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Creamy Southern Macaroni Salad Recipe with Pickles and Crunch Made Easy

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A creamy Southern macaroni salad with tangy pickles and crunchy potato chips that’s perfect for summer cookouts and potlucks. This easy recipe combines simple ingredients for a comforting and flavorful side dish.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups elbow macaroni (about 200g), cooked al dente
  • 2 large eggs, hard-boiled and chopped
  • 2 stalks celery, finely diced
  • 1 small red onion, finely chopped
  • 1 cup sweet pickles, finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup green bell pepper, diced (optional)
  • 3/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 cup potato chips, crushed
  • 1/4 cup crispy bacon bits (optional)

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 2 cups elbow macaroni and cook for 7-8 minutes or until al dente. Drain well and rinse under cold water to stop cooking and cool the pasta. Let it drain thoroughly.
  2. Place eggs in a saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil, then cover and remove from heat. Let sit for 10 minutes, then cool under cold running water and peel. Chop into small pieces.
  3. Finely dice celery, red onion, green bell pepper (if using), and sweet pickles.
  4. In a small bowl or jar, whisk together mayonnaise, yellow mustard, apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Taste and adjust seasoning.
  5. In a large bowl, combine cooked macaroni, chopped eggs, celery, onion, bell pepper, and pickles. Pour dressing over and gently fold together with a spatula or large spoon.
  6. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (overnight is better) to let flavors marry and salad firm up.
  7. Just before serving, crush about 1 cup of plain potato chips and sprinkle over the salad along with optional crispy bacon bits. Toss lightly or serve on top.

Notes

Do not add crushed potato chips until just before serving to keep them crunchy. Rinse pasta under cold water and drain well to avoid watery salad. Adjust seasoning of dressing to taste. Salad tastes better after chilling overnight. For gluten-free, use certified gluten-free pasta and chips or substitute with toasted nuts. Vegan version can be made with vegan mayo and tofu or chickpeas instead of eggs.

Nutrition

Keywords: macaroni salad, creamy macaroni salad, Southern macaroni salad, pickles, potato chips, picnic salad, potluck recipe, easy side dish

Find it online: https://avabake.com/creamy-southern-macaroni-salad-recipe-with-pickles-and-crunch-made-easy/