Best Chicago Macaroni Salad Recipes

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CLASSIC MACARONI SALAD



Classic Macaroni Salad image

Creamy dishes like Alex's macaroni salad are a perfect match for fresh dill. "I love dill with mayonnaise," she says. "It's grassy and light."

Provided by Alex Guarnaschelli

Categories     side-dish

Time 45m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

3/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon hot sauce (such as Tabasco)
1 small red onion, diced, soaked in ice water at least 1 hour and up to 12 hours
1 large red bell pepper, diced
3 scallions (green parts only), thinly sliced
Kosher salt
12 ounces elbow macaroni
1 sprig dill, leaves finely chopped
4 sprigs basil, leaves torn

Steps:

  • Make the dressing: In a large bowl, whisk the mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, soy sauce and hot sauce until smooth. Drain and dry the red onion and stir it into the dressing along with the bell pepper, scallions and a generous pinch of salt.
  • Make the pasta: In a large pot, bring 4 quarts of water to a rolling boil. Add a generous amount of salt. Add the pasta and cook, stirring from time to time, until al dente (chewy but not hard or raw tasting), 6 to 10 minutes. Drain; do not rinse the pasta. Spread it out on a large baking sheet to cool slightly, 5 to 10 minutes.
  • While the pasta is still warm, add it to the bowl with the dressing and let sit at room temperature, 10 to 15 minutes. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Stir in the dill and basil just before serving and taste for seasoning.

CLASSIC MACARONI SALAD



Classic Macaroni Salad image

This classic macaroni salad recipe is a refreshingly light take on an all-time favorite. It's perfect for a fast weeknight dinner or festive weekend barbecue. -Dorothy Bayes, Sardis, Ohio

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch     Side Dishes

Time 30m

Yield 8 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 12

2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
1 cup fat-free mayonnaise
2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
2 teaspoons sugar
3/4 teaspoon ground mustard
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/3 cup chopped carrot
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 hard-boiled large egg, chopped
Dash paprika

Steps:

  • Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain and rinse with cold water. Cool completely. , For dressing, in a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, pickle relish, sugar substitute, mustard, salt and pepper. In a large bowl, combine the macaroni, celery, carrot and onion. Add dressing and toss gently to coat. , Refrigerate until serving. Garnish with egg and paprika.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 115 calories, Fat 2g fat (0 saturated fat), Cholesterol 27mg cholesterol, Sodium 362mg sodium, Carbohydrate 21g carbohydrate (6g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 4g protein. Diabetic Exchanges

CHEF JOHN'S CLASSIC MACARONI SALAD



Chef John's Classic Macaroni Salad image

Whether it's sitting next to some smoky ribs or just a humble hot dog, this deli-style macaroni salad will always be a crowd favorite, as long as you pay attention to a few key details.

Provided by Chef John

Categories     Salad     100+ Pasta Salad Recipes     Macaroni Salad Recipes

Time 4h33m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 16

1 cup mayonnaise
¼ cup white vinegar
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons kosher salt, or more to taste
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon white sugar, or more to taste
1 cup finely diced celery
¾ cup diced red bell pepper
½ cup grated carrot
½ cup chopped green onions, white and light parts
¼ cup diced jalapeno pepper
¼ cup diced poblano pepper
1 (16 ounce) package uncooked elbow macaroni
1 tablespoon mayonnaise
1 tablespoon water

Steps:

  • Whisk 1 cup mayonnaise, vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper together in a bowl until well blended; whisk in sugar. Stir in celery, red bell pepper, carrot, onions, and jalapeno and poblano peppers. Refrigerate until macaroni is ready to dress.
  • Bring a large pot of well salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain but do not rinse. Allow macaroni to drain in a colander about 5 minutes, shaking out moisture from time to time. Pour macaroni into large bowl; toss to separate and cool to room temperature. Macaroni should be sticky.
  • Pour dressing over macaroni and stir until dressing is evenly distributed. Cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 4 hours or, ideally, overnight to allow dressing to absorb into the macaroni.
  • Stir salad before serving. Mix 1 tablespoon mayonnaise and 1 tablespoon water into salad for fresher look.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 294.5 calories, Carbohydrate 32 g, Cholesterol 7.4 mg, Fat 16.1 g, Fiber 1.9 g, Protein 5.4 g, SaturatedFat 2.4 g, Sodium 508.1 mg, Sugar 3.2 g

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