Description
A creamy, crunchy, and flavorful macaroni salad with bacon, perfect for picnics, barbecues, or potlucks.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz Macaroni (Cook until al dente.)
- 1 medium Tomato (Diced; can substitute with cherry tomatoes.)
- 2 stalks Celery (Chopped.)
- 2 scallions Green Onions (Sliced.)
- 6 slices Bacon (Cooked and crumbled.)
- 1 cup Mayonnaise (Or Greek yogurt for a lighter option.)
- 2 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar (Or white vinegar.)
- 1 Tbsp Dijon Mustard (Or yellow mustard.)
- 1 tsp Salt (To taste.)
- 1 tsp Black Pepper (To taste.)
- 1 tsp Smoked Paprika (Optional.)
Instructions
- Start by cooking the macaroni in a large pot according to the package instructions. Make sure it is al dente. Drain the pasta and let it cool.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked macaroni, diced tomato, chopped celery, sliced green onions, and crumbled bacon.
- In another bowl, mix the mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika together.
- Pour the dressing over the macaroni mixture and stir until everything is well coated.
- Adjust seasoning if needed.
- Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to let the flavors blend.
Notes
For extra crunch, add some diced bell peppers or pickles. If you want a lighter version, use Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise. Make it ahead of time! This salad tastes even better the next day as the flavors meld together.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 25mg