Potluck Macaroni Salad

Nutriscore Rating: 62/100

Perfect for summer barbecues, family gatherings, or any occasion that calls for crowd-pleasing comfort food, this Potluck Macaroni Salad is the ultimate side dish that everyone will love. Loaded with tender elbow macaroni, crisp celery, crunchy red bell peppers, tangy dill pickles, and creamy hard-boiled eggs, it’s a delicious mix of textures and flavors in every bite. The rich, creamy dressing—made with mayonnaise, sour cream, yellow mustard, and just a touch of apple cider vinegar and sugar—perfectly balances tang and sweetness. Quick to prepare in just 30 minutes and best served chilled, this classic macaroni salad is a make-ahead dish that only gets better as the flavors meld together in the refrigerator. Whether it’s a backyard potluck, picnic, or casual dinner, this recipe is guaranteed to be a new favorite.

Recipe Information

• Prep Time: 20 min
• Cook Time: 10 min
• Total Time: 30 min
• Servings: 8 servings
• Difficulty: Medium

🥘 Ingredients

14 items

• 16 oz elbow macaroni
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 0.5 cup sour cream
• 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 cup celery, diced
• 0.5 cup red bell pepper, diced
• 0.25 cup red onion, finely chopped
• 3 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
• 0.5 cup dill pickles, diced
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional)

📝 Instructions

7 steps

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

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.

3. Add the cooked and cooled macaroni to the bowl with the dressing. Toss until the macaroni is evenly coated.

4. Fold in the diced celery, red bell pepper, red onion, chopped hard-boiled eggs, and diced dill pickles. Mix until all ingredients are evenly distributed.

5. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt or black pepper, if needed.

6. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or transfer the salad to an airtight container. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld together.

7. Before serving, sprinkle the salad with fresh parsley, if desired. Serve cold or at room temperature and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

1 serving (171.8g)

Calories		476
% Daily Value*
Total Fat		28.7 g	37%
	Saturated Fat	6.0 g	30%
	Polyunsaturated Fat	0.0 g
Cholesterol		88 mg	29%
Sodium		691 mg	30%
Total Carbohydrate		46.2 g	17%
	Dietary Fiber	2.9 g	10%
	Total Sugars	4.0 g
Protein		10.5 g	21%
Vitamin D		0.4 mcg	2%
Calcium		56 mg	4%
Iron		2.4 mg	13%
Potassium		190 mg	4%

*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: 2061 cal (53.2%%)

Protein: 336 cal (8.7%%)

Carbs: 1476 cal (38.1%%)