Chef John's Classic Macaroni Salad

Pasta and Noodle - Dinner

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.

Brief

Prep 20 mins

Cook: 8 mins

Additional: 4hrs5 mins

Total: 4hrs33 mins

Servings: 12

Yield: 12 servings

Chef John's Classic Macaroni Salad

Ingredients

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

Pesto Pasta

Dinner

Directions

Step 1

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.

Step 2

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.

Step 3

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.

Step 4

Stir salad before serving. Mix 1 tablespoon mayonnaise and 1 tablespoon water into salad for fresher look.

Nutritional Information

Chef John's Classic Macaroni Salad

Servings Per Recipe:12

Calories: 294.5

% Daily Value *

Protein: 5.4g 11%

Carbohydrates: 32g 10%

Dietary Fiber: 1.9g 8%

Sugars: 3.2g

Fat: 16.1g 25%

Saturated Fat: 2.4g 12%

Cholesterol: 7.4mg 3%

Vitamin A Iu: 1243.2IU 25%

Niacin Equivalents: 4.2mg 32%

Vitamin B6: 0.2mg 14%

Vitamin C: 16.8mg 28%

Folate: 102.7mcg 26%

Calcium: 19.4mg 2%

Iron: 1.5mg 8%

Magnesium: 24.6mg 9%

Potassium: 170.4mg 5%

Sodium: 508.1mg 20%

Thiamin: 0.4mg 41%

Calories From Fat: 145.1

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

**Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-)Nutrition information is provided for reference only. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.