How to Make Basic Macaroni Salad

Even a basic, no frills macaroni salad dresses up an ordinary sandwich or goes great with a barbecue meal. Spice up your old recipe with a dash of a salad seasoning blend that contains paprika and pepper. You can also get creative in add in any number of extras: shredded cheese, chopped carrots, ham, olives, pimentos, onions, sweet peppers or even jalapenos. Make sure to add plenty of mayonnaise so the salad stays moist. If you keep the salad chilled for a few hours or overnight before serving, you may need to add a little more mayo to freshen it up.

Things You'll Need

• 3 cups elbow macaroni
• 3 cups of mayo
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon salad seasoning blend

Instructions

1. Fill a large pot halfway with water and place over high heat. When the water shows the beginning signs of a boil, add 3 cups of uncooked elbow macaroni. Boil until tender, being careful to prevent the noodles from getting mushy.

2. Remove the macaroni from the heat and use a colander to drain the water.

3. Pour the macaroni into a large bowl. Add the mayonnaise, seasonings and any other desired ingredients. Mix well. Sprinkle a small amount of salad seasoning over the top of the macaroni salad for appearance and extra flavor. Cover and chill about 1 hour. Serve.

Tips & Warnings

• If 3 cups of mayo does not seem like enough to coat the salad well, add more mayo, as much as desired.

• If after chilling your macaroni salad, you find the pasta has absorbed most of the mayo, simply add more mayo.

• To add variety to your macaroni salad, there are many things you can add one or more of the following: shredded sharp cheddar, diced ham, olives, pimentos, onions, sweet peppers, jalapeno peppers, carrots (shredded, garlic salt or powder, honey mustard, grated cheese, onion powder, tartar sauce...be creative!

• Be sure to add enough mayo if you are preparing the macaroni salad without the recipe directions. Too little mayo before chilling can result in a very dry macaroni salad when it comes time to serve this side dish as elbow macaroni will absorb the mayo when cooling off.

• Do not boil the elbow macaroni longer than they need to be, this will result in macaroni that falls apart and becomes mushy. Once the elbow macaroni appears tender enough to eat, remove from heat.