On the hunt for the best macaroni salad recipe that will make your friends want more? Don’t look any further! This ultimate macaroni salad is the perfect side dish for any event because it has the right amount of creamy, spicy, and crunchy tastes. There’s no doubt that this recipe will be a hit at your summer picnic, backyard grill, or family get-together. More than that, it’s simple to double, so no one goes hungry!

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Macaroni Salad

• 8 oz. dry macaroni noodles (227 g)
• ½ cup finely diced sweet gherkins (usually 4-6 sweet gherkins for me, 80g)
• ¾ cup finely diced red bell pepper (about ½ pepper, 100g)
• ⅓ cup thinly sliced celery (about 1-2 stalks, 55g)
• ⅓ cup finely diced red onion (45g)
• 2 large hard-boiled eggs, finely diced

For the Macaroni Salad Dressing

• ¾ cup mayonnaise (I use olive oil mayo, 175g)
• ¼ cup sour cream (70 g)
• 2 Tablespoons sweet pickle juice
• 1 Tablespoon red wine vinegar (*)
• 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
• ⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional)

Note: If you don’t have red wine vinegar on hand, white wine or apple cider vinegar would also work well.

Step-by-Step Instructions

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Total Time: 25 minutes (plus at least 1 hour chilling time)
• Servings: Serves 8-10

Instructions

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Add 8 oz dry macaroni noodles and cook according to the package instructions until al dente.
• Drain and rinse the noodles immediately with cold water to stop the cooking process.
• Drizzle with a teaspoon of olive oil and gently stir to prevent the noodles from sticking together as they cool.

• In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled macaroni noodles, ½ cup finely diced sweet gherkins, ¾ cup finely diced red bell pepper, ⅓ cup thinly sliced celery, ⅓ cup finely diced red onion, and 2 large hard-boiled eggs.
• Stir until all ingredients are well combined. Set aside while you prepare the dressing.

In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the following:

• ¾ cup mayonnaise
• ¼ cup sour cream
• 2 Tablespoons sweet pickle juice
• 1 Tablespoon red wine vinegar
• 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
• ⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional for a bit of heat)

Continue whisking until all ingredients are thoroughly combined and the dressing is smooth.