Overhead shot of amish macaroni Salad in a wooden bowl on a blue background.

Tangy, creamy Amish Macaroni Salad is the best side dish for every meal. Simply to prepare with pantry ingredients, this easy salad is always the first to vanish.

Summer parties were slim this year but that didn’t stop us from firing up the grill and enjoying all our favorite BBQ dishes along with the required sides.

Everything from potato salad and Cole slaw to the best macaroni salad in the world. I like to pile my plate high with side dishes next to my teeny portion of protein.

And just when the summer starts to wind down, I’ll find ways to repurpose those favorite summer side dishes to work with meals all year long. This Amish Macaroni Salad is no exception and it’s one we make at least twice a month.

AMISH MACARONI SALAD

I lived in Amish country for a number of years and love the macaroni salad they sell at the local grocery stores. Little did I know, my friends in Philly lovingly refer to it as Amish Macaroni Salad.

This macaroni salad is made with a light and creamy dressing that is whipped up from a heavy base of Miracle Whip salad dressing. Some people say that you can’t replace the Miracle Whip with mayonnaise but I’ve done it and my family hasn’t even noticed.

So you CAN use it interchangeably in a pinch but do try to get your hands on Miracle Whip if you can just to experience the real thing.

The dressing also includes pickle relish….sweet pickle relish is the key here and it’s what made me love Amish Macaroni Salad in the first.

Macaroni Salad in a wooden bowl on a blue background with a white napkin.

The last thing you must not skip is the hard boiled egg. I already LOVE eggs in my potato salad but the egg in this macaroni salad recipe is absolutely genius and not to be missed.

The texture of the egg is very much like the macaroni but the yolk is the key…it adds a nice creaminess to the whole salad that’s just fantastic.

Altogether, you’re treated to a sweet, tangy, creamy macaroni salad that’s going to be a family favorite for sure!

HOW TO MAKE MACARONI SALAD

Macaroni salad is really easy to make, it’s more in the technique and quality of ingredients that make the difference of the flavor or textures.

To start:

Cook the elbow pasta until al dente or firm to the bite.

Toss the macaroni, egg, onion, bell pepper and celery in a large bowl to combine.

Overhead shot of ingredients for macaroni salad in a glass bowl on a blue background.

Whisk the salad dressing (or mayonnaise), pickle relish, mustard, sugar, vinegar, salt and celery seed until thoroughly combined.

Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to coat.

Dressing being poured over the macaroni salad in a glass bowl.

Cover and chill for 1 hour before serving.

I love that you can prepare this salad up to 24 hours in advance and it just keeps getting better. The pasta absorbs the flavors of the dressing so every bite is perfectly balanced.

If you can’t find pickle relish, you can finely chop bread and butter pickles with excellent results. For added flavor, I even add a tablespoon or two of the pickle brine to the dressing. It’s not a bad thing at all.

PRO TIPS

You wouldn’t think there are too many things that could go wrong with macaroni salad but these tips will ensure salad perfection every single time.

  • Don’t overcook the pasta. You want to cook until al dente or until it still has some bite to it so the dressing will be absorbed by the macaroni. Overcooking the elbow pasta will make your salad mushy.
  • Allow the macaroni to cool slightly, but not entirely, before tossing the other ingredients. Hot pasta will cause the vegetables to wilt and lose their crispness releasing water into the salad making it watery.
  • Don’t try to mix everything in just one bowl. You want the dressing ingredients to be well incorporated before adding them into the salad and tossing to coat so each bite is absolutely perfect.
Overhead shot of macaroni salad in a wooden bowl on a blue background.

HOW TO SERVE

We love to serve Amish Macaroni Salad alongside our favorite grilled meats like these tender ribs and also BIG, FAT burgers!

overhead shot of bbq ribs on a white platter.

It’s pretty versatile, as far as salads go, so it works well with Roasted Chicken and grilled steaks, too.

If you’re looking for MORE recipe inspiration, be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook for additional family favorites!

Overhead shot of amish macaroni Salad in a wooden bowl on a blue background.

Get the Recipe: Amish Macaroni Salad

Yield: 12
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 10 mins
Total Time: 25 mins
Easy Amish Macaroni Salad is sweet, tangy and creamy with tender pasta, crisp vegetables and epic flavor. The perfect side dish!
4.83 from 23 votes
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Ingredients

  • 2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
  • 3 large hard boiled eggs, chopped
  • 1 cup diced onion
  • 3 stalks celery, chopped
  • 1 cup diced red bell pepper
  • 3 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
  • 2 cups creamy salad dressing, e.g. Miracle Whip or mayonnaise
  • 3 tablespoons prepared yellow mustard
  • ¾ cup white sugar
  • 2 ¼ teaspoons apple cider vinegar
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ teaspoon celery seed

Equipment

  • bowl

Instructions 

  • Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil.
  • Add elbow macaroni and cook for 8 minutes, until al dente. Drain, and set aside to cool. (do not rinse!)
  • In a large bowl, combine macaroni, eggs, onion, celery and red bell pepper.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the salad dressing, pickle relish, mustard, white sugar, vinegar, salt and celery seed. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to coat.
  • Cover and chill for at least 1 hour before serving.

Video

https://youtu.be/_pUGt9yMr7c

Notes

Amish Macaroni Salad can be made up to 3 days in advance and stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
Garnish with sliced hard cooked egg and smoked paprika, if desired.
Calories: 207kcal, Carbohydrates: 40g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 3g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 50mg, Sodium: 475mg, Potassium: 139mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 20g, Vitamin A: 533IU, Vitamin C: 17mg, Calcium: 22mg, Iron: 1mg
Author: Kellie
Course: Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, amish