coated.
Taste and adjust the seasoning with additional salt or pepper if needed.
Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld together.
Before serving, give the salad a quick stir and garnish with additional green onions if desired. Serve chilled.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
3403 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 235.9 g | 302% | |
| Saturated Fat | 50.0 g | 250% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 387 mg | 129% | |
| Sodium | 3108 mg | 135% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 252.7 g | 92% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 16.4 g | 59% | |
| Total Sugars | 28.8 g | ||
| Protein | 65.3 g | 131% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 691 mg | 53% | |
| Iron | 10.3 mg | 57% | |
| Potassium | 821 mg | 17% | |
*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.
