Julie Clark
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Amish Macaroni Salad
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Old fashioned Amish Macaroni Salad is an easy side dish with only 10 ingredients. The dressing is sweet and tangy. Perfect for picnics!
This Amish macaroni salad is my homemade version of Walmart’s deliciously irresistible creamy pasta salad. Have you ever had it? You can find the cold salad in Walmart’s deli, and it’s one of their most popular items for grab and go ease.
The taste of our macaroni salad recipe is spot on, and you’ll find that with just 10 ingredients, it’s quick and easy to make at home.
About this Amish Macaroni Salad Recipe:
- Flavor: The dressing is sweet with just a little bit of tangy thanks to yellow mustard and vinegar. The red pepper and onion add the flavor that makes this salad unique.
- Texture: This dressing on this salad is creamy and light. It’s not a heavy mayo dressing. The veggies are diced very small so that there is not a lot of crunchy texture.
- Method: The macaroni cooks on the stovetop, and then you’ll need to allow the salad to cool. Thankfully, rinsing the macaroni noodles with cold water makes the cooling down process quick.
What’s the difference between Amish and regular macaroni salad?
In my vintage Amish cookbooks, this macaroni salads have a cooked flour dressing. I tried it and was not impressed, so I moved on to creating my own. After all, picnic salads are supposed to be easy and those were not.
Walmart’s Amish Macaroni Salad is popular because it has such a sweet and creamy dressing. It’s very smooth, almost velvety. The regular macaroni salad I had at potlucks growing up is not sweet. It is more of a simple mayo flavor or a little bit of a tangy dressing thanks to dill pickle relish or juice.
The Amish salads also have very finely diced veggies and hard boiled eggs, making the macaroni noodles take center stage.
What is Amish macaroni salad made of?
There’s just 10 ingredients:
- Any pasta shape will work, but macaroni is traditional.
- Granulated white sugar is best. You can lower the amount if you want the salad less sweet.
- Chop the red pepper, onions and carrots as finely as you possibly can. The salad is best this way!
How to Make Amish Macaroni Salad
- Prepare the macaroni. Cook the elbow macaroni according to package directions, then drain and rinse with cold water.
- Add the egg. Place the cooked macaroni and diced egg in a large bowl. Set aside.
- Make the dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together the mayo, sugar, mustard, vinegar and salt.
- Add the veggies. Add the diced peppers, carrots and onions to the dressing. Mix well.
- Mix and chill. Pour this over the macaroni & eggs. Mix well to combine. Chill until serving. Serve in a pretty bowl!
Make it a meal.
Here’s a couple of main dishes and side dishes to try with this salad:
Amish Macaroni Salad Recipe
Old fashioned Amish Macaroni Salad is an easy side dish with only 10 ingredients. The dressing is sweet and tangy. Perfect for picnics!
Servings 8
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Chill Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes
Ingredients
- 8 ounces elbow macaroni
- 2 large hardboiled eggs finely diced
- 1 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons mustard
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup finely diced red bell peppers
- 1/4 cup finely diced carrots
- 2 tablespoons finely diced yellow onion
Instructions
- Cook the elbow macaroni according to package directions, then drain and rinse with cold water.
- Place the cooked macaroni and diced egg in a large bowl. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the mayo, sugar, mustard, vinegar and salt.
- Add the diced peppers, carrots and onions to the dressing. Mix well.
- Pour this over the macaroni & eggs. Mix well to combine.
- Chill until serving. Mix before serving to redistribute the dressing. Serve cold.
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Video
Notes
Refer to the article above for more tips and tricks.
The calories shown are based on the recipe serving 8, with 1 serving being ⅛ of the salad. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box are calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.**
Nutrition
Calories: 401kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 16g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 61mg | Sodium: 419mg | Potassium: 117mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 904IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 1mg
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Miracle Whip instead of mayo?
For the best flavor, no. Use only mayonnaise for this recipe. Miracle Whip will completely change the flavor profile.
Can I add chicken or tuna to this recipe?
Sure! It’s a great way to add protein and make it a complete meal.
Can I use this dressing for potato salad?
Sure! This salad dressing would be excellent on potato salad. Simply switch out the noodles for bite-size, cooked potatoes.
What are some things I can add to this pasta salad for more flavor?
Try adding cucumber, a touch of celery seed, sweet relish or black pepper for spice. A ¼ teaspoon of paprika sprinkled on top gives it a pretty look, too.
Other Favorite Salad Recipes
Salads are some of our favorite recipes to make! Whether they are loaded with meat, potatoes, veggies or a combination of all three, you’re sure to find a new one to love.
Perfect “copycat” recipe. I used 2 cups of dry elbow macaroni and 1/4 cup sugar. Those were the only changes I made. I was a little hesitant about using all of the dressing, but I know the macaroni will absorb it as it cools. 😋 Thanks!