Description
Guy Fieri’s Rockin’ Macaroni Salad is a creamy, colorful, and flavorful pasta salad featuring elbow macaroni mixed with a tangy mayo and sour cream dressing, crisp vegetables, sharp cheddar cheese, and a smoky spice blend. Perfect as a side dish for barbecues, picnics, or casual gatherings, this salad offers a delightful combination of textures and zesty flavors that will elevate any meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 3 cups elbow macaroni
Dressing
- 0.5 cups mayonnaise
- 0.5 cups sour cream
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
Vegetables
- 0.5 cups red bell pepper, finely chopped
- 0.5 cups green bell pepper, finely chopped
- 0.5 cups red onion, finely chopped
- 0.5 cups celery, diced
- 0.25 cups dill pickles, diced
- 0.25 cups green onions, sliced
Cheese and Spices
- 0.5 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook Macaroni: Cook the elbow macaroni according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool the macaroni and stop the cooking process.
- Prepare Dressing: In a large mixing bowl, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, Dijon mustard, and apple cider vinegar. Whisk until the dressing is smooth and well blended.
- Add Vegetables: Stir in the finely chopped red and green bell peppers, red onion, celery, and diced dill pickles into the dressing mixture to incorporate all the fresh flavors.
- Combine Pasta and Dressing: Add the cooled elbow macaroni to the vegetable and dressing mixture. Toss thoroughly to ensure the macaroni is evenly coated.
- Add Cheese and Spices: Fold in shredded cheddar cheese, sliced green onions, garlic powder, and smoked paprika. Gently mix to distribute these ingredients throughout without breaking the pasta.
- Season: Taste and season the salad with salt and pepper according to your preference.
- Chill: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the salad for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld and develop.
- Serve: Remove from the refrigerator and give the salad a final stir before serving to ensure everything is well mixed and ready to enjoy.
Notes
- For best results, chill the salad overnight to allow flavors to fully develop.
- Adjust the amount of smoked paprika to control the smokiness level.
- Use gluten-free elbow macaroni to make this salad gluten free.
- Mayonnaise can be substituted with Greek yogurt for a lighter version, though flavor and texture may vary.
- Add hard-boiled eggs or cooked bacon bits to make the salad heartier if desired.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Guy Fieri, macaroni salad, pasta salad, picnic recipes, summer salad, side dish, creamy salad
