Imen Dridi The macaroni Salad by Alton Brown mixes celery, red pepper, and onion in a creamy mayo dressing—potluck perfection that only takes 7 minutes to prepare!
Try More Alton Brown Recipes:
💗 Why You’ll Love This Macaroni Salad Recipe:
- Smooth Bliss: Rich texture thanks to mayo and sour cream.
- Easy & Accessible: Simple ingredients for a quick, tasty side.
- Plan-Ahead Pleasure: Flavor deepens over time, great for prep-ahead convenience.
- Your Way: Easily customizable to suit your taste preferences.
❓ What Is Alton Brown’s Macaroni Salad Recipe?
Alton Brown’s Macaroni Salad consists of cooked macaroni noodles, sweet gherkins, celery, red onion, bell peppers, and hard-boiled eggs combined in a tasty dressing made with sour cream, mayo, and seasonings.
🥡 Alton Brown Macaroni Salad Ingredients
- 8 oz dry macaroni noodles (227g)
- 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
Macaroni Salad Dressing:
- ¾ cup mayonnaise use olive oil mayo (175g)
- ¼ cup sour cream (70g)
- 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
🥙 How To Make Alton Brown Macaroni Salad
- Get the macaroni noodles ready according to the instructions on the packet.
- Pour in a teaspoon of olive oil, give the noodles a little swirl to separate them while they sit, and then drain and rinse well with cold water.
- Mix the macaroni, sweet pickles, celery, red onion, red pepper, eggs, and a big bowl. Mix until fully blended. Place aside and have your dressing ready.
For the dressing:
- In a medium-sized bowl, mix the mayonnaise, sour cream, red wine vinegar, sugar, dijon mustard, sweet pickle juice, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and crushed red pepper (if using). Blend all ingredients using a whisk.
- Toss the macaroni salad ingredients with the dressing until everything is well coated.
- Cover the bowl and let the macaroni salad sit for at least an hour to enhance its flavor. Stir again just before serving, and savor!
💭 Recipe Tips
- Chill for Flavor: Let the macaroni salad sit for at least an hour before serving to enhance the flavor.
- Toss it Right: Ensure even coating by tossing the salad ingredients gently with the dressing.
- Fresh is Best: Use fresh, quality ingredients for a vibrant and delicious result.
- Adjust to Taste: Feel free to tweak ingredient quantities to suit your preferences.
🍔 What Pairs Nicely With Macaroni Salad?
Macaroni salad is a perfect side dish to go with a variety of meals including burgers chicken, grilled hot dogs, Italian pinwheels, corn on the cob, fried okra, baked beans, deviled eggs, cornbread, and cheese with crackers.
🎚 How To Store Leftovers Macaroni Salad?
- In The Fridge: Refrigerate leftover macaroni salad for 3 to 5 days if kept in a sealed container.
- In The Freezer: Freeze leftover macaroni salad for at least 2 weeks by putting it in a heavy-duty freezer bag. Thaw it in the fridge overnight before eating.
🥵 How To Reheat Leftovers Macaroni Salad?
- Stove: Heat macaroni salad in a pan over low to medium heat for 3 minutes, stirring constantly, until heated.
- Microwave: Pour macaroni salad into a microwave-safe bowl and heat in 10- to 15-second increments, stirring in between, until hot.
FAQs
Why does my macaroni salad not stay creamy?
Your macaroni salad may not stay creamy if the pasta isn’t cooked enough, hindering dressing absorption and causing dryness.
Should you rinse macaroni when making macaroni salad?
Yes, rinse cooked macaroni under cold water to cool it and prevent sticking before tossing it with salad dressing for macaroni salad.
How do you keep macaroni salad from absorbing dressing?
To keep macaroni salad from absorbing too much dressing, coat the pasta with oil before tossing it to create a water-repellent layer.
What do I do if my macaroni salad is too sweet?
If macaroni salad is too sweet, balance it by adding acid, like lemon juice or vinegar, to adjust the flavor.
Try More Alton Brown Recipes:
Alton Brown Macaroni Salad Nutrition Facts
Amount Per Serving
- Calories 207
- Total Fat 9.5g
- Saturated Fat 1.5g
- Trans Fat 0g
- Cholesterol 5mg
- Sodium 293mg
- Potassium 68mg
- Total Carbohydrates 26g
- Dietary Fiber 1.5g
- Sugars 8.1g
- Protein 3.7g
Alton Brown Macaroni Salad
Description
The macaroni Salad by Alton Brown mixes celery, red pepper, and onion in a creamy mayo dressing—potluck perfection that only takes 7 minutes to prepare!
Ingredients
Macaroni Salad Dressing:
Instructions
- Get the macaroni noodles ready according to the instructions on the packet.
- Pour in a teaspoon of olive oil, give the noodles a little swirl to separate them while they sit, and then drain and rinse well with cold water.
- Mix the macaroni, sweet pickles, celery, red onion, red pepper, eggs, and a big bowl. Mix until fully blended. Place aside and have your dressing ready.
- In a medium-sized bowl, mix the mayonnaise, sour cream, red wine vinegar, sugar, dijon mustard, sweet pickle juice, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and crushed red pepper (if using). Blend all ingredients using a whisk.
- Toss the macaroni salad ingredients with the dressing until everything is well coated.
- Cover the bowl and let the macaroni salad sit for at least an hour to enhance its flavor. Stir again just before serving, and savor!
For the dressing:
Notes
- Chill for Flavor: Let the macaroni salad sit for at least an hour before serving to enhance the flavor.
Toss it Right: Ensure even coating by tossing the salad ingredients gently with the dressing.
Fresh is Best: Use fresh, quality ingredients for a vibrant and delicious result.
Adjust to Taste: Feel free to tweak ingredient quantities to suit your preferences.
