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
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.
