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The ultimate Macaroni Salad recipe! Loaded with fresh carrots, celery, diced bell pepper, red onion, and savory ham, this Classic Macaroni Salad is perfect side dish for your next cookout or pot-luck. 

Classic Macaroni Salad

Erin Indahl-Fink
The ultimate Macaroni Salad recipe! Loaded with fresh carrots, celery, diced bell pepper, red onion, and savory ham, this Classic Macaroni Salad is perfect side dish for your next cookout or pot-luck. 
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Salad and Sides
Cuisine American
Servings 12
Calories 176 kcal

Equipment

  • Stock Pot or Dutch Oven This Le Creuset Dutch oven is one of my all-time favorite pieces of cookware. Super durable and versatile! Great for cooking pasta!
  • Mixing Bowls These stainless steel mixing bowls are an essential cooking tool for every kitchen.
  • Cutting Boards This 3-Pack of non-slip cutting boards are a fantastic tool for every home cook.

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cup dry elbow macaroni cooked to package directions
  • 1 1/2 cup ham diced
  • 1 cup carrots shredded
  • 1 cup celery diced
  • 1 cup green bell pepper diced (about 1 pepper)
  • 1/2 cup red onion diced

Dressing:

Instructions
 

  • Cook the 2 cups of dry macaroni according to package directions. Drain. Rinse with cold water, and let cool to room temperature.
  • While macaroni is cooling, dice ham, shred carrots, dice celery, green pepper and red onion.
  • Mix the dressing by whisking together the mayonnaise, sour cream, vinegar, salt and pepper.
  • Place the cooled macaroni into a mixing bowl. Add the ham, carrots, celery, green pepper and red onion. Pour the dressing over the top, and mix together until all ingredients are coated with the dressing.
  • Refrigerate for at least one hour. Top with some additional ground pepper, if desired. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

1 serving is approximately 1/2 cup of macaroni salad.
If red onion is too strong for your taste, feel free to substitute with diced green onion. This is a milder alternative.
Storage: The salad needs to be kept refrigerated, covered or in an airtight container. If kept out for longer than an hour (like at a cookout or picnic) it is best to discard any leftovers. When kept refrigerated, salad will keep for up to 5 days.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 176kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 8gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 16mgSodium: 406mgPotassium: 214mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 1904IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 30mgIron: 1mg
Keyword classic macaroni salad, best macaroni salad, simple macaroni salad
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