No one does good, traditional food quite like the Amish. With this Amish Macaroni Salad, you can cook just like them in your own home, and create a winning weeknight side dish, party pleasure or bbq hit. Not only is this recipe quick and easy to prepare, but it can easily be made ahead of time for dinner or your next event. The sweet and tangy dressing goes so well with the hearty noodles and crisp veggies, making it a wonderful, traditional option all year long.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Homemade Flavors Fast: Nothing is better than homemade flavors that the Amish offer in all of their cooking. This recipe allows you to serve up some of that traditional flavor in an easy to make recipe.
- Better the Next Day: This Amish macaroni salad is the type of dish that just keeps getting better as the flavors have time to meld together. Do you think it is good the first day? It is even better the next!
- Great Crunch and Texture: Like a party for your mouth, this side dish has plenty of crunch and texture to keep it exciting. It pairs well with the creamy tanginess of the dressing.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Elbow Macaroni: The star of this dish, tender and hearty elbow macaroni create the base that goes so well with the creamy dressing.
Hard Boiled Eggs: Packed with protein, hard boiled eggs add texture and a healthy boost.
Veggies: Celery, sweet onion and red bell pepper provide a fresh and crunchy flavor for this Amish Macaroni Salad. Finely dice them for the perfect amount of texture and crunch.
Mayonnaise: This is what adds that creamy texture to the salad that everyone craves.
Yellow Mustard and Apple Cider Vinegar: This recipe would not be the same without the addition of these two ingredients that provide the tanginess that contrasts well with the notes of sweetness in this dish.
Granulated Sugar and Sweet Pickle Relish: These sweet ingredients work as the perfect yin and yang to the tanginess of the mustard and vinegar.
How to Make
Step 1
Add the macaroni noodles to a pot of boiling water, and continue to boil until tender. Drain the noodles, and rinse them under cool water until completely cooled. Drain completely to ensure your Amish Macaroni Salad does not come out watery.
Step 2
Combine the macaroni, hard-boiled eggs, celery, sweet onion and red bell pepper in a mixing bowl, and stir to combine well.
Step 3
Whisk together the mayonnaise, yellow mustard, sugar, apple cider vinegar, sweet pickle relish, salt and pepper in a separate bowl until smooth and creamy.
Step 4
Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients, and toss to coat well.
Step 5
Cover, and chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours before serving.
Helpful Tips
- Rinse in cold water: For best results, rinse your macaroni noodles in cold water immediately after cooking. Cooling them down completely helps the recipe blend much better together, and makes the salad more creamy.
- Finely dice your veggies: For an Amish Macaroni Salad that is uniform with each bite, chop your vegetables finely so that each bite is completely balanced.
- Add more mayonnaise if needed: Sometimes when the salad has chilled in the fridge, it may absorb the dressing and become less creamy. If this happens, add a bit more mayonnaise to help bring it back to life.
Substitutions
- The Mayo: Although this recipe calls for mayonnaise, Miracle Whip is able to be swapped out in even amounts if preferred. Greek yogurt can also be used instead, if you are looking to make the recipe a bit healthier.
- The Veggies: The recipe does call for red bell pepper, but any color will do. Similarly, yellow onion can be added instead of sweet for a bit more of a kick and more mild sweetness. Dill pickles can be used instead of sweet if you prefer a more savory taste too.
- The Vinegar: White vinegar or even pickle juice make great substitutes for apple cider vinegar in this Amish macaroni salad.
Storage Instructions:
This macaroni salad is able to be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 4 days. If the salad has become a bit dry while storing, simply stir in a bit of extra mayonnaise before serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can this recipe be frozen? This is not a recipe that can or should be frozen. The noodles will not keep their same texture when thawed, and the vegetables can release excess water when frozen and then thawed. This will lead to a watery texture to your salad.
Can this dish be made ahead of time? This Amish macaroni salad is a great option for being made ahead of time for later serving. Its flavors get better and more flavorful as it marinates together.
Can protein be added? Absolutely! Adding cooked ham, shredded chicken or other protein can help elevate this salad from a side dish to a main course.
Recipe
Amish Macaroni Salad
Ingredients
Method
- Add the macaroni to a pot of boiling water, and cook according to the package instructions until tender.
- Rinse the macaroni under cold water until cooled, and be sure to drain all of the water completely.
- Place the macaroni, eggs, celery, onion and peppers into a mixing bowl, and stir to combine.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, mustard, sugar, apple cider vinegar, sweet pick relish, salt and pepper. Stir until creamy.
- Pour the dressing into the bowl with the salad ingredients, and toss to combine well.
- Cover and chill for 2 hours before serving.
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