Classic Southern Macaroni Salad is a creamy, crunchy, make-ahead side dish that's perfect for summer barbecues, potlucks, and picnics. Made with elbow macaroni, crisp vegetables, sweet gherkins, and a tangy-sweet dressing, this Southern favorite is always a crowd-pleaser.
There's a reason this Southern macaroni salad recipe has stood the test of time-it's simple, budget-friendly, and pairs with everything from fried chicken to grilled burgers. Plus, it tastes even better after chilling, which makes it one of the best prep-ahead recipes for summer entertaining.
If you're looking for an easy alternative to potato salad that's just as creamy and flavorful, this macaroni salad is the answer.
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Recipe at a Glance
- Ready In: 25 minutes plus cooling time
- Ingredients: Dry macaroni, mayonnaise dressing, fresh veggies
- Makes: 6 servings
- Difficulty: Easy
- Make-Ahead Friendly: Yes
Why This Recipe Works
- Classic Southern flavor: Tangy dressing plus crisp vegetables
- Make-ahead friendly: Flavors improve as it chills
- Customizable: Swap gherkins for relish, red onion for sweet onion
- Potluck superstar: Budget-friendly and crowd-pleasing
Ingredients - Here's What You'll Need
Step-by-Step: Making the Classic Southern Macaroni Salad
- Cook the Pasta: Boil the macaroni in salted water for 8-10 minutes until tender. Drain but don't rinse. This keeps the dressing clinging to the pasta.
- Make the Dressing: Whisk together mayonnaise, cider vinegar, gherkin juice, dry mustard, salt, and pepper until smooth.
- Add the Vegetables & Eggs: Stir in celery, onion, bell pepper, carrot, shredded gherkins, and chopped eggs.
- Combine and Chill: Toss the pasta with the dressing mixture until evenly coated. Cover and chill forat least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
Whether you're hosting a summer cookout, packing for a picnic, or bringing a dish to a potluck, Classic Southern Macaroni Salad is a side that never disappoints.
Creamy, crunchy, and perfectly tangy, it's a true Southern favorite that pairs with just about anything on the table. Make it ahead, chill it well, and watch it disappear before your eyes. This timeless recipe is sure to become a tradition in your kitchen, too. Yum!
Recipe Tips and Variations
- No gherkin juice? Replace with 3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar plus 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar.
- Make it lighter: Swap half of the mayonnaise with Greek yogurt.
- Add protein: Mix in diced ham, chicken, or tuna for a satisfying entree.
- Storage: Keeps well in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Perfect pairing: It pairs perfectly with BBQ ribs, fried chicken, burgers, hot dogs, or any classic cookout main dish.
Other Delicious Salad Recipes
If you're looking for a different salad recipe, you've come to the right place.
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Classic Southern Macaroni Salad
Ingredients
- 2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- 1 ½ Tablespoons cider vinegar
- 1 ½ Tablespoons gherkin juice (See Tip 1)
- ½ teaspoon dry mustard
- ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ¾ cup chopped celery (2 to 3 stalks)
- ½ cup chopped red onion (½ onion) (See Tip 2)
- ½ cup chopped red bell pepper (½ bell pepper)
- ½ cup shredded carrot (1 medium carrot)
- 4 small sweet gherkins, shredded (about 2 Tablespoons) (See Tip 3)
- 2 hard boiled eggs, chopped
- Paprkia and chopped chives or parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Cook macaroni in boiling salted water for 8 to 10 minutes or until tender. Drain thoroughly, but do not rinse. Transfer to a large bowl; allow to come to room temperature. (See Tip 4)
- Whisk mayonnaise, vinegar, gherkin juice, dry mustard, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Add remaining ingredients to mayonnaise mixture; stir to combine. Pour over macaroni; toss to thoroughly coat macaroni.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least four hours.
- Yield: 6 servings.
Video
Tips/Notes
- If you don't have sweet gherkin juice, you can increase the amount of vinegar to 3 tablespoons and add a tablespoon of sugar.
- Can also use sweet onion.
- You can use sweet pickle relish in place of the shredded gherkins.
- To prevent macaroni from boiling over, place a wooden spoon in pan with macaroni.
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