The Best Creamy Macaroni Salad Recipe (Mayonnaise or Miracle Whip?) Side Dishes Salads Lunch Pasta Budget Recipes Vegetarian Low Sugar Recipes High Protein Recipes

Macaroni salad is a classic side dish many of us grew up eating. I have several friends and family members who are ingredient-loyal, insisting that macaroni be made with only Miracle Whip or only mayonnaise (and their preferred brand, of course). Well, this easy macaroni salad recipe settles the debate once and for all! The creamy potato salad recipe calls for both! It’s the perfect side dish recipe to bring to your next picnic, potluck or cookout.

The simple pasta salad recipe is made with elbow macaroni, bell pepper (read about the health benefits of bell peppers), celery, red onion, hardboiled eggs, ground mustard, paprika, mayonnaise and Miracle Whip. The ingredients are mixed together and refrigerated so the flavors can meld and blend together. Mmm!

This creamy macaroni salad recipe is a delicious side dish for any dinner.

Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 15 minutes plus 4 hours to chill 
Cook Time: 10 minutes (approximately) to boil pasta
Total Time: 25 minutes plus 4 hours to chill 
Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 16 ounces elbow macaroni pasta
• 1 green or red bell pepper, diced
• 4 stalks celery, diced
• 1/2 red onion, diced (tiny pieces)
• 4 hardboiled eggs, mashed (a potato masher or fork works well to mash the eggs)
• 2 teaspoons ground mustard
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 3/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1/3 cup Miracle Whip

Here's how to make it: 

1. Cook elbow pasta to al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water.
2. Add the bell pepper, celery, onion, eggs, dry mustard and paprika. Season with salt and pepper. (You could stir in some shredded carrots to add more color and crunch. For some spice, you could stir in some minced or chopped jalapeno peppers.)
3. Add the mayonnaise and Miracle Whip. Mix well. (I prefer Hellmann’s Real Mayonnaise but my southern friends seem to prefer Duke’s.)
4. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving, but preferably overnight. Store the macaroni salad in an airtight container in the fridge.

Recipe cooking times, nutritional information and servings are approximate and provided for your convenience. However, 30Seconds is not responsible for the outcome of any recipe, nor may you have the same results because of variations in ingredients, temperatures, altitude, errors, omissions or cooking/baking abilities. Any nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and it is up to the individual to ascertain accuracy. To ensure image quality, we may occasionally use stock photography.

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