Creamy, flavorful, and perfect for any occasion, this Macaroni Salad with Dill and Ham is a crowd-pleasing dish that beautifully balances savory, tangy, and herbaceous notes. Tender elbow macaroni is tossed with cubes of smoky ham, crunchy celery, vibrant carrots, and a zesty dressing made with mayonnaise, sour cream, Dijon mustard, and a splash of fresh lemon juice. The star of the show is the aromatic fresh dill, which adds a burst of refreshing flavor. Quick and easy to prepare in just 30 minutes, this chilled salad is ideal as a make-ahead side dish for barbecues, picnics, or potlucks, or even as a light, satisfying main course. Serve this macaroni salad garnished with a sprinkle of extra dill and watch it disappear in no time!
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.
While the pasta cooks, dice the ham into small cubes, roughly 1 cm pieces. Finely chop the fresh dill. Dice the red onion, celery, and carrot into small, uniform pieces.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper. Whisk until smooth and creamy.
Add the drained macaroni, diced ham, red onion, celery, carrot, and chopped dill to the bowl with the dressing. Gently toss everything together until evenly coated.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the macaroni salad for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Taste and adjust seasoning before serving, if necessary.
Serve chilled as a side dish or a light main course. Garnish with additional fresh dill, if desired.
Calories |
2819 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 147.6 g | 189% | |
| Saturated Fat | 25.5 g | 127% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 4.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 217 mg | 72% | |
| Sodium | 2855 mg | 124% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 312.4 g | 114% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 19.7 g | 70% | |
| Total Sugars | 28.0 g | ||
| Protein | 60.0 g | 120% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.2 mcg | 1% | |
| Calcium | 270 mg | 21% | |
| Iron | 13.6 mg | 76% | |
| Potassium | 1242 mg | 26% | |
*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.