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Amish Macaroni Salad

This Amish macaroni salad is a colorful and flavorful dish made with hard-cooked eggs, bell pepper, and celery in a creamy dressing. Best macaroni salad I have ever had. I always get many requests for the recipe. Enjoy!
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes
Course lunch/dinner
Cuisine American
Servings 6 people
Calories 1296.9 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Large Pot For cooking macaroni
  • 1 Colander For draining macaroni
  • 1 Large Mixing Bowl For combining salad ingredients
  • 1 Small Mixing Bowl For preparing dressing
  • 1 Whisk or Spoon For stirring and combining

Ingredients
  

Main

  • 2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
  • 3 large hard-cooked eggs chopped
  • 1 small onion chopped
  • 3 stalks celery chopped
  • 1 small red bell pepper seeded and chopped
  • 2 tablespoons dill pickle relish
  • 2 cups creamy salad dressing e.g. Miracle Whip
  • ¾ cup white sugar
  • 3 tablespoons prepared yellow mustard
  • 2 ¼ teaspoons white vinegar
  • ¾ teaspoon celery seed
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions
 

  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain and set aside to cool.
  • Combine eggs, onion, celery, bell pepper, and relish in a large bowl. Stir together salad dressing, sugar, mustard, vinegar, celery seed, and salt in a small bowl. Pour over eggs and vegetables. Top with cooled macaroni; stir until well combined. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving.

Notes

For a more balanced flavor, consider using a good quality, full-fat mayonnaise instead of creamy salad dressing, adjusting sugar content to taste. Ensure the macaroni is cooked perfectly al dente and cooled completely before combining to prevent a mushy texture. Uniformly dice all vegetables for consistent bite and presentation. The chilling period is essential; allow at least 2-4 hours, or preferably overnight, for flavors to fully meld. A touch more black pepper or a hint of smoked paprika could add depth. Taste the dressing before combining and adjust sweetness or acidity as desired.