Description

This Classic Dill Pickle Macaroni Salad is a tangy, creamy side dish perfect for picnics, barbecues, or potlucks. Featuring tender elbow macaroni combined with a zesty dressing of mayonnaise, sour cream, Dijon mustard, and apple cider vinegar, it’s accented by crunchy dill pickle relish, chopped hard-boiled eggs, and finely diced red onion. Chilling the salad enhances the flavors, making it a refreshing and satisfying dish.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta

2 cups elbow macaroni (or pasta of your choice)

Dressing

1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup sour cream
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp sugar
Salt and pepper, to taste

Add-ins

1/2 cup dill pickle relish (or chopped dill pickles)
2 large hard-boiled eggs, chopped
1/2 small red onion, finely diced

Garnish (optional)

1 tbsp fresh dill

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Instructions

Cook the Macaroni: 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 Cool: Drain the macaroni and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it quickly. Drain thoroughly and set aside.
Make the Dressing: In a large mixing bowl, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper. Stir until the dressing is smooth and well combined.
Assemble the Salad: Add the cooled macaroni into the bowl with the dressing. Mix gently to coat the pasta evenly with the creamy dressing.
Add Mix-ins: Stir in chopped hard-boiled eggs, dill pickle relish or chopped pickles, and finely diced red onion until evenly distributed throughout the salad.
Chill and Serve: Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 1-2 hours, preferably overnight, to allow the flavors to meld beautifully.
Garnish: Before serving, optionally garnish the macaroni salad with fresh dill for an added burst of herbaceous flavor.

Notes

For best flavor, chill the salad overnight to let flavors fully develop.
Use gluten-free pasta to make this salad gluten-free.
Adjust the amount of sugar depending on your sweetness preference or omit for less sugar.
Hard-boiled eggs add protein and creaminess but can be omitted for an egg-free version.
Fresh dill is optional but recommended for an authentic dill pickle flavor.
Make sure to rinse the pasta under cold water to prevent it from becoming mushy and to quickly cool it for the salad.